New England Patriots: Braxton Berrios is the answer to losing Danny Amendola
By Dale Lavine
Now that Braxton Berrios is with the New England Patriots, he’s the most likely option to fill in for Danny Amendola
With the 210th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots drafted Braxton Berrios, a wide receiver out of Miami. Berrios will add some much-needed talent and depth to a wounded receiving corps, which took hits after losing Danny Amendola to the Miami Dolphins in free agency and trading Brandin Cooks to the Los Angeles Rams.
Berrios being drafted by the Patriots should come as a shock to absolutely nobody. The running joke surrounding Berrios is that he looks – and plays – like a typical New England receiver. So much so, in fact, his combine report compared him to Amendola.
Even Reggie Wayne made the Berrios-Amendola comparison, saying “When I look at him on film and watch the way he runs routes […] he reminds me of Danny Amendola.”
The comparison only makes sense. If Amendola was New England’s answer for losing Wes Welker, Berrios is their answer for losing Amendola.
The Patriots need a guy in the slot, and Berrios fits that mold. He’ll join a group of receivers that, after recent UDFA signings, is 12-deep. Certain receivers, such as Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan, are essentially a lock for the final roster. Malcolm Mitchell is hoping to join them after spending last season on IR. Phillip Dorsett‘s role could expand with the departure of Brandin Cooks.
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The recently-signed Jordan Matthews will also have to duke it out with the other new receivers on the squad, but his odds of cracking the roster are more optimistic. Matthew Slater and newcomer Cordarelle Patterson are technically wide receivers, but it’s expected they’ll stick with special teams duties.
Braxton Berrios leads the competition for the clutch receiving spot
So, not including the special teamers, the Patriots typically only carry six receivers on their active roster. Barring potential injuries, that leaves just one spot open; Amendola’s position as a clutch slot receiver.
If the team is looking to fill that spot, a battle between Berrios and Riley McCarron is on the horizon. Unfortunately for McCarron, Berrios is simply the better choice here if you’re looking to replace Amendola.
Outside of their physical similarities, the two also share similarities in their style of play. Like Amendola, Berrios is an excellent (and explosive) route runner and punt returner. Both players’ combine reports reported excellent pass-catching abilities. However, like Amendola, Berrios has issues with sustaining and escaping blocks.
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Berrios is scrappy and he’s smart – everything the Patriots look for in a receiver. He may have issues with breaking tackles and reeling in high throws, but that’s not the role he’ll play. With coaching and time, expect to see Berrios take over for Amendola (and maybe one day Edelman) as the Patriots receiver most likely to get open and eat up yardage on quick plays.