The New England Patriots have shocked the National Football League with one of their roster cuts.

According to Patriots insider Mike Reiss, offensive lineman Cole Strange has been left off of the 53-man roster.

“C/G Cole Strange and rookie OLB Bradyn Swinson among the players released by the Patriots today,” Reiss wrote in a post on X.

Strange was a former first-round pick of the Patriots in 2022. In his three-year tenure, he started 29 games for the Patriots and played in 30 of them. It’s a bit of a head scratching move for New England as offensive line is one area it needs help.

“Strange, 27, was drafted by New England in the first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Chattanooga with the 29th overall selection,” the Patriots wrote in a press release officially announcing their roster moves. “The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder, has played in 30 games with 29 starts during his three seasons with the Patriots. He started his first 17 games at left guard before suffering an injury in December of the 2023 season. Strange began the 2024 season on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List and was limited to just three games with two starts at center.”

This move shouldn’t be a complete surprise to Patriots fans as Strange played later and later into preseason games as the exhibitions progressed. That is a clear sign the team is looking to go in a different direction, and first-year head coach Mike Vrabel wants to shake things up.

At just 27 years old, Strange should generate some interest from teams looking to sign him between now and when the regular season starts. Even though he has been injured often in the past, teams will look to give him a fresh start.

If not, the Patriots could attempt to keep him on their practice squad, but one of the other 31 teams should be signing him to a contract for their active roster.

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