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.
The New England Patriots may have something in Ryan Izzo.
The New England Patriots finally drafted some suitable tight ends in the 2020 NFL Draft with the selection of both Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene, but don’t sleep on third-year tight end Ryan Izzo.
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Along with veterans Matt LaCosse and Benjamin Watson, Izzo was a part of that tight end trio that didn’t do too much as far as production in 2019. The Florida State product had a couple nice moments, but overall, he really missed an opportunity to flourish as a reliable tight end.
With just six receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown, Ryan Izzo is not a player many fans are even thinking about when it comes to reshaping the tight end situation post-Rob Gronkowski, but the 6-foot-5, 256-pound tight end out of Florida State has some unlocked potential that could really show in 2020.
Let’s remember, he did sit out his entire rookie season and only played in 6 games in 2019. Grants, some of those missed games were healthy scratches, but another year of experience and learning should set Ryan Izzo up as a blocking tight end who can catch a few passes.
With both Asiasi and Keene expected to be pass-catching threats, Izzo’s role as a third tight end is more suitable to his skillset. Of course, he has to work on his blocking as that was a concern in 2019, but if he is able to improve in that area, he can be a reliable contributor in the trenches and another target in the red zone.
As a player who is expected to be on the roster bubble, making the team as that third tight end would be a win for a former seventh-round pick.
New England Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley can deliever.
With Jamie Collins, Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts departing the New England Patriots, third-year linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley has a major opportunity to shine in 2020.
Musket Fire
In racking up 44 combined tackles in 2019, Bentley bounced back nicely in his second season in the NFL in a limited role.
Let’s remember, he did turn heads in the first couple games of the 2018 season because he landed on injured reserve. He also beat out Elandon Roberts for the middle linebacker starting role going into that season, so that fact made Roberts expendable in free agency.
So, what to expect in 2020 from Ja’Whuan Bentley?
With just himself, Dont’a Hightower and John Simon left from that “Boogie man” linebacker group, Bentley has a major opportunity to be the starting middle linebacker as well as a leader for the Patriots in 2020.
Compared to former Patriots player and current linebacker’s coach Jerod Mayo both on and off the field, Ja’Whaun Bentley is a player who exudes confidence and plays the game with a chip on his shoulder.
Healthy and with more snaps, he will really get the opportunity to finish what he started at the beginning of the 2018 NFL season and that is to be the team’s starting middle linebacker and be that run stopping force he was known to be coming out of college.
New England Patriots cornerback JC Jackson is playing for a big contract.
The one person saving Bill Belichick from drafting Duke Dawson with that second-round pick is finding and undrafted gem in New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson.
Of course, looking back it is easy to say Belichick should’ve used that pick on perhaps a tight end or even a quarterback, but not many people can challenge any decisions the Patriots head coach makes because of players he find in that of Malcolm Butler and now Jackson.
Tied for second on the team in interceptions with 5 in 2019, J.C. Jackson turned out to be the perfect No. 2 cornerback to that of Stephon Gilmore. His transition as the No.2 corner didn’t happen until Jason McCourty went down with injury, but he still took advantage of his opportunity and will have a major opportunity in 2020 to really cement himself as a legit corner.
The one area he does need to improve on his is his rate of pass interference penalties, but that is something that should take care of itself with experience and learning from veterans like Gilmore and McCourty.
But, then again, that is a part of his game. He plays physical and is a ball hawk who will only get better.
In entering the last year of his three-year deal, J.C. Jackson has everything to gain in 2020 in the form of either a contract extension with the New England Patriots or cashing in big in free agency.
With JoeJuan Williams and Jonathan Jones also vying from snaps at cornerback, Jackson doesn’t have much room for failure. It’s a big season for the 24-year-old undrafted talent out of Maryland.
Isaiah Wynn looking to be more reliable for the New England Patriots.
The New England Patriots top draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft hasn’t lived up to the hype just yet.
Due to injury, Isaiah Wynn hasn’t really had the opportunity to fully show his potential on the field. He didn’t play a single regular-season snap in 2018 and played just a few games in 2019, so 2020 provides him the chance to really show he was worth that first-round draft pick.
With his durability in question, Wynn has a lot to gain as he will have the opportunity to solidify himself as the team’s left tackle or even move into Joe Thuney’s spot as a guard if the team is not able to come to an agreement with the second-team All-Pro.
Actually, the guard position would be best suited for Isaiah Wynn, but he is the best option the team currently have at left tackle unless 2019 third-round pick Yodny Cajuste proves he is capable of stabilizing that position.
It really all depends on what happens with Thuney as far as position goes, but for Isaiah Wynn 2020 is all about maintaining his health and being a force along the offensive line no matter where he plays.
He has the talent to be a top offensive lineman in the NFL and it’s about time he proves it, which would give the New England Patriots a very versatile offensive line.
New England Patriots running back Sony Michel rushing for stardom.
There’s a theme here, but if it wasn’t due to injuries, New England Patriots running back Sony Michel would’ve rushed for well over 1,000 yards in his rookie season.
Coming out of Georgia, the Patriots knew they were drafting a player who could perform on the big stage and he did exactly that with 6 rushing touchdowns in the team’s march through the playoffs in 2018.
Primed for more of a breakout season in his sophomore campaign, Michel took a step back in 2019. He somehow still managed to rush for 912 yards and 7 TDs, but he didn’t jump out as a dynamic playmaker despite being mostly healthy.
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Though he mostly has a lot to lose in 2020, especially with Damien Harris waiting in the wings, Sony Michel has a lot to gain and that’s not just in yards.
What the Patriots need from Michel is for him to be that all-purpose back who can be the lead back and a playmaker out of the backfield. We know what he can do when healthy and has adequate blocking. He all but proved that during his rookie season. But what he hasn’t proved is that he can be a homerun hitter from anywhere on the field.
Out of all the players on this list, the New England Patriots running back has the best opportunity to morph into a star player. He also has the winning attitude to be one of the young leaders on the team. So far, he has been solid, but the team really needs him to be great with a new quarterback under center.
In summary, the New England Patriots have a core of young players who can help transition the team into a new era. Whether it’s rookies, second-year players or players going into their third year in the NFL, these young players will be the reason the team stays competitive and could also be the reason they remain a contender.