In the weeks since the Patriots lost the Super Bowl, we’ve passed along reports noting that tackle Matt Light could retire, and that center Dan Koppen could leave via free agency.
The Patriots are prepared for both scenarios.
Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Globe reports that the Patriots are satisfied with where they are on the offensive line even if both Light and Koppen depart this offseason.
New England expects veteran right guard Brian Waters to return for another year and to sign center Dan Connolly to a new deal before the free agency period starts on March 13. The Patriots also like what they have in young offensive linemen Nick McDonald, Ryan Wendell and Marcus Cannon, and they’d be satisfied with Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer as their starting tackles.
It’s still far from a sure thing that Light will retire at the age of 33. But if he does, the Patriots think they’ll be just fine without him.
