New England Patriots: 5 players with the most to prove in the 2022 season

New England Patriots player with most to prove No. 1: Jonnu Smith

Was there really any other choice here? After signing a massive four-year, $50 million deal with New England last offseason, Jonnu Smith ended up being one of the worst tight ends in the league last year. He played like a guy who belonged on a veterans minimum, not a guy who is getting tens of millions of dollars per year.

It’s simple; Smith is going to have to prove he is worth the contract the Patriots handed out to him. Smith took a backseat to fellow tight end signee Hunter Henry, and he never found his rhythm. Even as a blocker, a supposed strength of his, Smith struggled, and he looked genuinely unplayable for long stretches of the season.

Part of Smith’s struggles fall on New England and their coaching staff. The Pats struggled to find ways to get Smith involved aside from the occasional gadget play that was either a screen or some tricky handoff that almost never resulted in more than a five-yard gain.

Smith is a smooth route-runner who can create seperation and is fantastic at picking up yards after the catch. Finding ways to get the ball in Smith’s hand is a good idea, yes, but just employ him as a normal tight end and let him go to work.

Considering the Pats offensive personnel, running double tight end sets is something they should incorporate into their gameplan every single game. Getting Smith the ball is going to be crucial this season, not only to making his deal look less haphazard, but also so that the offense can operate as best as possible. If Smith struggles again this season, New England is going to have a really big problem on their hands.