As the Patriots continue to work on becoming a younger team overall, they have a lot of potential star power in their rookies and second-year players.
The 2023 draft class has gotten a lot of praise throughout the offseason, performing above and beyond any expectations that the fans and media had made. From Demario Douglas and Christian Gonzalez to Bryce Baringer and Keion White, the overanalyzed and criticized selections of Bill Belichick earlier this year appear to be far superior to the judgments made on draft night.
But what about the second-year players?
In contrast to the group taken earlier this year, the 2022 draft class has not panned out as well. Nearly half of them did not make the 53-man roster, either due to being traded, released, or signed to the practice squad, and it appears to be one of the weaker classes in recent Patriots history.
However, there are a few poised to have a sophomore jump this year, which will be much needed for the team overall.
Cole Strange
Probably the most debated draft pick of the 2022 draft class, Cole Strange came out hot to start his rookie season. After all of the scrutiny and jokes made at the Patriots' expense for using a first-round draft pick on a guard, Strange performed incredibly well early on, simultaneously silencing the critics.
But as it often is with rookies in the National Football League, especially one who is a starter on day one, he hit some speed bumps throughout the season, which inevitably got him benched in a few games.
It's not unexpected from any rookie around the league, no matter how great they played in college or how well prepared they appeared to play in the pros; it happens every year on every team. The good thing, though, is when they learn from the hardships and build upon that within the same season, something Strange did as the season went on.
The offensive line struggled week to week, with Trent Brown and Isaiah Wynn taking the brunt of the blame because of inconsistent protection and piling up penalties. So much of Strange's growing pains weren't as noticeable until he started getting back on track and more confident.
Through the final seven weeks of the season, he played his best football, even ending the year with possibly his best game against the Bills.
Now that he's experienced an entire season and all the unique and unimaginable problems that came with it, Strange is in far better hands with improved talent around him and a better mentor to coach him in Adrian Klemm.
If he can take all that he learned last season and couple that with his hard work during the offseason, including putting on weight and getting stronger, he could help propel the interior offensive line to new heights and become the best part of the unit overall.
Marcus Jones
It may seem out of place to have Marcus Jones on this list after his noteworthy rookie season, which earned him All-Pro honors as a punt returner. But it seems fair to assume we only saw a glimpse of what he can truly bring to the Patriots over the next several years.
The real test will be building upon that momentum and where it can take him.
His versatility was on full display throughout the 2022 season, working with the offense, defense, and special teams unit. He seemed to find his sweet spot as a punt returner, which the Patriots badly needed, and helped the team beat the Jets in the final seconds of their week eleven matchup with an 84-yard punt return touchdown.
Heading into his second season, there doesn't appear to be a clear direction with how Belichick plans to use him. Jones will likely be primarily used on defense and special teams since the offense has improved from last season, and based on how he practiced this summer, it looks like that may be the case.
But that's what makes a player like Jones so exciting to watch. His flexibility and natural talent as a pure football player automatically make him a secret weapon for any team to covet. You have to expect the unexpected when he is on the field because his skillset knows no bounds, and we will undoubtedly see that this upcoming season.
Regardless of where he is used, what Jones can bring to the Patriots is clear and will only get better with more experience and time.
Sam Roberts
After an underwhelming rookie season, Sam Roberts brought good attention to himself with some standout performances during the preseason this summer.
Upon his initial drafting, there was a little excitement about what the sixth-rounder would bring to the Patriots. But what really dominated headlines was his social media activity, as it revealed Roberts grew up a Patriots fan and tweeted his support for them against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship in 2018.
Like most rookies signed by New England, we didn't see Roberts much on the field during his rookie season. He played in just five games and totaled two combined tackles on the year.
However, he made a name for himself with his preseason performance against the Packers last month, where he was credited with five tackles, two run stops, and one quarterback hurry. His play and his potential made a good enough impression on Bill Belichick to keep him on the 53-man roster.
Like other young and upcoming players on the roster, Roberts has all the tools to become an integral part of the defensive line, particularly in stopping the run. As a weaker part of the unit overall, if he can hone in on the skills he has already showcased and fine-tune them with the help of defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington, he may become a real diamond in the rough from the 2022 draft class.
It won't be an easy feat, with so much talent around him on the defense especially, but Roberts' breakout performance in Green Bay came at the right time and should translate into the regular season.