New England Patriots: 1 realistic goal for each rookie in 2021

Michael DeVito

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 01: Quarterback Mac Jones #10 of the Alabama Crimson Tide scrambles against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the third quarter of the 2021 College Football Playoff Semifinal Game at the Rose Bowl Game presented by Capital One at AT&T Stadium on January 01, 2021 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

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.

New England Patriots second-round pick, Christian Barmore, defensive tackle/end

Christian Barmore is a big, strong defensive tackle/end who is a menace in the interior of a defensive line. He can flat-out demolish even quality offensive linemen in the trenches as he did in the SEC.

For Alabama, which faces the toughest schedule most likely in college football, he notched eight sacks from the tackle/end position. That’s eight, and 2 1/2 more than any Patriot in 2020.

That’s how effective Barmore was when he was on the field. So, let’s set a realistic total of three sacks for the rookie. That would be a strong first season.

That modest total reflects that he has a lot of competition on the Patriots’ defensive line and he has lots to learn in a relatively short time.

Third-Round Pick, Ronnie Perkins, edge player

Ronnie Perkins is an edge player who looks like he’ll be slotted in at outside linebacker for New England. But he can also play with his hand on the ground so he’s versatile.

He missed a good part of 2020 due to suspension, but he turned the Oklahoma defense around when he returned. He had five and a half sacks in six games.

Perkins is another solid edge player added to a Patriots defense that lacked sacks in 2020. Perkins can get to the quarterback.

With that in mind, let’s set his goal at 2.5 sacks in 2021. That total would be an asset.

New England Patriots fourth-round pick, Rhamondre Stevenson, running back, a favorite

Disclosure: Stevenson i s this writer’s favorite draft pick in 2021 (along with Jones).

Stevenson is the first big back for New England who has any realistic opportunity to contribute since 2016 when another of this writer’s favorite Patriots, LeGarrette Blount left.

Blount was cast adrift after that season by Bill Belichick who may have never forgiven Blount for his fumble in the 2017 Super Bowl against Atlanta. That was a big mistake.

Since then, New England has been bereft of a big back who could grind out a yard or two for a first down to extend a drive or score a touchdown from in close.

That deficiency cost New England big-time in 2020 as Cam Newton had to assume that role himself on most occasions. That’s not a great situation.

For certain, in 2020, it was Newton or no one. That’s not the case anymore. Now the Patriots have Stevenson. He’s an all-purpose back in the body of a sledgehammer.

Stevenson averaged 7.2 yards per carry over two seasons and scoring 13 touchdowns. He also caught 28 passes for the Sooners over that time.

With that in mind, a realistic goal for Stevenson would be to pick up five touchdowns in 2021. That should be easy for this talented big back if given the opportunity.

New England Patriots fifth-round pick, Cameron Mcgrone, linebacker

This is an easy one. Mcgrone will likely redshirt due to an injury that the Patriots were aware of when they drafted him.

While drafting an injured player is fine later in the draft, this pick (not the player) has been panned in this space.

The Patriots had an opportunity to draft a ready-to-go player in mammoth Alabama guard, Deonte Brown, with this pick and maybe still get Mcgrone later on. It was a poor decision.

New England Patriots sixth-round pick, William Sherman, guard/tackle

William Sherman played his ball at Colorado at tackle. Size-wise, he is more suited to play inside in the NFL.

It’s possible that Sherman could be a swing guard/tackle in 2021 for the Patriots but it seems unlikely he will make the 53-man roster.

New England Patriots sixth-round pick, Joshuah Bledsoe, defensive back

Joshuah Bledsoe is another injury pick by New England. He’s a defensive back with good length. he made 131 tackles in 44 college games with one sack and one interception.

Bledsoe is another injury pick as he was injured in the Senior Bowl. He’s a long shot to make the team and the goal for him would be to make the practice squad.

New Engalnd Patriots seventh-round pick, Tre Nixon, wide receiver

Tre Nixon was another injury pick drafted by New England. He broke a collarbone last season and only played in four games. Likely he has little hope of making the regular roster.

Nixon’s goal should be to make the practice squad. Yet, one never knows when a sleeper may be more than he appears, so we will see.

Undrafted Free Agent, Quinn Nordin, kicker

Nordin has a strong leg but accuracy issues. Yet, you never know when a kicker may make a mark in the preseason and knock a long-time guy out of the mix.

Nordin was the Patriots’ only undrafted free agent in 2021, an unusually low number for the Patriots, indeed. His goal should be to make the practice squad.

So that’s it, some goals for the Patriots’ 2021 rookie class. What do you think their goals should be? We’d like to hear your views.

Michael DeVito

Michael is a long-time New England Patriots fan. He closely follows the Patriots' offseason team-building activities, including the Patriots' Draft, Free Agency, and Undrafted Free Agency. Michael also follows all Boston sports. He is also a big fan of the Chelsea Football Club in the English Premier League.