As the New England Patriots look to add to their roster through the 2019 NFL Draft, these five selections from 2018 will be looking to make an impact.
If it wasn’t for the solid season of rookie running back Sony Michel, the New England Patriots wouldn’t have much to show from their 2018 NFL Draft.
As the majority of their draft selections ended up on either injured reserve or the practice squad, the performance of Michel during the regular season and throughout the team’s Super Bowl run proved Bill Belichick was right in taking the Georgia Bulldogs star in the first round.
Undrafted rookie cornerback JC Jackson also provided the team with hope for the future. But what about the draft picks who saw limited or no time on the field in 2018?
From linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley, who showed promise before landing on injured reserve, to top pick Isaiah Wynn, the New England Patriots will be looking for their second-year players to make a big jump more than ever.
On an aging roster, it is important that a few of these players make an impact and, along with the 2019 rookie class, give Patriots fans as well as the team hope for the future.
Here are five second-year players to watch in the 2019 NFL season.
5. Ryan Izzo
Seventh-round pick Ryan Izzo is the one player on this list who will likely have to fight for a roster spot but should have a good shot to battle both Jacob Hollister and newly acquired veteran tight end Matt LaCosse for a backup role.
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What makes the 6-foot-5, 256-pound tight end out of Florida State a player to watch is his ability to block and catch passes out of the backfield.
In his final season at Florida State, Izzo caught 20 passes for 317 yards and three touchdowns. His strong blocking, however, had to factor in when the Patriots selected him in the seventh round.
Given the uncertainly of Rob Gronkowski, Ryan Izzo could end up finding a larger role in 2019 given his size and ability to be a combination tight end.
Back to full health after being placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, the 23-year-old tight end is hoping to etch a role on the 2019 New England Patriots roster. With the current depth chart, even if Gronkowski returns, it appears he has a strong shot to do so.
Furthermore, he could be the type of blocking tight end the team loves having on the roster, especially after parting ways with Dwayne Allen.
4. Duke Dawson
The New England Patriots are deep at the cornerback position, but that doesn’t mean 2018 second-round pick Duke Dawson isn’t primed to make an impact in 2019.
With Stephon Gilmore and undrafted rookie JC Jackson giving the defending Super Bowl champions a solid cornerback duo, Dawson will be expected to leapfrog over Jonathan Jones as the slot corner.
Selected with the 56th pick out of Florida, Dawson is a physical cornerback who is out to compete in 2019, especially after starting out his rookie season on injured reserve.
"“We all know what went down and what happened with me with my injury,” Dawson told Patriots Wire back in January. “of course, my rookie season didn’t go as planned. I had goals set, as I always had. Just being able to – I wanted to be able to come in and show my talents.”"
Although Duke Dawson was activated midway through the season, he still didn’t get time on the field.
Learning from the sidelines combined with his motivation to prove his talents on the field should make for an intriguing season for the second-year cornerback.
Due to his competitive nature and self-confidence, Dawson will certainly not be another Cyrus Jones. At least, let’s hope not.
3. Ja’Whaun Bentley
It appeared the New England Patriots hit the lottery with fifth-round pick Ja’Whaun Bentley in 2018.
Before going down with a season-ending injury early in the season, the linebacker out of Purdue showed promise as a starter for the Patriots.
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With 14 combined tackles, a quarterback hit and an interception through the first three games of the season, Bentley was beginning to look like the steal of the draft, which is something that did not surprise Patriots head coach Bill Belichick mostly due to how hard of a worker Bentley is.
"“He’s done it every day,” Belichick told the media after the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans. “But that’s what he’s done his whole career in football. It’s not that big of a surprise to me.”"
With high expectations going into 2019, expect Ja’Whaun Bentley to pick up where he left off during his brief stint in 2018. This time with a bit more experience and confidence, the second-year linebacker should secure an inside linebacker position and play a big role in defending the run.
As he proved with his one interception, he also has the versatility to be a factor in the passing game with his ability to rush the passer and drop back into coverage.
In all, Bentley’s return is probably a reason the team hasn’t added a linebacker via free agency.
2. Braxton Berrios
There is no late-round pick with as high expectations as wide receiver Braxton Berrios.
Given the New England Patriots current lack of wide receiver depth, the second-year receiver out of the University of Miami is one player fans are looking towards to become a favorite target of Tom Brady.
Playing behind Julian Edelman, the 2018 sixth-round pick will certainly have the inspiration to succeed, but will he have the opportunity?
With his ability to return punts and kickoffs, he should at least see some time on the field in that capacity. Depending on what else the team does at the wide receiver position, Berrios could see some time in the slot where he will get the chance to prove whether or not he is the next great slot receiver for the Patriots.
With his athleticism, ability to return kicks and extreme heart, Braxton Berrios could morph into a fan favorite quickly. But first he will have to battle to make the roster. As of right now, he has the inside track of being the team’s backup slot receiver and perhaps their primary kickoff returner.
Definitely shades of both Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola.
1. Isaiah Wynn
The top draft pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has an increased importance in his second season with the departures of left tackle Trent Brown and LaAdrian Waddle via free agency.
The fact that Isaiah Wynn is coming back after sitting the entire season with a torn Achilles is a reason the loss of Brown doesn’t seem as major. At the same time, it is an injury that can take some time to come back from which makes the loss of Waddle a bigger void.
If protecting Tom Brady’s blind side wasn’t enough pressure, Wynn’s ability to bounce back from the Achilles injury will be of higher importance. If he takes a similar road to healing and rehabbing as former Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork did during his recovery, the offensive line should be in good shape come the start of the season.
Like Wilfork, Wynn is a big body who will depend a lot on his range of motion to be productive. In that respect, the former New England Patriots great offered some advice to the top draft pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
"“Some people say it will take you up to a year to feel like your normal self,” Wilfork said, via ESPN. “Honestly, it took me probably a year and a half. But once I got to that point…I felt like I could have played another five, six, seven more [seasons] if I wanted to, but I got to the point where I felt it was time for me to do something different. I left the game healthy and nothing was bothering me.”"
In summary, patience will be the key with Isaiah Wynn. He has the ability to be the starting left tackle, but it may take a little time for him to perform at a high level physically. The good thing is that he is young and should turn out to be a long term fit at the position.