Once a much-scrutinized first-round choice, Cole Strange is now set to become a free agent before the conclusion of his rookie contract.
Strange, the No. 29 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, was waived on Tuesday by the New England Patriots after three seasons with the club.
A head-scratching pick in the second-to-last year of the Bill Belichick regime, Strange won’t be on board for Mike Vrabel’s first season as head coach of the Pats.
Though Strange was listed as the team’s starting left guard on the unofficial depth chart ahead of the Patriots' preseason finale on Thursday, he was supplanted by rookie third-round pick Jared Wilson.
The Chattanooga product was viewed by many as a developmental Day 2 pick ahead of the ’22 draft before he was plucked by Belichick.
Strange started all 17 games as a rookie, garnering a 54.6 overall PFF grade. After that, he played in just 13 games (12 starts) over the past two campaigns. He’s dealt with injuries, most notably a torn patellar tendon, and subpar play that led to his release.
Strange, 27, has played 30 total games with 29 starts, splitting time at guard and center. So, with his first-round pedigree and experience, it’s likely he’ll get a second chance to prove himself, but one of Belichick’s last draft-day surprises is officially a bust for the Patriots.