Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots took free agency by storm by spending like the team has never spent before.
With some flashy free agent signings on both sides of the ball, Belichick wasn’t playing around in adding some talent to his team which did spill over into the 2021 NFL Draft.
Not only did the Patriots coach and general manager add some weapons on offense, he drafted a quarterback in the first round, which again was uncharacteristic, but it was a need the team had to address.
Whether Mac Jones makes an immediate impact or not, the Patriots drafted their future while adding players in free agency and through the draft that can help the team improve on a 7-9 record in the 202 NFL season. Who will have the biggest impact?
Well, there are certainly a lot of first time Patriots to chose from. Here are 8 of them.
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No.8: Kendrick Bourne is tailor made for the New England Patriots offense
It is going to be weird not seeing Julian Edelman in a New England Patriots uniform in 2021. The retirement of No. 11 put even more emphasis on a positional need that has been plaguing the team for the last two seasons.
While Belichick did spend some serious cash at the tight end position, did he do enough at wide receiver by signing Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne?
The jury will be out on Agholor as the outside threat, but Bourne could really be the prize because he represents the type of receiver that usually flourishes in the Patriots’ offense.
At 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Bourne is more a possession type receiver who fits that David Givens mode. With 217 catches for 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns in his last 50 games played, Bourne will be a nice second or third option who will add both stability and reliability to the Patriots wide receiver group.
The prediction here is that he will have more of an impact than Agholor because of his versatility and ability to move around in different formations. He also can play the slot. He didn’t show much in the preseason opener, but Bourne will be a favorite target of either Cam Newton or Mac Jones early in the season because of his sure hands and route running.
No. 7: New England Patriots rookie running back Rhamondre Stevenson will impress
It really is hard to put any emphasis on rookies when it comes to Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots, but as recent rookies like Sony Michel, Chase Winovich and Michael Owenu have proved, if you show you can help the team, you will get the playing time.
As Owenu was a late-round steal for the Patriots in 2020, expect running back Rhamondre Stevenson to have a similar impact in 2021.
As much as the running back position appears to be a solid position going into training camp with Damien Harris and Sony Michel leading the pack, the injury history of those two players is at play and Stevenson can certainly power his way onto the field if either of those two players miss time. He can also simply show he is deserving of snaps like he did in the first preseason game vs Washington Football Team.
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1426010171457904642
The Patriots have been hungry for a power back since the days of LeGarrette Blount. In Stevenson, they may just satisfy their appetite.
"“That kind of body. That kind of athletic ability. He’s probably a better pass receiver than even LeGarrette was,” Patriots running back Ivan Fears said in a video conference, as transcribed by NESN. “This kid has got pretty good hands. There are a lot of doors open here. We’ll see what sticks him.”"
At 6-0, 231 pounds, the Oklahoma product has the skillset to not only earn himself some playing time this season, but end Michel’s tenure in New England, especially if he takes his pass-catching ability to another level.
During his senior year with the Sooners, Stevenson caught 18 receptions for 211 yards, so that dual threat ability is certainly there and Patriots fans will root for this kid pretty quickly.
No. 6: Don’t underestimate New England Patriots defensive lineman Henry Anderson
The New England Patriots certainly made many additions this offseason, but one of the more underrated free agent signings is defensive lineman Henry Anderson.
Listed at 300 pounds, the former New York Jets defensive lineman will have an impact along the defensive line against the run and as a pass rusher give both his size and length.
Anderson has had a couple of down years with the Jets after really establishing himself in 2018 with seven sacks. It is really his versatility that makes him the perfect Belichick player in that he can be moved around much like how Belichick uses Lawrence Guy.
Along with the additions of Davon Godchaux and rookie Christian Barmore, Anderson will service as a reinforcement upfront as the Patriots front seven was really pushed around in 2020, primarily against the run. The beef and experience Anderson adds should help make that front seven look much stronger in 2021.
Obviously, having players like Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy and Matt Judon added to the mix doesn’t hurt either, but its typically the under-the-radar type signings like a Henry Anderson that makes a difference throughout the season, especially if Belichick can push the right buttons to get Anderson looking more like the player that he was in 2018.
Big, versatile, and eager to re-establish his career. Belichick and New England should be the perfect situation for Henry Anderson.
No. 5: New England Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith willing to do “whatever it takes”
The New England Patriots not only got one pass catching tight end this offseason, but they also shocked the NFL and landed the top two tight end free agents on the market.
While all the focus was on Hunter Henry entering the new league year, Bill Belichick and the Patriots threw their money around and signed former Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith to a four-year contract worth $50 million.
Just 25 years old, Smith gives the Patriots that versatile tight end option they have been missing since the days of Aaron Hernandez.
Coming off consecutive seasons of over 400 yards receiving, Smith has a real opportunity to breakout in New England, especially with the team’s lack of a real No. 1 receiver.
In all, look for Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to use Jonnu Smith in different ways, especially in the red zone where his speed and size will make him a tough target for defenders to cover.
Whether he’s lining up in the backfield, flanked out at the wide receiver position or lineup up as a traditional tight end, Smith is all for it and looking forward to doing whatever it takes to help the New England Patriots win in 2021.
"“Whatever it will take to help us win, whatever I have to do,” Smith said Friday following practice, via WEEI. “I’m just excited to be able to use my ability to its fullest potential. Even touch some areas where maybe I do some things I’ve never done before. Kind of scratch the surface here and see what lies beneath.”"
