Cole Strange Bio
Devin Cole Strange, known professionally as Cole Strange, is an American professional football guard for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Chattanooga Mocs and was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches tall, Strange works on the interior offensive line and has appeared at both guard and center during his career.
Born and raised in Tennessee, Strange was a late-blooming prospect whose steady rise through the college ranks led to one of the more surprising first-round selections of his draft class. After three seasons in New England, including a serious knee injury in 2023, he has continued his NFL career with stints in Cleveland and Miami.
Early Life and Background
Cole Strange was born on July 31, 1998, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He grew up in the Knoxville area and attended Farragut High School, where he developed his early love for football. At Farragut, Strange primarily played on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive end, a position that helped him build the strength and technique he would later translate to the offensive line.
As a senior, Strange was named the Knoxville Interscholastic League Defensive Player of the Year after recording 103.5 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. Despite those productive numbers, he was rated only as a two-star college recruit. Strange initially committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, later de-committed, and signed a letter of intent to play at the Air Force Academy. He briefly attended Air Force during the Basic Cadet Training period before ultimately transferring to Chattanooga, where he redshirted his freshman season.
Path to American Football
Strange’s transition from a defensive high-school standout to a top-tier offensive line prospect took place at Chattanooga. As a redshirt freshman, he played in ten games with six starts at left guard, showing enough promise to anchor the position going forward. During his redshirt sophomore and redshirt junior seasons, Strange started every game at left guard and was twice named second-team All-Southern Conference, establishing himself as one of the most consistent blockers in the conference.
His redshirt senior campaign was shortened and played in the spring of 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet Strange still won the Jacobs Blocking Award as the best blocker in the SoCon. Using the extra year of eligibility granted to athletes who competed during the pandemic, he returned for a sixth season and was again named first-team All-SoCon while capturing a second straight Jacobs Blocking Award. After the conclusion of his college career, Strange played in the 2022 Senior Bowl, where his performance helped boost his draft stock ahead of the NFL combine.
Cole Strange Career
Early Career (2022)
Cole Strange was selected by the New England Patriots in the first round, 29th overall, of the 2022 NFL draft, a pick that surprised many analysts who had projected him as a third- or fourth-round selection. He quickly earned the trust of the Patriots’ coaching staff and was named the team’s starting left guard as a rookie. Strange started every game during his first NFL season, providing immediate stability on an offensive line that was being rebuilt around him.
His rookie year was considered a strong foundation, and he became a fixture in the Patriots’ interior line rotation entering his second season.
New England Patriots Era (2022–2025)
In his second NFL season in 2023, Strange started all ten games he appeared in and recovered one fumble. His season came to an abrupt end in Week 15 against the Kansas City Chiefs, when he suffered a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. The injury required surgery and a long rehabilitation period, putting his third NFL season in jeopardy.
Strange was placed on the reserve/PUP list to begin the 2024 season while he continued to recover from the knee injury. He was activated on December 10 and made three appearances with two starts that year. On August 26, 2025, Strange was released by the Patriots as part of final roster cuts, ending his tenure in New England after three seasons with the organization.
Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins (2025)
Shortly after his release, Strange was signed to the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad on August 28, 2025. He remained in Cleveland for a short stretch before being signed to the Miami Dolphins’ active roster on September 9, 2025. The move gave Strange an opportunity to continue his NFL career on a new team after navigating the injury setback and roster turnover of his third professional season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Cole Strange is regarded as a technically sound and durable interior lineman whose versatility has been a hallmark of his professional profile. He has started games at both left guard and center, demonstrating the flexibility that originally boosted his draft stock. His college background in a run-heavy scheme at Chattanooga helped him refine his hand placement, leverage, and ability to sustain blocks at the point of attack.
Notable Events and Milestones
Strange’s selection 29th overall in the 2022 NFL draft stands as one of the defining moments of his career, marking him as a first-round pick despite modest recruiting rankings out of high school. He also earned back-to-back Jacobs Blocking Awards in 2020 and 2021 at Chattanooga, becoming one of the most decorated blockers in Southern Conference history during that stretch.
Cole Strange Career Wins
Cole Strange’s career has been measured primarily by durability, consistency, and team contributions rather than headline statistics. Across his time with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, and Miami Dolphins, he has served as a starting-caliber interior offensive lineman, beginning every game he was healthy enough to play during his rookie season. His most consistent production came during the 2022 and partial 2023 campaigns before the knee injury altered his trajectory.
New England Patriots Highlights
Strange opened his NFL career as the Patriots’ starting left guard in 2022 and held that role into the 2023 season, when he started all ten games he played before his Week 15 knee injury. In 2024, after a long recovery, he returned late in the season and made three appearances with two starts. His release in late August 2025 concluded a New England tenure defined by steady early play and perseverance through injury.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Strange earned second-team All-SoCon honors in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and was named first-team All-SoCon in 2021. He captured the SoCon Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2020 and 2021, recognizing him as the top blocker in the conference in back-to-back seasons. His appearance in the 2022 Senior Bowl further cemented his reputation as a polished, pro-ready prospect.
Cole Strange Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cole Strange was raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, where his family supported his early athletic development. He attended Farragut High School, where he starred as a defensive end before transitioning to the offensive line at the college level. Specific details about his parents and siblings are not publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Strange holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and is pursuing a Master of Engineering Management online through the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga while continuing his NFL career. He maintains an active presence on social media, where he shares updates about his training and games. He has not publicly confirmed details of a spouse or children.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has marked a transitional chapter for Cole Strange. After being released by the New England Patriots on August 26, 2025, he signed with the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad two days later, giving him a brief landing spot while he awaited a new opportunity. On September 9, 2025, Strange was signed to the Miami Dolphins’ active roster, joining an offensive line that needed interior depth and versatility.
Strange’s move to Miami reunites him with a competitive AFC environment and provides him a platform to re-establish himself as a starter following his 2023 knee injury and limited 2024 production. With his versatility at guard and center, he is positioned to contribute both as a rotational piece and as a potential starter depending on team needs.
For the remainder of the 2025 season, Strange’s focus will be on staying healthy, earning a defined role in the Dolphins’ offensive line rotation, and showing that his best football is still ahead. His path from two-star recruit to first-round pick to journeyman NFL lineman reflects a career shaped by steady improvement and perseverance.