As the Patriots set to begin the 2023 season in just a few days, so many storylines have garnered the most excitement around New England amongst the fans and media.
How will Mac Jones perform this season after the disaster that was 2022?
Will the rookies be as impressive as they have during the preseason?
Who will have the biggest breakout year?
They're all valid questions and certainly deserve to be pondered. But one of the more passed-over conversations is the list of under-the-radar players to watch for.
Fortunately, the Patriots have a long list of exciting players this upcoming season, including nearly all of their 2023 draft class. But within that long list are a handful of guys that seem to be flying under the radar, with the potential to be integral pieces of the team in their pursuit of a bounce-back season.
And it's not just the offense and defense that should hold your attention; a few names on special teams will also.
Kayshon Boutte
Although not much of the offense has people excited, the potential of the rookie receivers appears to have caught the attention of some fans and local media. But most of that optimism has been aimed at Demario Douglas, who looked impressive throughout training camp, leaving Kayshon Boutte in the dust.
Much of that is due to Boutte's slow progression during the summer, which made many focus elsewhere. When he did start to shine in practices and preseason games, the worries of the Patriots waiting until the sixth round to draft much-needed receivers didn't appear as much of a concern anymore, ironic considering it was considered the biggest hurdle the offense would have to overcome this season.
The glimpses of what Boutte was known for during his college career at LSU have reignited the possibilities of what he can bring to an offense that has been completely revamped and is hoping to rebound from a down year. He may not be atop the depth chart, but his quickness and versatility will be invaluable, especially on an offense with so many question marks.
Perhaps he will revert to when he was considered a first-round talent.
Maybe he will outshine his fellow rookie teammate.
Or he could just become a solid weapon for Mac Jones to utilize and showcase why the Patriots got lucky to draft him.
Josh Uche
The Patriots' defense has become one of the best units in the league, with Matthew Judon leading the way since signing with New England in 2021. The former Raven receives the most praise of nearly all his defensive teammates, but the rise of Josh Uche last season should not be overlooked.
As the defense remains the superior side of the Patriots, Uche's potential to build upon the best year of his career in 2022 could be one aspect that puts them over the edge.
After having two standard seasons since being drafted, Uche recorded 27 combined tackles, nine tackles for a loss, 14 quarterback hits, 11.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. It was the perfect time to have what looked like an awakening, especially during a difficult season for the entire team.
Now entering his fourth season in the NFL, which just so happens to be a contract year as well, the expectation is Uche could propel himself into the position of joining Judon as the defense's 1-2 punch.
Brenden Schooler
With Matthew Slater's retirement now clearly on the horizon, the development of Brenden Schooler will become all the more important this season. And luckily, he has the potential to become a pillar of the special teams unit in due time.
Schooler quickly became an integral part of the third unit during his rookie season, learning from the GOAT and looking like another win for Belichick in his consistent success signing UDFAs.
He was one of the better parts of a struggling special teams last season, where he recorded 14 tackles (which was the highest among all rookies in 2022), just six missed tackles, 11 solo takedowns, a punt recovery, and two fumble recoveries.
Because so much emphasis this offseason has been on getting special teams back to being the most reliable part of the team, Schooler's physicality and speed will be utilized in all aspects of the kicking, punting, and field goal units.
With another impressive outing, the departure of Slater will feel a little less upsetting, knowing that Schooler is waiting in the wings to take over for his mentor.
Jalen Mills
One of the least discussed moves of the Patriots' offseason has been Jalen Mills' switch from cornerback to safety. Despite his versatility in the secondary, Mills has spent most of his career as a corner but saw his most impressive year with the Eagles in 2020 when he was lined up as a free safety.
After being cut from the team just to be re-signed as a safety a day later, Mills has looked better and better on the practice field as the summer went on. With Devin McCourty's absence being a lingering talking point that most believe will be noticeable this season, Mills' experience at the position, along with his athleticism and tenacity, could become a vital piece that the defense needs.
He shined during his limited usage during the preseason with a standout performance against the Texans, which made it clear he was comfortable with the position change despite being away from it for three years.
Belichick believes in what Mills can be to this defense and trusts he can help bridge the gap of McCourty's absence. He's already improved during the two seasons he's been in New England and is projected to be even better this year, which makes the defense even more exciting to watch.
Bryce Baringer
It seems obvious why a punter would be under the radar when considering players to look out for coming into a new season. Special teams players don't garner much attention or excitement from most people unless you're Bill Belichick. But considering the absolute disaster that was the punting unit last season, it's difficult not to be ecstatic about the arrival of Bryce Baringer.
After years of the Patriots having one of the most consistently talented special teams in the entire NFL, the last two seasons saw a drastic shift in their success. The once reliable parts of the team became one of the most problematic, and it seemed only to get worse as the season went on.
It looked like things were on the right track, though, as Jake Bailey signed a new contract just weeks before the 2022 season began. But he started the year off poorly and ended up being placed on injured reserve until he was later cut from the team in dramatic fashion.
In his place, Belichick tried to bring in veterans to replace Bailey but was unsuccessful. Whoever was in at punter became a liability and is very much responsible for some of the worst-case scenarios during an already disappointing season.
Come the draft, it made sense why the Patriots traded up for the best punter in the class, and Baringer proved to be worth it throughout training camp and preseason. He became known for nearly punting footballs into orbit, so he easily won the roster battle this summer.
Hopefully, he can keep that going in games that matter and put the Patriots in a better position by ensuring the opposing team starts as deep into their own territory as possible.