I’ve had enough of the Buffalo Bills. Last year I predicted that we would go 12-5 and win the division only to come up two wins short. This year it will be even more difficult, as the whole AFC seems to have gotten better. It will be a big test for Mac Jones & Co., especially for him without Josh McDaniels. Despite all that, you know I always have faith in the boys. Here’s 11 players that I think you and the whole league need to look out for this year.
1. RB Rhamondre Stevenson
After a fumble during the Patriots week one matchup against the Miami Dolphins left him in the Belichick doghouse, Rhamondre Stevenson bounced back for a stellar rookie campaign. The former Oklahoma power back racked up just over 600 yards on 133 carries along with five touchdowns. In the both games that Stevenson started he rushed for 100+ yards and two touchdowns. Watching him and Damien Harris run can bring a smile to any Patriots fan’s face. This year will be one to watch for Stevenson as the 1-2 punch of him and Harris returns. It will be interesting to see how they split the carries considering the running back him has gotten even deeper with the Patriots selecting both Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris in the draft. However, Harris is most likely a practice squad candidate and veteran James White is reportedly starting the year out on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. The future is bright for Rhamondre Stevenson and I can’t wait to see him truck defenders like small children again.
2. TE Jonnu Smith
After signing a four-year, $50 million deal with the Patriots last March, many Patriots fans thought Jonnu Smith would be a huge part of the new-look offense. However, Smith’s production didn’t pan out the way we all thought it would. Despite the rocky first year, Smith showed some flashes of greatness as both a pass-catcher and blocker. While his fellow tight end Hunter Henry went on to have a monster year, Smith was in the shadows doing the dirty work. Look for Smith to be more involved in the offense in both tight end and fullback roles, considering last year’s starting fullback Jakob Johnson left with Josh McDaniels to the Raiders.
3. WR Kendrick Bourne
One of the Patriots most exciting players, Kendrick Bourne is back for yet another year with Belichick & Co. Last year Bourne caught 55 passes for 800 yards and five touchdowns, which were all second on the team. After a full offseason with Mac Jones, expect Bourne’s numbers to go even higher. If you don’t believe those two have chemistry, you’re just going to have to watch one of Kendrick’s vlogs on his YouTube channel.
4. LB Josh Uche
Josh Uche has the potential to be a special player. And if you don’t want to take my word for it, just listen to the greatest coach of all time talk about him.
Uche’s role will increase exponentially this year due to the departures of Kyle Van Noy, Chase Winovich and Dont’a Hightower. After only playing 22% of the team’s defensive snaps last year, Uche will find himself lining up alongside Pro Bowler Matt Judon trying to take advantage of the double teams going towards him. Obviously the Patriots believe in him if both Bill and Steve Belichick are giving him this kind of praise. Uche is explosive out of his stance but can also come across the line with some sneaky power. After grabbing three sacks and a fumble recovery last year, I can’t wait to see what he’ll do with starting reps.
5. WR Tyquan Thornton
Tyquan Thornton is something that the Patriots haven’t truly had since Randy Moss left. An elite combination of size and speed. Standing at 6’2″ and coming in with a 4.28 40-yard dash, the former Baylor standout will try to fit into the deep receiver rotation this year. The second-round pick is an absolute playmaker with the ball in his hands, grabbing 62 catches for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns in 14 games with the Bears last year. The Patriots receiver room did get a little thinner yesterday with N’Keal Harry getting traded to the Chicago Bears, but Thornton will have to work for his reps this year. Expect to see him mostly on special teams but don’t rule out a big deep catch or trick play this season. There’s a reason why the Patriots traded up to select him in the first place.
