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Patriots kickoff 2016: A look at Aaron Dobson

By Connor Fulton

Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Aaron Dobson (17) catches a pass against Buffalo Bills cornerback Ronald Darby (28) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 23, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Aaron Dobson (17) catches a pass against Buffalo Bills cornerback Ronald Darby (28) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fourth-year pro Aaron Dobson wears the No. 17 jersey, so he is the subject of discussion today as we mark 17 days until the New England Patriots open the 2016 season.

Size: 6-foot-3, 2015 pounds
College: Marshall
NFL experience: Three seasons

Selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Dobson has been one of the more frustrating yet promising wide receivers the Patriots have drafted in the Bill Belichick era. Through three seasons, the Marshall product has caught 53 balls for 698 yards and four touchdowns. The bulk of Dobson’s production came in his rookie year of 2013, when he snagged 37 passes for 519 yards and all four of those career touchdowns.

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Dobson was barely a factor in the 2014 season, appearing in just four games and securing only three passes. At the beginning of last year, Dobson was showing well, like when he pulled in seven receptions for 87 yards in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. But alas, Dobson went down for the season with an ankle injury after pulling in a 17-yard first-down reception in the next meeting against the Bills.

Recent installments in Patriots kickoff countdown profile series:

18 days – No. 18 Matthew Slater

19 days – No. 19 Malcolm Mitchell

21 days – No. 21 Malcolm Butler

This year, Dobson hopes to buck the trend of injuries interfering with his development. However, it might be too little, too late for Dobson, as the Patriots have no shortage of capable and promising wide receivers trying out for the team. With Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell looking like roster locks, it will be up to Dobson to compete against Chris Harper, Keshawn Martin, Devin Lucien and DeAndre Carter.

Patriots 2016 season prediction

This writer still sees potential in Dobson’s athletic 6-foot-3 frame; he just has to stay healthy and catch the ball.

Next: 3 ripple effects of Bryan Stork release

Be sure to stop by Be sure to stop by Musket Fire tomorrow morning as we mark 16 days until the Patriots open 2016 by profiling the owner of the No. 16 jersey, undrafted rookie wideout Devin Lucien.

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