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JuJu Smith-Schuster JuJu Smith-Schuster Dealing with injury
Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 8:14 AM
Smith-Schuster (undisclosed) is not expected to practice Monday at the opener of New England's mandatory minicamp, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: Smith-Schuster has missed a substantial amount of offseason activities due to an undisclosed injury, per Zack Cox of NESN.com, meaning Mac Jones hasn't had ample opportunities to build chemistry with his projected top wide receiver ahead of the upcoming campaign. That's certainly not ideal for a passing attack already being revamped under new offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, but Smith-Schuster still has a bit of time left to get healthy and resume participating in offseason practices. DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton and Kendrick Bourne headline the Patriots' wideout room behind Smith-Schuster in addition to tight ends Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki. |
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Dalton Keene Dalton Keene Still in backup TE mix
Fri, May 6, 2022, 4:13 PM
Following the 2022 NFL Draft, Keene (knee) and Devin Asiasi remain in the Patriots' backup tight end mix, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: While neither of the two 2020 third-rounders are threats to supplant the team's top two tight ends, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, the Patriots would no doubt like to see added contributions from Keene and/or Asiasi. Since being taken 101st overall out of Virginia Tech, Keene has recorded just three catches for 16 yards in six regular-season NFL games. The 23-year-old spent last season on IR, but he's presumably past the knee injury that landed him there and will look to reclaim his roster spot ahead of the 2022 campaign. |
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Jarrett Stidham Jarrett Stidham Faces added competition
Thu, May 5, 2022, 12:28 PM
Following the Patriots' selection of Bailey Zappe in the fourth round of the recent NFL Draft, Stidham has added competition for a roster spot, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: With veteran Brian Hoyer also in the backup mix behind starter Mac Jones, it looks like Stidham could be the odd man out in the Patriots' signal-caller equation, with Zappe's spot with the team presumably secure. Stidham, a 2019 fourth-rounder out of Auburn, is approaching the final year of his rookie contract. |
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Headed to Pats as UDFA
Sun, May 1, 2022, 12:50 PM
The Patriots are slated to sign King, Mike Dussault of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The University of Miami product was a college quarterback, but with the Patriots the 5-foot-9, 196-pounder's best chance of making the team's roster or practice squad as a UDFA may rest in his ability to potentially switch over to wide receiver, a position he has played in the past. |
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James White James White Bouncing back from hip issue
Sun, May 1, 2022, 12:24 PM
White (hip) isn't expected to be ready for the Patriots' upcoming voluntary offseason workouts, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports. "I still have a little while to go [after] a pretty rough injury," White acknowledged after the 2022 NFL Draft.
Analysis: It remains to be seen when the veteran change-of-pace back will be fully cleared, but in the meantime added opportunities behind top early-down options Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson will be available for draftees Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris, as well as returnee J.J. Taylor. Assuming he reproves his health in advance of Week 1, White is poised to reclaim his pass-catching role in New England's backfield, but considering the team's depth on that front, the 30-year-old may be hard-pressed to log the sort of target volume he did when he operated as a key safety valve for former New England QB Tom Brady. |
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Nabbed by New England
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 5:26 PM
The Patriots selected Stueber in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 245th overall.
Analysis: A technically sound offensive lineman, Stueber has some question marks about his ability to play tackle at the NFL level because of his below-average athleticism. He only played two games at guard at Michigan, so he will likely need some fine-tuning if he makes the transition in New England. |
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Lands in New England
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 3:59 PM
The Patriots selected Hines in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 210th overall.
Analysis: Hines is the second interior offensive lineman selected by the Patriots in this draft. The 327-pounder out of LSU is squat (6-foot-2) but athletic for his size with a powerful lower half. Hines was plagued with injuries his last season on the bayou as he missed the final five games of the season, but he was healthy for the combine. He projects as a solid depth option at guard for the Patriots. |
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Drafted by New England
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 3:39 PM
The Patriots selected Roberts in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 200th overall.
