New England Patriots: 1 realistic goal for each rookie in 2021
If we were going to set one realistic goal for each New England Patriots rookie for 2021, what might that list of objectives look like?
Now, let’s be real here. New England Patriots rookies hardly ever contribute much of anything. For one reason, they usually don’t get the opportunity. Yet, there have been exceptions.
Offensive linemen like David Andrews, Joe Thuney, and Shaq Mason all played and contributed significantly in their first seasons and Andrews was an undrafted free agent.
It was the same story for J.C. Jackson who excelled as an undrafted free agent and also last year’s second-round pick, Kyle Dugger.
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But many others, it seems, especially high draft picks have, let’s say, not been of much help early on.
But all that notwithstanding, let’s take a look at the Patriots’ 2021 rookie class and set some realistic goals for them for the upcoming season.
A goal for each of the New England Patriots rookies
Starting at the beginning, there is the Patriots’ first-round pick, No. 15 in the NFL draft, Mac Jones. This is the highest pick the Patriots have had in the first round in eons.
Disclosure, Jones has been hyped to the hilt in this space. It says here that this is a future Pro Bowler and maybe All-Pro for New England.
The thought is that this Alabama product is the Real Deal. He just has that special “IT” factor that only comes along once in what, maybe 20 years?
Mac Jones will be a star in the NFL and might just tear it up in the process. Detractors who say his success is solely due to his supporting cast haven’t watched the films. He’s a master craftsman.
So, with this in mind, what should Patriots fans realistically feel is a goal for Mac Jones? Well, that depends. Some observers, good ones, think he will compete for the starting job.
It says here that Cam Newton is the starter. So with that in mind, what can Mac Jones do? Well, if Cam is injured, he can step in and perform well. He’ll keep the team ultra-competitive, and win.
Jones is a first-round pick with a superlative pedigree and much is expected of him. No doubt here, if he gets the opportunity he’ll perform well, very, very well.
So Jones’s goal is this, learn the system inside out and be ready to perform if Newton is injured or in the unlikely event he falters.