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Expectations of third-year Patriots players

By Connor Fulton

Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back James White (28) scores a touchdown against Buffalo Bills free safety Corey Graham (20) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back James White (28) scores a touchdown against Buffalo Bills free safety Corey Graham (20) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jimmy Garoppolo Patriots
Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) before the game against the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship football game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Jimmy Garoppolo

2014 stats: 16 games (no starts), 19 of 27 passing, 182 yards, touchdown

2015 stats: 16 games (no starts), 1 of 4 passing, six yards

After two years as Tom Brady’s understudy, Garoppolo is still a largely unknown quantity. That being said, he hasn’t shown us anything yet to make us think he can’t be the quarterback of the future. 31 passing attempts is too small of a sample size to make any type of substantive inference.

Revisiting and grading Patriots’ 2015 NFL Draft

For some time last summer, it looked like we were about to see Garoppolo start the first four games of the 2016 season. While it was of course better to have Brady back at the helm, this writer was looking forward to seeing what Garoppolo could do in a starting role. That will have to wait.

2016 expectations: 16 games (no starts), 20 of 32 passing, 201 yards, two touchdowns, one interception

Here’s the reasoning for the projections above: the Patriots are going to be very good this season. So good, in fact, that Week 17 will be meaningless and Garoppolo will get the start, just like he did in Week 17 of 2014 against the Buffalo Bills. The vast majority of the numbers listed above will come in regular season finale.

Next: 3. James White

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