3 players on Patriots’ roster competing for a spot
Patriots veterans and rookies are fighting for their spots in the lineup. Here are 3 players on the Pats’ roster who are competing for their position.
Patriots veterans and rookies are fighting for their spots in the lineup with the 2022 season upon us. With some freshly signed talent in positions that left people questioning, will there be some surprises this year with veteran roster moves?
Each year, it seems like NFL teams surprise the rest of the league when a little known player makes the starting lineup or unseats a veteran. In many instances, while a certain veteran may have the name recognition, their play might not match up to their continuing popularity.
Also, NFL teams might feel more comfortable allowing a younger player to unseat a veteran, as the younger player generally has more opportunity to develop.
With the shelf life in the NFL being very short, teams are always looking for younger players to step up. Younger teams are generally in a much healthier position than older teams.
Are there veterans on the Patriots’ roster who are competing for a spot against a young player?
3 players on the Patriots’ roster that may be competing for a spot – Mac Jones, QB
Mac Jones is everything the Patriots needed. After the loss of their 20 year, six-time Super Bowl winning quarterback, Tom Brady, the offense needed to rebuild from the ground up. Jones stepped in and proved to be worth the pick from Alabama. He had an impressive rookie year – throwing for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns. Jones acclimated to the Patriots’ organization well and became the glimmer of hope Pats fans longed for.
Fast forward to the 2022 draft – the Patriots selected quarterback Bailey Zappe from Western Kentucky late in the fourth round. This decision left people asking “why?”
NFL GM, Randy Mueller, gave some insight behind this pick: “I see a lot of positives in Bailey Zappe. When you get to the third day of the draft, I think it’s too much to turn your back on, regardless of position.”
Is Mac in danger? While this prediction may be an extremely hot take, Zappe had positive production is 2021. He completed 475 of 686 (69.2%) passes for 5,967 yards, with 61 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Zappe is expected to be a viable backup option – behind Brain Hoyer. Backup quarterbacks never know when their time to shine will be, and Jones is approaching year two which has the potential to be plagued with a sophomore slump. Jones was seen sporting a compression sleeve early into training camp and was reported to have missed some reps. Does this open up possibilities for Zappe?
3 players on the Patriots’ roster that may be competing for a spot – Nelson Agholor, WR
Nelson Agholor was a nice addition to the roster for the 2021 season – tallying 37 receptions for 473 total yards and 3 recorded touchdowns. While he may not always be the target of choice for Jones, Agholor has decent reliability when running down the field.
Since the draft, all eyes have been on the 6-foot-2 wide receiver from Baylor, Tyquan Thornton. This speedy target is not only reliable, but one that the Patriots need in their depth chart. Thornton was projected to be a much later pick in the draft then what the Patriots snagged him at (50th overall in the second round). Thornton has been putting in work during training camp – showcasing some impressive skills against his defenders.
A lot of pressure is put on the team’s current wide receivers – Nelson Agholor being one of them. Despite having professional experience under his belt, Agholor has a higher chance of having reps taken from him by this rookie. Thornton was chosen early on due to the massive potential he holds. Only time will tell if this pick is proven beneficial.
3 players on the Patriots’ roster that may be competing for a spot – James White, RB
James White missed almost the entirety of the 2021 when he suffered a hip subluxation against the Saints in Week 3. White usually dominates the back field and proves to be a reliable option for the Patriots’ run game. He produces impressive stats year after year. In the 2020 season, White recorded 375 receiving yards with 1 receiving touchdown, as well as 121 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. He’s finally back and ready for the 2022 season.
Cue Pierre Strong Jr. The fourth round pick from South Dakota has some impressive resume points. Some are saying he can surpass White as a run-pass option. Strong has many similarities to White versus Rhamondre Stevenson or Damien Harris. Strong possesses quickness and can read the short routes well. This will be an interesting position battle since White is coming off of a lingering injury.
The 2022 season is quickly approaching, and players are beginning to report for camp. It will be interesting to see where the rookies fit in amongst the veterans and who will out-work the other for their spot on the field.