It's still very early in the offseason, and there is plenty of time for things to change dramatically, but from what has been seen at OTAs and minicamp so far, a few rookies appear on the path to solidifying their role for the Patriots' 2023 roster.
Some are obvious, given where they were taken in the draft. And others may come as a surprise.
However, regardless of everything, the possibility of so many rookies impressing New England coaches enough to make the roster should excite Patriots fans, especially since their draft classes over the last few years haven't been all that promising.
Being in a position right now to have around 75% of your rookies make the team is great news and can only lead to a bright future for the team overall.
But let's focus on the defensive rookies first, with three who have already made names for themselves early on in their Patriots tenures.
Christian Gonzalez - cornerback
This one should surprise no one, really.
The cornerback out of Oregon has had a lot of hype to live up to coming out of the draft, even more so for being the top-ranked player at the position and somehow falling into the Patriots' lap at pick 17.
Although we haven't seen a ton from him during the spring so far, his impressive performance and willingness to learn have had coaches and teammates speak highly of him, with most expressing their excitement for his potential.
The belief in his talent has shown, as Bill Belichick has put a heavy workload on him already during practices while also having him work with the first-team defense during drills. That may not come as significant news since Gonzalez was a first-round draft pick, but he was put on the field with last year's starters over other veterans on the team, like Jack Jones.
That seems to signal how good they know he can be.
If he can continue what he's shown on and off the field over the last several weeks, there's no doubt that not only will Gonzalez make the team, but he'll likely be a day-one starter on defense.
Keion White - EDGE
Despite his "unexcited response" to being drafted by the Patriots, Keion White has also turned heads during OTAs.
With the hope to maintain a dominant defense in mind, selecting White early in the draft indicated the importance of better rushing the passer, a weaker point of the Patriots team even with the rise of Matthew Judon and Josh Uche.
The rookie will be an immediate asset during a challenging season and has already demonstrated just how valuable he will be on the field.
Other than his impressive stature creating headlines, his versatility and strength are what stood out the most. Mike D'Abate of Sports Illustrated noted this, calling White a "jack of all trades" on the field and detailed what the Patriots had him doing during the practice session last month.
"The 6-4, 287-pounder aligned at outside linebacker, set in a three-point stance, rushed the passer, played the run, and even dropped into coverage as well."
With training camp set to begin late next month, there's still much to be seen from the young defensive player. However, what has been seen so far has been excellent, and he, too, could easily be a starter right away.
😳@good_vib3z | #ForeverNE pic.twitter.com/atYRSZKh8k
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) June 2, 2023
Marte Mapu - linebacker
There's not always a lot of excitement surrounding a third-round pick across the league, but Marte Mapu has continued to pique the interest of New England media and fans primarily due to his vast array of experience in football.
That, of course, is also a favorite trait of Belichick, who is known for loving a position-less player.
Although he was drafted as a linebacker, Mapu has lined up at almost every position on the defense during his college career. And he was able to show off his versatility during OTAs earlier this month.
Belichick put him to the test early, having him move all over the field during one practice in particular, and although he was wearing a non-contact jersey, his athleticism also stood out. So much so several of his teammates had to share their thoughts on what they've seen from Mapu so far.
Fellow defenseman Jabrill Peppers had the most to say after minicamp ended earlier this week, going into specific details about what Mapu can bring to the Patriots in the future.
"Man, he's a smart dude. Obviously his physical traits speak for itself. But he's a smart, smart dude. Always asking questions. You can tell he wants to understand not just what his job is but what the whole defense is. When you understand conceptually that way, it allows you to play faster and make more plays. He's a young guy, but he's out there communicating already. He's shown the ability to play 'backer and safety. I'm excited for his potential. As far as his IQ and his instincts, it's a perfect blend of both. Obviously he's still raw, he's still young. He has to pick his spots. But that's what OTAs are for. We ain't playing a game until September. We got a lot of time to get where we need to be. We just need to keep at it."
Because of his positional flexibility and standout performances already in mid-June, it seems fair to say Mapu is likely a roster lock come September.