New England Patriots: Hopes high on Cameron McGrone entering 2022
The New England Patriots have huge questions at some key positions and some of those questions were not answered during free agency or the 2022 NFL Draft, which puts the pressure on young players like linebacker Cameron McGrone.
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, McGrone didn’t see the field during his rookie season, but that wasn’t the expectation due to torn ACL during the 2020 season with the Michigan Wolverines that hurt his draft stock.
In swooped Bill Belichick to take a risk in drafting the intriguing prospect who was selected more as a 2022 addition, which would lead some to speculate as to why the team passed on linebackers like Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Chad Muma in this year’s draft.
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With a desperate need to upgrade the linebacker position, especially allowing veteran linebackers like Kyle Van Noy, Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower to walk out the door, what is Belichick thinking?
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Perhaps the Patriots head coach is relying on recent draft picks like McGrone, Josh Uche, Ronnie Perkins, and Anfernee Jennings to make leaps this upcoming. He also has younger veterans like newly acquired linebacker Mack Wilson and Raekwon McMillan who could be valuable contributors in 2022. But is there too much pressure on a player like McGrone.
Coming out of Michigan there is a lot of talent there as he recorded 92 total tackles with 4.5 sacks in just 16 games played. Can that raw talent and skill translate into the kind of player the New England Patriots are looking for at the linebacker position?
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Director of player personnel Matt Groh appears to believe so.
"“Really excited about that group,” Groh said of the linebackers, via CBS Boston. “Excited to see Cam McGrone was able to get on the field a little bit last year. Excited to see him be in an expanded role. He’s kind of an additional draft pick. You can kind of put him along there with the three guys that we’ve been able to add here today along with some of the other guys from last year. That all kind of counts to getting younger, getting faster, being a tough team. …I think we’ve got a lot of names there and a lot of experience, and mix in some youth, so I think it’s a good group.”"
At 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, McGrone will add some speed to the second level of the defense, but the key is how he adjusts to the NFL and whatever defensive scheme Bill Belichick has up his sleeve.
In any event, the Patriots are relying on some unproven talent in 2022. If that talent pans out, Belichick will once again look like the executive of the year.
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But, if players like McGrone don’t make the leap as expected, the New England Patriots could be in for a long season on the defensive side of the ball and Belichick will need to brace himself for a season-long attack his drafting ability or lack thereof.