New England Patriots: Top 3 performers of training camp
The New England Patriots wrapped up their training camp practices yesterday afternoon with their second joint practice with the New York Giants. Just one more preseason game, also against the Giants on Sunday night, stands between the Patriots and the start of the regular season.
Training camp is always an exciting part of the NFL calendar, as it gives fans their first real chance to see what their favorite team will look like for the upcoming season. Seeing how positional battles pan out, which underdogs make the team, and if any veterans get unexpectedly cut, are just a few of the exciting annual storylines of an NFL training camp.
It should be no surprise then that all three of those storylines and more were present at New England’s training camp this summer. Position battles filled the roster from top to bottom, some underdogs ended up winning their battles, and some veterans were shown the exit door. You can only put so much into training camp performances, but the Patriots looked like a much different team from last year’s 7-9 squad.
Despite that, it’s always fun to take a look back and see who stood out during the practices and preseason action. While it may not seem like much, the evaluations players receive during this time are vital to whether or not they make the final roster. Let’s take a look at the top three performers from training camp for the New England Patriots.
New England Patriots top performer No. 3: Jakobi Meyers
It was clear after last season that New England needed to revamp their offensive skill positions, and they certainly did over the offseason. Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, Jonnu Smith, and Hunter Henry are just a couple new faces that will be catching passes for the Pats this upcoming season. Forgotten amid the influx on new talent was last year’s breakout performer at wide receiver, Jakobi Meyers.
Meyers ended up as the Patriots top wide receiver last season more due to need rather than to skill, but he certainly proved that he has what it takes to be an NFL caliber receiver last season. He hauled in 59 passes for 729 yards, despite the fact that defenses were able to key in on him with the lack of options around him.
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It was an impressive outing from the former college quarterback, and it looks like he’s taken the next step forward in his development during training camp. Meyers quickly became the go-to option for both Cam Newton and Mac Jones, and he emerged as a standout performer on most days despite the numerous pass catching options he found himself alongside.
It showed more than ever in New England’s second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, where Meyers has three catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. This all came in just one quarter of action while logging snaps with the first team offense. It admittedly came against Philadelphia’s defensive reserves, but it proves Meyers is ready to take the next step forward.
Fans didn’t really know what to expect from Meyers, especially considering how many new players New England brought in over the offseason. It’s clear that Meyers will be one of the top wideouts on the roster, if not the go-to option. It looks like Meyers incredible story of college quarterback turned NFL wide receiver is about to write it’s next chapter this upcoming season, and fans should be excited to see what’s in store.