The New England Patriots claimed guard Lester Cotton off waivers on Tuesday after the former Alabama lineman was released by the Miami Dolphins on Monday. To make space for Cotton on their 53-man roster, the Patriots cut Michael Jordan, who had started 11 of the team’s 12 games at left guard this season.
Jordan had logged 684 offensive snaps for New England in 2023, while Cotton had played 60 snaps at left guard in two games for the Dolphins, also contributing on special teams in every game.
In 2022, Cole Strange, a first-round rookie, started at left guard for the Patriots before a knee injury ended his season after 10 games. Strange returned to practice last week and can be activated from injured reserve anytime before Dec. 11.
With the Patriots sitting at the fourth spot in the NFL’s waiver-wire order, only the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, and Las Vegas Raiders passed on Cotton before New England claimed him.
By adding Cotton, the Patriots inherit his contract, which is in the second year of a two-year, $2.135 million deal signed with Miami last year. The Dolphins waived Cotton to make room for offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn, who was returning from a quadriceps injury.
Cotton entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie with the Oakland Raiders after a standout career at Alabama, where he started for two seasons, including on the 2017 CFP national championship team. He was named a Parade All-American and an All-State selection at Central-Tuscaloosa before joining Alabama.
Throughout his NFL career, Cotton has started nine regular-season games and one postseason game, appearing in 43 regular-season games and two playoff games. He has been waived six times during his career.
