3 Patriots players the Jaguars should target before the 2023 trade deadline
No. 2 Patriots player the Jaguars should trade for: Michael Onwenu, OL
The Jaguars offensive line struggled early in the season. Not only did they fail to give Trevor Lawrence enough time to throw but they also struggled to open lanes in the running game. The good news is that they've fared much better during the three-game winning streak.
Left tackle Cam Robinson's return reinvigorated the group. Rookie Anton Harrison has made strides and right guard Brandon Scherff has played like his Pro Bowl self. However, the injury bug has rampaged Jacksonville. Scherff is day-to-day after hurting his ankle in Week 6 and the left guard spot remains a question mark after Walker Little suffered an MCL injury.
Veteran Tyler Shatley remains the go-to option when the Jags suffer injuries on the interior offensive line but the team should consider adding depth before the trade deadline. One intriguing candidate is Patriots offensive guard Michael Onwenu.
A sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft, Onwenu has appeared in 53 games with 45 starts for the Pats. He's got the flexibility to line up at tackle or either guard spots. On top of that, he hasn't allowed a sack in 2023 and consistently gotten above-average scores from Pro Football Focus.
Onwenu is entering a contract year, so this would probably be a one-year rental for the Jaguars. Then again, parting with a third or fourth-round pick in exchange for depth would be a solid investment.