‘Everything’ is what Jared Wilson likes about switching from left guard to center in his second season with the Patriots

FOXBOROUGH — For Jared Wilson, it’s a case of new year, old position.

With the Patriots’ offseason decision to part ways with veteran center Garrett Bradbury, Wilson — who was a center in college at Georgia before spending his rookie season at left guard in New England — is poised to return to his old spot in the middle of the offensive line.

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Asked Thursday what he likes most about playing center, the 22-year-old had a quick response.

“Everything,” he said. “I like it all. Can’t give you one thing. Everything.”

After starting 12 games at center for Georgia in 2024, the 6-foot-3-inch, 310-pounder started 16 games (13 regular-season, three playoff) for the Patriots last year at left guard. He’s cognizant of the nuances involved when switching along the interior.

“Moving from guard to center, people say you’ve got to know all three positions in the interior offensive line, and that’s a very true statement. But it was very different,” he said during a break in the offseason program at Gillette Stadium. “I was there before, played in college, so I’m comfortable. But there’s always things to learn. Always new things to learn. Things to tweak.”

That being said, Wilson also sounds up for the challenge for several reasons, not the least of which is that he has a year’s worth of experience in Josh McDaniels’s offense.

“Having a year under my belt, that kind of helps him with the vocalization part of [the move to center],” he said. “Just knowing the guys in the room. We’ve been together for a year, so it’s easier to kind of communicate with everybody in the room because you know everybody. We’ve got some good guys, but everybody’s great when it comes to communicating.

“Josh’s playbook is one of the … it was tough last year. It took me a whole year to figure out that playbook. But just getting thrown into the fire Year 1, and just having to just go and go and go, it definitely makes you grow. Matures you.”

That sort of maturity, as well as the position switch, likely means a greater leadership role for Wilson. He said if you’re going to be a leader, there’s only one way to go about it: be authentic.

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“Just be me,” he said. “Don’t try and be too much.”

Wilson noted that the chance to work more closely with quarterback Drake Maye represents a “full-circle moment,” as Wilson initially committed to play with Maye at North Carolina before switching to Georgia.

“I remember us talking about it a couple weeks ago, he said with a smile. ”It’s just like, ‘Dang, we committed North Carolina together, and were this close to getting there, and then [I] veered off to Georgia, and now we’re both here.’ It all worked out this great.”

Wilson’s move to center isn’t the only change up front for the Patriots. Free agent acquisition Alijah Vera-Tucker is expected to take Wilson’s old spot at left guard.

“Alijah’s a great dude. Love him,” Wilson said. “An athletic freak. Crazy smart, smart player. He’s going to be a great guy to have in the room.”

And the Patriots used draft picks on offensive tackles Caleb Lomu (first round) and Dametrious Crownover (sixth). A year removed from his rookie campaign, what advice would Wilson give to first-year players looking to make their mark up front?

“Just take it day by day,” he said. “It’s a lot, they’re here all day long. It’s just going to be long days, long weeks. Just take it day by day and have fun with it. It’s a blessing that we’re in this building, or on any one of the 32 teams. It’s a blessing to be there. It’s hard. You’re going to get your butt kicked some days, but it’ll all be worth it.”

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