One of the more impressive facts that doesn’t get enough run in the anti-Patriots Boston media narrative is that they won the Super Bowl with almost all of their draft picks on injured reserve. Rookies don’t necessarily have the biggest impacts on a teams overall success, but they can and do contribute.
The Patriots have had players that made significant contributions during their rookie years. In 2008 Jerod Mayo started as their “MIKE” and totaled 128 tackles and was the defensive rookie of the year. In 2011 Nate Solder came in and started for Sebastian Vollmer, giving fans a glimpse of what was to come in the following years. 2010 gave us Devin McCourty, who had 7 interceptions en route to a second team all pro nod. In 2012 Dont’a Hightower had 60 tackles and 4 sacks while Chandler Jones had 45 tackles and 6 sacks. 2013 gave us Jaime Collins and his freakish athletic abilities and 2016 showed us the Patriots can draft a receiver when Malcolm Mitchell came on strong in the second half of the regular season and the playoffs. While the team goes as far as Tom Brady and Bill Belichick carry them, the young guns produce. And last year they had one draft pick from their entire class (Sony Michel, who also missed 3 games) contribute. So what do the Patriots have in their farm system that is their second year rookies?
Ja’Whaun Bentley showed potential in his 2 plus games he played in last year. In week 1 versus the Texans he wore the green dot as Hightower was working his way back into shape and showed that he not only had a grasp of the complex defense, but could command the front 7. His youth was exposed in week 2 against Jacksonville, but then again the entire team was exposed that game so I don’t hold his performance against him. He was active again in the week 3 dumpster fire that was the Lions performance but tore his bicep late in the game and was placed on IR and never came back on the field. He had his nose in the hole on every play and was rarely out of position. His biggest knock coming out of Purdue was his subpar pass coverage ability. But, in his limited action, he looked competent. He is not Luke Kuechly, nobody is, but he held his own and looked like he knew what he was doing. The future is bright at the LB position, and Bentley is the reason for that.
Isaiah Wynn was the teams first pick in the first round, and was tabbed as a potential starter at left tackle until he tore his achilles in the preseason. The team got by with Trent Brown playing outstanding football, but the plan was for Wynn to be your starter. He looked good in the preseason; never got over his feet and kept rushers away with his long arms and sturdy base. With the team not tagging Trent Brown you have to assume they feel good about where he is at health wise and projects to be the starting left tackle for this team.
Perhaps the most interesting rookie from last year, Duke Dawson, is also coming back. Generally, I am against taking players from Florida. Jermaine Cunningham stunk, Dominique Easley had no knees, Aaron Hernandez killed people, and the track star who I am not going to look up hated football. All of those guys made me scream internally when Dawson’s name was called but like everything else with this team, in Bill we trust. Dawson tore his hamstring in minicamp and never saw the field in the preseason or regular season. He was activated after week 8 but was a healthy scratch for the rest of the year. You can interpret that one of two ways: they weren’t comfortable with playing him because he just isn’t good. OR they simply didn’t have the need to play him with their depth. Their top 3 corners from last year, Gilmore, McCourty, and Jackson are all back this year, as well as Jon Jones, their slot/nickel corner where Dawson projects to play. He is going to have to shine in OTA’s and and training camp if he wants to get some run on defense, or else he will be stuck with returning punts (which I am all for. Get Edelman out of there), and covering kicks.
Braxton Berrios is another interesting prospect to look out for this year. Another slot receiver, he may be asked to pick up a heavy load this season. With the lack of addition at the receiver position this offseason I wonder if the team thinks highly enough of Berrios to take some pressure of an aging Edelman and give Tom another quick, intermediate route runner to add to his arsenal. In his senior year at Miami he had 51 catches for 625 yards and 9 touchdowns. If he shows the ability to beat press coverage and understands the Patriots offense, he could be a very solid addition to a rather lackluster receiving core.
Christian Sam isn’t a name many people will be familiar with, but was an interesting prospect coming out of Arizona State. at 6’2, 240 pounds he is smaller than the other Pats linebackers but with good speed and fast hips that allow him to cover backs and smaller tight ends he may be a 3rd down option. Unlike his counterpart Bentley he never saw the field in the regular season, as he was placed on IR in early September. I have fallen in love with other linebackers like him (Harvey Langi) who haven’t panned out so I’m not getting my hopes up about him.
Lastly, there’s tight end Ryan Izzo. More of a blocking tight end, he could make the team as Dwayne Allen’s replacement and (hopefully) complement to Gronk. He literally just has to catch 3 passes to surpass Allen’s total so if he can block and do that, it’ll be an upgrade.
There’s a lot to be hopeful for with this non-rookie rookie class. There’s a lot of talent but a lot of questions. If these guys can stay healthy, keep progressing in the system, and play to their potential, the Pats will be adding a needed influx of youthful talent to their roster.
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