New England Patriots rookie preview

The Patriots will be heading into the 2022 season with ten rookies on their active roster. Last year rookie quarterback Mac Jones led all rookies in virtually every statistic. 2021 was an exceptional draft for New England as RB Rhamondre Stevenson, and DL Christian Barmore contributed heavily to New England,

This year the Patriots have nine first-year players, excluding second-round pick Tyquan Thornton who landed on the IR. So let’s dive in and see how these rookies will stack up against NFL talent.

G Cole Strange

Bill Belichick selected guard Cole Strange with the 29th pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Strange seemed like a surprise pick and caught many off guard. However, since day one, Strange has been a starter at left guard, which is a good sign. Strange’s athleticism and versatility stick out as he will look to add value to New England’s offensive line.

WR Tyquan Thornton

Thornton had a great summer and was building up trust with the offense. However, in the preseason, Thornton suffered a broken collarbone and landed on the IR. He will have to miss four games and is set to return in mid to late October. When he comes back, he will have his work cut out for him as there are already four wide receivers ahead of him on the depth chart. He should see some time in critical plays, but do not count on him to be a starter this season.

CB Marcus Jones

Jones should be on the field the most out of the Patriots rookies as he found his groove in camp. Jonathon Jones moved outside, allowing Marcus Jones to take over in the slot. Jones is also an exceptional punt returner and has been involved in the returning game all summer. Jones can provide a spark to a struggling team with long returns in the kicking game.

CB Jack Jones

When the Patriots released veteran cornerback Terrance Mitchell, it showed the front office had a lot of trust in Jack Jones. Belichick said Jones’s instincts are “second to none.” Jones mainly plays outside, providing valuable depth to a thin cornerback room. Jones had a great preseason and helped the Patriots’ defense.

RB Pierre Strong Jr.

Although Strong got off to a slow start, as unknown injuries limited him, his game picked up in the summer. While his speed and agility have yet to appear, he should see some time as Ty Montgomery is still dealing with an injury. Belichick does shy away from not playing rookie running backs, but Stevenson broke that trend last year. According to 98.5 reporter Alex Barth, “Stevenson’s 47 touches were the most by a non-first round rookie back for the Patriots since J.R. Redmond in 2000, and he and Redmond are the only such rookie backs to surpass 100 touches with the Patriots in the Bill Belichick era.”

QB Bailey Zappe

Zappe got most of the playing time in preseason games, signaling he should be the third string behind Hoyer. However, there is some question about whether Zappe will see any playing time at all this year. He should be inactive on gamedays while remaining an emergency option for New England. Zappe had 45 completions for 451 yards and a 63.6% completion percentage. That said, he only threw for one touchdown and had three interceptions.

DL Sam Roberts

Roberts will be joining one of the deepest parts of the roster: the defensive line. Christain Barmore, Davon Godchux, Detrich Wise, Carl Davis, and Lawrence Guy are ahead of Roberts on the depth chart. Roberts has explosiveness on the line and should provide some value in the limited snaps he earns. He also adds value on special teams, having blocked five field goals last year in college.

IOL Chasen Hines

Chasen Hines is the only rookie offensive lineman that made the 53-man roster. His versatility is unmatched, giving him a slight edge over guys like Arlinton Hambright and Kody Russey. The team does think highly of him, though, giving him the third backup spot on the line. Furthermore, Isaiah Wynn and Trent Brown have a questionable injury history, so their playing time may increase as injuries occur.

DE DaMarcus Mitchell

Mitchell has been loved by New England since the start of camp, mostly playing with the ones and twos. Mitchell had a lot of playing time this summer. He is mainly used on special teams and has made lots of plays in the kicking game. His snaps on defense should be limited, but he should be more involved in the kicking game.

S Brenden Schooler

‘

One of the most surprising cuts was long-time special teamer Justin Bethel. When Bethel got waived, the instant thought was Schooler made the team. As a result, Schooler has been getting lots of one-on-one coaching with special teams coach Cam Acord and captain Matthew Slater.