Mike

Onwenu

Also listed questionable for the Patriots are C David Andrews, OL Mike Onwenu, and OT Trent Brown. Injury issues along the offensive line have contributed to a poor run game through six weeks, with running back Rhamondre Stevenson one of the most inefficient backs in the league. The matchup against the Bills tilts expected production towards the ground game but concerns over an eventual game script that could move the Patriots away from the run leaves fantasy managers of Patriots backs potentially looking for other options for Week 7.

Also questionable for the Patriots are left tackle Trent Brown, center David Andrews, right guard Sidy Sow, and right guard Mike Onwenu. The Pats will be lucky to get more than one of these linemen active for Week 2. Though Miami’s pass-rush is far from elite, they could look like world-beaters if they are facing a swathe of backups in the trenches. Fantasy managers looking for a streaming quarterback should pass on Mac Jones this week.

Onwenu (6’3/344) was a three-year starting right guard at Michigan who earned back-to-back third-team All-Big Ten honors as a junior and senior. His power is unquestioned, but his weight has fluctuated dramatically in college and is a concern for his NFL future. He chose not to participate at the Combine after checking in at 344 pounds. When he’s at the correct weight, he shows quality movement skills and graded well as a pass protector. Onwenu has the physical traits and on-field production of a potential starter in a power scheme, but he needs time to develop and workshop his figure. Don’t we all.

“With better hand placement and attention to footwork, he can take a step forward as a drive blocker with the ability to move bodies around,” Zierlein wrote. “But he’ll be a scheme-specific prospect who could struggle against quick, upfield players and sub-package rushers.” Onwenu (6'3/344), who recorded 26 reps in the bench press at the NFL Scouting Combine but did not take part in any other athletic tests, started all 13 games for the Wolverines last season and was a third team all-Big Ten selection. He’ll need to get in better physical condition and improve his footwork if he’s to stick in the NFL.

Onwenu (6'3/369) is a massive human who has at various times in his career played at around 390 pounds. He has been a fixture on the Michigan line for the past four years, playing in 45 games, starting 34, with most of his work coming at right guard. He was named third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches in 2018 and PFF College’s All-Big Ten Team this year. For NFL Draft purposes, Onwenu will need to shed 30-50 pounds in order to slide into the Day 3 conversation.

Onwenu is only 6-foot-3, so this is definitely concerning. At this point, Onwenu is dozens of pounds away from being in the typical shape of an NFL prospect. His size is arguably a plus at the college level -- PFF credited Onwenu with just four QB pressures last year -- but the speed of the NFL will be too much if he doesn’t shed 30-50 pounds by the 2020 or 2021 NFL Draft. Consider Onwenu an undrafted free agent prospect until he gets in better shape.

This stat courtesy of Pro Football Focus. Among returning conference performers, Onwenu was tied with Michigan State’s Luke Campbell for fewest pressures allowed by an interior offensive lineman in the Big Ten last season. He posted a PFF pass-blocking grade of 87.6 for the campaign. The 6-foot-3, 369-pound junior has NFL potential should he declare over the winter, with Draft Analyst’s Tony Pauline assigning him a fifth-round grade earlier this month. Pauline believes that he will need to chop off a fair amount of weight -- in the neighborhood of 30 pounds -- for the pros.

“He’s a big -- possibly too big -- blocker who annihilates opponents and moves relatively well on his feet,” Pauline notes of the 6-foot-3, 369-pound junior. Yup, a big ol’ boy. And that 369-pound measurement came after Onwenu had been playing at 389 pounds for the team’s bowl loss to Florida. He is going to need to cut even more off of that for pro purposes, with Pauline floating that he must slim down by “at least” 30 more pounds. The analyst currently sees him Onwenu home with a fifth-round grade.

The Michigan offensive line is considered not just one of the best in the Big Ten, but one of the best in all of college football. As Feldman notes, consistency has been an issue with Onwenu, but he really appeared to turn a corner during his sophomore campaign. “He also was its most improved offensive lineman this spring,” writes Feldman. “After weighing 389 pounds in the bowl game, he’s down to 369.” If he cuts a few more pounds and shows the same ability to maul, he could be an NFL consideration in 2020.

Onwenu signed with Michigan in June after seeing a few nibbles from Alabama, Illinois and Miami (among others). He’s a Detroit native, which should help make for an easy enough transition to the Wolverines. Scout.com’s at least somewhat concerned with the 6-foot-3, 370-pound offensive lineman’s weight, noting that if he can shed just a bit, “it would improve [his] overall quickness and mobility.” On the more positive side, they’re already keen on his technical ability.