Expectations of Patriots’ fourth-year players
4. Logan Ryan (2013 third-rounder)
2013 stats: 16 games (seven starts), 45 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, fumble forced, 10 passes defended, five interceptions, touchdown
2014 stats: 16 games (six starts), 46 combined tackles, two fumbles forced, seven passes defended, two interceptions
2015 stats: 16 games (14 starts), 73 combined tackles, 14 passes defended, four interceptions
Slowly but surely, Ryan has matured before our very own eyes and he has become a solid No. 2 cornerback in the NFL.
Ryan’s rookie campaign was highlighted by his pick-six of Geno Smith and his impressive recording of 1.5 sacks on the stat sheet.
However, Ryan’s sophomore season was an uphill voyage to earn playing time, as he was a depth guy behind Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard.
But year three proved to be Ryan’s coming out party, as he was one of the better starting cornerbacks in the NFL. The Patriots’ strategy of sticking Ryan on the No. 1 wideout and allocating McCourty that way to provide immediate help in coverage worked well all year. Ryan even held his own against elite wideouts such as DeAndre Hopkins and Demaryius Thomas.
2016 NFL Draft: 6 RBs Pats should mull over
2016 expectations: 16 games (15 starts), 75 combined tackles, 16 passes defended, two forced fumbles, six interceptions, touchdowns
En route to posting career high numbers across the board, Ryan will record his second career pick-six.
Next: 3. Joe Vellano