Patriots kickoff 2016: A look at Malcolm Mitchell
The New England Patriots open the 2016 regular season in 19 days, so we’re profiling the owner of the No. 19 jersey, wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell.
First, some basic information about Malcolm Mitchell:
Size: 5-foot-11, 198 pounds
College: Georgia
NFL experience: Rookie
Selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of this spring’s draft, Mitchell appears to be on track to not only make the final roster, but also to be a starter. Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston says that Mitchell is the leading candidate for the “X” spot in the Patriots’ offense while Julian Edelman occupies the “Z” role and Chris Hogan gets slot duty along with Danny Amendola.
Analyzing Malcolm Mitchell-Troy Brown comparison
Of course, we all saw Mitchell suffer what appeared to be an extremely gruesome and season-ending injury against the New Orleans Saints several weeks ago. Luckily, however, Mitchell said the injury looked a whole lot worse than it actually was, and the rookie should be ready to play in Week 1. Even though that will mean a bunch of missed practice time with JImmy Garoppolo, at least Mitchell will be back for the start of the season (or close to it if the Pats decide to rest him until Week 2).
Recent installments in Patriots kickoff countdown profile series:
21 days – No. 21 Malcolm Butler
22 days – No. 22 Justin Coleman
23 days – No. 23 Patrick Chung
Mitchell runs routes very well, and he has impressive length for a wideout just under 6-foot. He showed awareness of the boundary line on one notable catch against the Saints, a trait that will serve him well if he indeed takes over the “X” role for the Pats. Hopefully, Mitchell is everything that Brandon LaFell was in that role back in 2014 when LaFell reeled in 74 receptions for 953 yards and seven touchdowns.
Another chapter in Malcolm Mitchell’s advocacy for children’s literacy
Off the field, Mitchell is a strong advocate for children’s literacy in addition to being a published author himself. It looks like the Patriots landed a wideout with a ton of potential who knows how to carry himself off the field just as well.
Next: 10 Most Exciting Sophomore Pros on Pats Roster
Be sure to stop by Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we mark 18 days until the Patriots open 2016 by profiling the owner of the No. 18 jersey, wide receiver and special teams ace Matthew Slater.