Managing to carve out starting roles for three teams as a pro, Lucas Patrick is searching for a new team. The 2024 Saints starter may have an opportunity soon, as the Bengals are bringing him in on a visit.
Patrick is heading to Cincinnati tonight for a Friday meeting, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets. The Bengals have some questions at guard, after cutting three-year starter Alex Cappa, and their big-ticket extensions for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will force cost-conscious moves at other positions. Patrick qualifies as an affordable option, one who also recently visited the Seahawks (h/t KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson).
It took Patrick until mid-May last year to find a home; he trekked to New Orleans after a two-season Chicago stay. Vacillating between guard and center as a pro, Patrick has started 64 games. The bulk of those have come over the past five seasons. A former UDFA, Patrick is seeking to play a ninth NFL season. He will turn 32 this summer.
The Saints turned to Patrick as a left guard regular last season, while also using him as an Erik McCoy fill-in at center. The former Green Bay UDFA operated as Chicago’s starting center in 2023, after splitting time at both guard spots in 2022. The Packers used Patrick as their primary Corey Linsley replacement in 2021, but they did not re-sign the interior blocker after that season.
Pro Football Focus placed Patrick as a mid-pack guard last season, ranking him 37th. That placement checked in above where Cappa and primary complement Cordell Volson landed. Volson is going into a contract year. Cincinnati briefly benched Volson late last season, inserting Cody Ford into the lineup in his place. The team re-signed Ford last week, giving the former second-round pick a two-year, $6MM deal. Patrick’s visit, however, shows the team at least wants to bring in competition, as Cappa’s loss creates an opening at right guard.
Patrick played out a two-year, $8MM Bears contract and a one-year, $1.38MM Saints accord. PFF had graded him as a bottom-tier center in 2023. The Bengals return Ted Karras, the only cog left from the team’s 2022 O-line shopping spree, at center but carries guard questions.
Don’t do it!
Why ?
If you want Joe Burrow to die, Go ahead and do it. Ask Justin Fields why.
Over the last two years, Lucas Patrick has given up no sacks, and allowed only 3 QB hits. Cincinnati could do worse.
Fields is an entirely different kind of QB and had less talented receivers. Fields moved around a lot more than Burrow will or need to. Burrow will drop back and pick you death with accuracy. Something Fields wasn’t capable of. Actually it’s a pretty good fit. Fields earned a lot of his sacks by putting lineman in less than ideal positions.
Keep telling yourself that. When he gets knocked backwards on his can play after play. He’s basically useless. But as long as he’s not in Chicago, I can laugh my A__ off. Hope Joe can still run fast.
I’m not telling myself that , the statistics show that. He hasn’t given up a sack in 2 years. I guess you don’t understand the difference between an intelligent QB and a not so smart QB. Joe has a plan , and elite vision and pin point accuracy. Fields has legs – that’s it. Lineman are trained and groomed to protect the pocket. When your a RB with a QB title and spend a lot of your time outside the pocket you’re going to get hit.
And .. regardless … Joe went to the Super Bowl after taking a league leading 43 sacks.
I get it he’s your hero. Fine. You’ll see. I’ve seen enough of him to know better. You’ll get it.
Not my hero bud, yes a fan but not my hero. No sports figures are hero’s. Everyone that really has a clue about football understands exactly what I’ve explained to you. Just because your team swung and missed on Fields who shouldn’t even be playing QB doesn’t mean another player is bad. You’re right , we will see but for you to harp on a guy who hasn’t allowed a sack in 2 years is pretty ignorant. Do you have any data to support your comments or just yapping
Ok Mike Tomlin the gig is up