New England Patriots: 5 third-year players with everything to gain in 2020

The New England Patriots are counting on a young core of players to make contributions in 2020.  Here are five third-year players to watch.

While the New England Patriots are counting on some rookies and second-year players to make major contributions in 2020, there are some players entering their third season in the NFL who the team really need to grow into main contributors or even stardom.

In looking back at that 2018 NFL Draft, the Patriots do have a core of players from that draft with everything to gain in 2020.

Along with the two first-round picks the team drafted that year in the Georgia duo of Sonny Michel and Isaiah Wynn, Bill Belichick also selected cornerback Duke Dawson in the second round, linebackers Ja’Whaun Bentley and Christian Sam in the fifth and sixth round, Braxton Berrios in the sixth and Danny Etling, Keion Crossen  and Ryan Izzo in the seventh round.

Cornerback J.C. Jackson was also a rookie that year as he made the team as an undrafted free agent.

Of those draft picks, Dawson, Berrios, Sam, Etling and Crossen are no longer with the team.

It actually looks like Berrios is going to turn out to be a nice player for the New York Jets.

With those players remaining, each of them has made contributions in some way or another, but injuries and opportunity have gotten in the way a bit.  But through it all, they have earned some experience and trust from Belichick and will be in position to become major contributors for the team or even take their game to another level this upcoming season and beyond.

Here are five players from that 2018 NFL Draft with everything to gain for the New England Patriots in 2020.