6. CB Jack Jones
Another Patriots rookie to keep an eye on is cornerback Jack Jones out of Arizona State. Jones was selected in the fourth round by the Patriots, but his talent is way better than that. Coming out of high school Jones was a five-star recruit who went on to have a stellar 2017 with the USC Trojans picking the ball off four times along with 40 tackles. However, Jones wouldn’t stay at USC long due to academic issues so he had to go the JUCO route. After JUCO, he landed at Arizona State where he would snag six interceptions in two years as a Sun Devil. He hasn’t stopped impressing though, as rumors are swirling that he is in “in the mix” to replace J.C. Jackson as a starting cornerback. The Patriots cornerback room is deep, yet unproven as of now. Keep your eye on both Jack and Marcus Jones this year as surprise impact players on the defensive side of the ball.
7. LB Raekwon McMillan
As I mentioned earlier, the departures of both Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy have ushered in a new era of Patriots linebackers. One of those linebackers is Raekwon McMillan. A former Ohio State standout, McMillan is entering his fifth year in the league. McMillan hasn’t had the greatest of times as a Patriot, as he tore his ACL in practice last August and has yet to play a snap for Bill Belichick’s team. Despite the injury causing him to miss the whole season, the Patriots gave him a one-year extension just one month after his injury. McMillan will turn 27 this November and he’ll need to prove to the Patriots that he can regain his rookie year form where he recorded 105 combined tackles. If there’s any time to do it, it is now. I wish him all the best because I know the talent is there.
8. LB Mack Wilson
If there’s one thing about Bill Belichick, it’s that he loves him some Alabama defensive players. Acquired in the Chase Winovich trade this past March, Wilson will likely step into a starting role for the Patriots. Wilson is still young at 24 and is only entering his fourth year in the league, but he’s seen a lot of game time as he’s started 28 games for the Cleveland Browns. It’s a fresh start for the former Alabama linebacker and Patriots nation is excited to have him.
9. WR DeVante Parker
DeVante Parker can be an incredible wide receiver for the Patriots. He can honestly be the WR1 if he plays to his ability. His big frame (6’3″, 219 lbs.) helps him win almost every jump-ball and makes him very hard to tackle. There is a reason that the Dolphins took him with the 14th pick in the 2015 draft. If Parker can stay healthy and find that chemistry with #10, the sky is the limit.
10. DT Christian Barmore
Christian Barmore is an absolute tank. Barmore finished his rookie campaign with 1.5 sacks but an incredible 48 quarterback pressures, causing havoc at nearly every pass-defending snap. The Alabama product has a great nose for the ball and does a great job at clogging running lanes for the linebackers as well. Barmore was recently quoted saying that he wants to “finish the quarterback” in 2022. If he can get to the signal-caller a step quicker, it’s going to be scary hours for offensive lines around the league.
11. S Jabrill Peppers
A player to watch on every snap, Jabrill Peppers brings that electricity to this Patriots defense. The former Michigan star arrived in New England this past April and he perfectly fits the Bill Belichick mold. A versatile player on the defensive side of the ball that can be a threat in and out of the box. Peppers has a history of playing both linebacker and defensive back at Michigan so expect him to be doing a lot more of that for his new team. If you look at the other safeties on the roster like Kyle Dugger and Adrian Phillips, they also both come down to a “rover” linebacker position and attack the box. Even Peppers himself knows that the Patriots system will fit him like a glove.
Peppers will also reunite with his former New York Giants head coach Joe Judge, where he was named a captain during his time there. If he is able to fully recover from the partial ACL tear that ended his 2021 campaign, Peppers will be able to make a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball this year.
I originally was only going to do 10 players, but I realized I forgot Jabrill Peppers so I had to include him. This right here is a typical New England Patriots roster. A bunch of underrated and under appreciated players that come together to make a solid playoff team. Will this team contend for a championship? That honestly depends on our ability to stay healthy and how we start games. Many times last year the Patriots would start off slow and that makes it almost impossible to win games in the NFL. You can’t make the journey even harder for yourselves in this league. That’s why the least penalized teams usually are the most successful. This year is a big year for the boys as Mac Jones tries to one-up his Pro Bowl rookie season and the defense tries to put that 47-point wild-card beatdown they took at the hands of the Buffalo Bills in their rearview mirror. Like I said previously, we have no other choice, but to move. I’m so excited for this season. This is YSN, until next time, signing out.
