New England Patriots offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker is looking forward to a healthy offseason.
Once he returns to the field, that will come with the 26-year-old at left guard.
“I think that’s probably the plan right now,” Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said. “We have some guys that do have versatility, which is always a good thing, but I think that would probably be the plan at the moment.”
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When healthy over the past several seasons, Vera-Tucker primarily played right guard for the New York Jets. Left guard is not foreign ground for Vera-Tucker, however, as he started 15 games at the position his rookie season in 2021. Now set to move back, he is confident the transition will be seamless.
“It’s been a little while since I’ve been over there. But give me a couple practices, couple weeks, I’ll be good,” he said. “I’m a team first type of player. I’ve played at left guard before so I don’t mind going over there.”
The move would then slot Vera-Tucker between Will Campbell and Jared Wilson on the Patriots’ offensive line. Despite a rough playoff stretch, New England has stood by Campbell as the team’s left tackle moving forward.
“We know who the free agents are going to be at left tackle. We know who’s in the draft at left tackle. We know that we’re picking 31st,” Wolf said. “If there’s somebody that’s a better left tackle than Will Campbell’s that’s available, we’ll look at anything. I’m just not sure how realistic that is at this time.”
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Wilson is then set to move back to his natural center position, one that became vacant after the Patriots traded veteran Garrett Bradbury to the Chicago Bears for draft capital.
Vera-Tucker was impressed with the duo in their first NFL season.
“I thought they were very talented guys. I think for Jared to never play guard before, then go out there and do his thing — I think he’s very strong, he’s a talented player. I’m excited to play next to him. And then Will, too, there’s a reason why they got him so early in the draft,” he shared.
“Just looking at their tape, not too much of it, but when they played against the Jets last year, I got to witness it firsthand, and I liked what I saw, and then I was excited to come in here and work with the group.”
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