While most of New England was sleeping, the Patriots made what might be their most important move of the legal tampering period of free agency to date.
Late Monday night, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that New England had come to terms on a deal for former Jets offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting it’s a three-year contract worth $42 million. Escalators could take the deal to $48 million.
Vera-Tucker is the former No. 14 overall pick by New York in the 2021 NFL Draft, and has spent his entire five-year career playing for the Patriots’ AFC East rival. While he’s played at both tackle and guard at various points during his 43 career starts, he’s primarily spent time playing on the interior next to the center. He’s spent long stretches playing both right and left guard on a Jets offensive line that’s been in a constant state of flux since his arrival.
If 43 games across five seasons doesn't feel like the correct amount of games, it's because it's not, as Vera-Tucker has missed significant time due to injury since being drafted out of USC.
In 2022, he suffered a torn right triceps in Week 7 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. In 2023, he suffered an Achilles injury in Week 5 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve. And in 2025, he suffered a torn left triceps in practice before Week 1 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve.
The addition of the 26-year-old brings New England’s plan at offensive line into clearer focus, with the team trading center Garrett Bradbury to the Bears on Friday. With that move, the assumption was 2025 third-round pick Jared Wilson would move over from left guard to center - the position he primarily played while at Georgia.
With Vera-Tucker joining the O-line room, this assumption is almost certainly now the reality for a unit that struggled to keep Drake Maye upright over the course of the 2025 postseason - culminating with a dreadful showing in Super Bowl 60.
At 6-foot-5 and 308 pounds, Vera-Tucker has the size and versatility to help out at multiple positions across the offensive line. While it’s likely that he’ll be day one starting left guard, his frame and experience could come in handy as the typical bumps and bruises that come along with a football season inevitably transpire in 2026.
Vera-Tucker joins edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones and fullback Reggie Gilliam as the Patriots’ free agent additions as of publishing.
By end-of-day Tuesday, the Patriots watched defensive tackle Kyiris Tonga, tight end Austin Hooper and offensive tackle Vederian Lowe walk in free agency.
Stay locked in to WEEI and WEEI.com for all the latest on the Patriots’ offseason.