Analysis: This one feels like a bit of a reach. Roberts blocked five field goals and extra points throughout his three seasons as a starter at NW Missouri State and also tallied 18.5 sacks across 38 sacks, but he's missing a number of athletic traits and looks raw as a pass rusher. Expect the 2022 sixth-round pick to compete for a depth role along the defensive line. |
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New England selects in sixth round
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 2:55 PM
The Patriots selected Harris in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 183rd overall.
Analysis: If his health cooperates, Harris will be a steal for the Patriots. He's a 220-pound back out of South Carolina, where as a true sophomore he ran for 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns in just 10 games while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. He suffered a back injury that slowed him in 2021, when he ran for just 669 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games (4.4 YPC), but the 2020 version of Harris is a no-doubt NFL running back and he can get back there with a little luck. Unfortunately for him, the Patriots' running back depth chart is at least four deep ahead of him with Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson, James White and fourth-round 2022 pick Pierre Strong already present. |
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Joins QB room in New England
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 12:48 PM
The Patriots selected Zappe in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 137th overall.
Analysis: Zappe spent four years at Houston Baptist of the FCS before transferring to Western Kentucky for 2021. He put together a historic season for as a senior, as he threw for 5,967 yards and an FBS-record 62 touchdowns, a record that was previously held by Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (60). Of course, Zappe did it against Conference USA competition while Burrow did it in the SEC, but the production is convincing nonetheless. Zappe probably lacks the arm strength and athleticism to be a difference-maker under center. However, he has the intelligence and touch to potentially be a steady game manager if he's ever thrust into NFL action. He'll first need to beat out Brian Hoyer and/or Jarrett Stidham to be 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones' backup. |
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Headed east to New England
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 12:17 PM
The Patriots selected Strong in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 127th overall.
Analysis: Strong (5-foot-11, 207 pounds) is a light running back who played at a low level of competition (South Dakota State), but he was immensely productive in college and ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at the combine, which was tops among running backs. Strong's explosiveness is a contrast from the between-the-tackles style that Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson offer, but it might be difficult for Strong to emerge as a rookie-year factor with those two and James White already leading the backfield. If he can earn playing time, though, Strong would instantly become interesting. |
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Quick corner to New England
Sat, Apr 30, 2022, 12:00 PM
The Patriots selected Jones in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 121st overall.
Analysis: Jones spent six total seasons at the college level, including three seasons at Arizona State, where he posted 32 tackles, nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles and three interceptions. He's a slender corner at 5-foot-11, 171 pounds, and he may lack the speed to keep up with receivers on the outside with his 4.51 40-yard dash. However, he was a sticky corner in college that performed adequately in agility tests, so he may fit in as a slot corner at the NFL level. |
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Onward to New England
Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 9:39 PM
The Patriots selected Jones in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 85th overall.
Analysis: New England lost J.C. Jackson this offseason, so Jones fits a need. The Houston product does not project well as a boundary corner, however. He is 5-foot-8 and 174 pounds with 28.88-inch arms, so he will likely be ticketed for the slot. Jones did not test at the combine or at Houston's pro day. The strength of his prospect profile is in his production, as he broke up 18 passes and picked off five more in his senior season. |
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Speedy addition in New England
Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 7:40 PM
The Patriots selected Thornton in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 50th overall.
Analysis: Thornton is slight of frame (6-foot-2, 180 pounds) but extremely fast (4.28-second 40-yard dash), and he was a convincingly productive player at Baylor. Durability struggles wrecked his 2020 season, but between 2019 and 2021, Thornton produced 107 receptions for 1,730 yards and 15 touchdowns on 182 targets (58.8 percent catch rate, 9.5 yards per target). Even if just serving as a decoy, defenses will have to approach the Patriots' offense differently when Thornton and his blazing speed are on the field. |
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New England selects in first round
Thu, Apr 28, 2022, 10:21 PM
The Patriots selected Strange in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 29th overall.