It’s really that excitement that will make Smith an impactful addition to this Patriots squad. With how anemic the offense looked at times the last two seasons, it is both refreshing and overdue to have a talent like the 6-foot-3, 248-pound tight end on the field and hopefully making many memorable plays.
No. 4: Jalen Mills looks to play a big role in New England Patriots secondary
A surprise yet underrated signing this offseason was veteran defensive back Jalen Mills.
Signed on the first day of free agency, the versatile defensive back will have an impact in the secondary given his ability to add depth at both the cornerback and safety position. He also fills that Jason McCourty role which allows him to fill in at times at the No. 2 cornerback position and provides experience at the safety position.
Depending on what happens with Stephon Gilmore’s contract situation, Mills and his four-year, $23.9 million contract could play a larger role in 2021. Given how starstruck he is over his new head coach, Bill Belichick, it would be no surprise if Mills has a solid season.
New teammate Devin McCourty has seen signs of what Jalen Mills adds to the secondary so far thru training camp.
"“He’s showing a lot of versatility so far,” McCourty said when asked about Mills, as transcribed by Pats Pulpit. “One of the biggest things that you have when you change teams is just terminology. He knows football, he understands a lot; it’s just getting him on the same page. It’s the terms we use, how we view things. And that’s been going well so far in the meetings and everything. We just have to continue to work.”"
Mills is certainly ready to put in the work. After all, he’s being coached by Bill Belichick. That aspect along should propel the new Patriots defensive back into a solid contributor no matter where he is lined up.
No. 3: Matthew Judon will be a scary presence in the New England Patriots defense
Let’s hope former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Matt Judon doesn’t turn out like the last big free agent linebacker the New England Patriots signed from the Ravens.
Like Adalius Thomas, Judon represents an unlikely free agent splash at the position. He also comes to New England with a knack for getting to the quarterback. With 9.5 sacks in 2019 and 6.0 sacks in 2020, the 28-year-old linebacker instantly gives the Patriots an edge rush presence.
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Thomas did the same in his first season with the Patriots, but it went downhill after that as the outspoken linebacker shot his way out of New England and didn’t live up to the contract. In that respect, let’s hope Judon’s story with the Patriots have a better ending which will start in 2021.
With the returns of Dont’a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy, the addition of Judon is that more monumental in that the linebacker depth instantly turns into one of the team’s strengths and the versatile edge rusher will also allow Belichick to draw up some interesting defensive schemes.
His presence should also create more opportunity for Deatrich Wise and Chase Winovich from the opposite side of whichever Judon lines up. So, if he is not padding his own stats, his ability to disrupt the pocket should create big play opportunities for those specific players and the interior of that Patriots defensive line anchored by Lawrence Guy, Henry Anderson and hopefully rookie defensive lineman Christian Barmore.
In all, the boogeymen are back, and Matt Judon may just be the scariest of them all.
No. 2: Hunter Henry give the New England Patriots that tight end touch again
As great as the Jonnu Smith addition will be for the New England Patriots in 2021, the signing of tight end Hunter Henry has the potential of paying big dividends for Bill Belichick.
If Smith has some Ben Coates qualities about his game, Henry has glimpses of Rob Gronkowski in his game when he is health, and the key word is health.
At just 26, Henry has put together some impressive seasons while with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he has yet to make a Pro Bowl and his first season with the Patriots could change that.
At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds he is a big target who once again give the Patriots offense that threat down the seams and of course a huge threat in the red zone.
Whether it is Cam Newton or Mac Jones at quarterback, either man under center will use Henry as their security blanket, especially Newton who had his best years throwing the ball when Greg Olsen was his primary target and tight end. And don’t think his production would be less with a rookie quarterback under center because he had a solid season catching the ball from Justin Herbert in 2021.
In all, Hunter Henry has the right attitude and physical attributes to be the next New England Patriots great tight end. It certainly depends on health, as he is nursing some shoulder issues that has been deemed not serious, but when he is on that field, he is a viable target and solves the team’s hunger for tight end production.
No.1: The impact of New England Patriots rookie Mac Jones will be felt
Whether Mac Jones gets on the field in 2021 or not, he will make a big impact on the team. Will it be the biggest impact?
Well, if he does get on the field, it will be due to the failure of Cam Newton to lead the offense. That will put a lot of pressure on Newton to succeed, especially with fans waiting for any and every opportunity to call for the 2021 No. 1 pick out of Alabama to come lead the show.
While Bill Belichick is sticking to his guns by standing by Newton as the starting quarterback once the season starts, the Patriots coach will have some pressure put on himself if his decision starts to lead to losses at the beginning of the season.
Could the Patriots’ offense benefit from both quarterbacks getting snaps? That will all depend on whether Cam Newton is willing to accept a lesser role or even a backup role and that is questionable at this point, but the talent and presence of Mac Jones will certainly impact the offense in 2021 in some way.
If he is not starting, he will be looked at as the potential savior if things aren’t going well, and if he were on the field, he would give the offense something Newton can’t. He at least has the capability of pushing the ball down the field and he also appears to have the tools Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can work with.
In conclusion, depending on a rookie quarterback is not a place Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots want to be at, but if Mac Jones is the future, why wait?