The New England Patriots waived offensive tackle Caedan Wallace on Monday, ending the former third-round pick’s brief tenure with the team after only two seasons.
The move came as a corresponding roster adjustment after the club re-signed veteran long snapper Niko Lalos. Lalos had been cut by the Patriots in May and is now back for what will be his first full season under head coach Mike Vrabel.
Wallace, selected 68th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Penn State, had started 40 games at right tackle during his college career. The Patriots viewed him as a potential long-term piece on the offensive line when they drafted him.
Expectations were high that Wallace would settle in as a steady contributor opposite Will Campbell, the team’s fourth overall pick from the previous year’s draft. Instead, the 26-year-old appeared in just 10 games across his two seasons in New England.
Wallace remained under contract through the 2027 season, making the decision to release him somewhat unexpected. The Patriots had invested a Day 2 draft choice in him and still had two years of control remaining.
A crowded offensive tackle depth chart appears to have played a major role. New England drafted tackle Caleb Lomu this year, adding another young body to the group.
The team also features veteran Morgan Moses, who signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Patriots in March 2025. With Campbell, Lomu and Moses already in the mix, Vrabel and the coaching staff apparently decided Wallace was no longer needed as depth heading into the preseason.
Lalos brings his own well-traveled résumé to the roster. The Dartmouth product went undrafted in 2020 and has bounced around the league with stops that include the New York Giants, the New Orleans Saints and a season with the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons.
He previously spent time with the Saints from 2023 to 2024 before landing with the Patriots earlier this offseason. His return gives New England a familiar option at long snapper as the team prepares for the upcoming season.
For Wallace, the sudden availability at age 26 and with Day 2 draft pedigree should generate interest around the league. Teams often look for young linemen with starting experience at the college level when openings appear on the waiver wire or free-agent market.
The timing of the release comes just days before the Patriots open the preseason. New England hosts the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium in the first exhibition game of the year.
Vrabel’s staff will continue evaluating the offensive line throughout the preseason as the group works to solidify its rotation. The early departure of a relatively recent draft pick underscores how quickly depth charts can shift once training camp and practices intensify.
Wallace now begins the process of finding a new opportunity. Given his age and the limited but existing game experience he has accumulated, several clubs are likely to take a closer look before the regular season begins in September.
The Patriots, meanwhile, move forward with a reconfigured offensive line group and a familiar long snapper back on the roster as they prepare for their preseason opener later this week.