Analysis: Strange is a distinguished prospect out of Tennessee-Chattanooga, but this is still quite a bit earlier than he was expected to go. It could turn out to be a strong pick if Strange can manage the jump in the level of competition, because he's a very toolsy guard prospect. At 6-foot-5, 307 pounds Strange is exceptionally athletic for a guard, boasting a 5.03-second 40 and 120-inch broad jump. |
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N'Keal Harry N'Keal Harry Not present for voluntary program
Wed, Apr 20, 2022, 8:24 AM
Harry isn't present Wednesday for the start of New England's voluntary offseason program, Zack Cox of NESN.com reports.
Analysis: Harry is a candidate to be moved by the Patriots this offseason, and the team's recent acquisition of DeVante Parker could add further credence to that idea. The 2019 first-round pick's absence for the start of the voluntary offseason program thus doesn't come as much of a surprise. Last season, Harry was targeted just 22 times across 12 appearances, finishing with 12 catches for 184 yards. |
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ACL recovery is on track
Tue, Apr 12, 2022, 3:51 PM
Peppers said he has not had any setbacks in his recovery from a torn ACL and is expected to be ready by the start of training camp, Nicole Yang of the Boston Globe reports.
Analysis: Peppers, who suffered a ruptured ACL in his right knee last October, will be nine months out from his initial injury by the start of training camp starting at the end of July which is the earliest typical return date for ACL injuries of this nature. Pepper signed with New England on March 29 and will reunite with former Giants head coach Joe Judge who is now an offensive assistant with New England. The Patriots already have a deep core of safeties, though Peppers could contribute immediately as the primary punt returner for his new squad after Gunner Olszewski, New England's primary punt return man last season, signed with Pittsburgh in March. |
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Contract restructured
Wed, Apr 6, 2022, 10:07 AM
The Patriots restructured Wise's contract Wednesday by converting $2.85 million of his base salary into a signing bonus, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Analysis: The transaction creates $1.9 million in cap space for New England, a necessary move after the team's trade for DeVante Parker. Wise, who had 41 tackles and three sacks in 16 games last season, remains under contract through 2024. |
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Nelson Agholor Nelson Agholor Added competition for targets
Mon, Apr 4, 2022, 12:32 PM
Following the team's trade for DeVante Parker, Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic suggests that the Patriots could consider using Agholor more out of the slot.
Analysis: At first glance, the addition of Parker to the mix doesn't seem to bode well for Agholor's prospects of seeing increased volume in 2022, with Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne also in the team's wide receiver mix. In the first season of his two-year deal with New England, Agholor finished with 37 catches (on 64 targets) for 473 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. Though the 2015 first-rounder has the ability to provide the team with a downfield threat, it remains to be seen if he'll see enough steady snaps (be it outside or in the slot) and targets to make much of a fantasy splash this time around. That said, when injuries hit, the Patriots now are in a better position to cope, given that they have a clear-cut top four heading their WR depth chart. |
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DeVante Parker DeVante Parker Bolsters Patriots' WR corps
Mon, Apr 4, 2022, 12:09 PM
The addition of Parker gives the Patriots "a physical boundary receiver with No. 1 potential," according to Matthew Fairburn of The Athletic.
Analysis: That's a notion echoed by ESPN's Mike Reiss, who suggests that Parker is projected to fill a role -- that of a big target who can win in contested-catch scenarios -- which 2019 first-rounder N'Keal Harry wasn't able to seize. Per Fairburn, if Parker can stay healthy, the 29-year-old has a chance to emerge as the Patriots' top wideout, but Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor all remain in the mix for targets, as do tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. Despite the potential that New England's offense spreads the ball around among its pass catchers and continues to rely heavily on the run, Parker has the skill to bounce back in 2022 after posting a 40-515-2 stat line (on 73 targets) in 10 games with the Dolphins last season. |
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