New England Patriots: 5 players who won’t be back for 2021 season
By Sam Minton
After the New England Patriots performance in 2020, the roster for the 2021 season will likely look a lot different.
The New England Patriots have had a rollercoaster of a 2020 season. At one point they can seem like the worst team in the NFL and the next they look like a playoff team. No matter how the season ends, the Patriots roster will go through some changes.
New England will have to go through a transformation. Even after their win against the Ravens, the Patriots aren’t contenders.
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The team needs to get younger. They no longer should be focused on winning now, New England needs to focus on the future.
Also in 2020, we have seen players step up with injuries ravaging the team. Younger players have also received an opportunity to show what they are capable of.
So New England now realizes that they don’t need some players. Some older stars can be let go and make their money elsewhere.
That means that the 2021 roster could look a lot different and these five players could be saying goodbye to their Patriots teammates at some point in the near future.
New England Patriots who won’t be back in 2021 — No. 5: Sony Michel
2020 hasn’t exactly been a great season for Sony Michel. When he was on the field he didn’t perform that well and hasn’t appeared in a game since Week 3.
Since Michel has been on the sidelines, Damien Harris has emerged and looks like he will be the starting running back moving forward.
Harris is able to do everything that Michel can’t. The main thing being that instead of gaining one or two yards at a time, Harris is able to break out for some large gains.
So what does that mean for Michel? Honestly, it’s hard to see Michel fitting into the Patriots’ plans.
The one thing keeping Michel here is his contract but with how poorly he has performed, it wouldn’t be too stunning to see New England move on from the running back. Even if he is on the roster his role on Sundays will be minimal.
But if Patriots fans had their way, Michel would not be returning to New England in 2021.