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13 players Bill Belichick, New England Patriots need to make leaps in 2022

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 02: Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 02: Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on January 02, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /
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New England Patriots
New England Patriots linebacker Cameron McGrone (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

No. 5: Can the New England Patriots find the untapped potential in Cameron McGrone?

For years, the New England Patriots have benefited on unknown players making a name for themselves under Bill Belichick.  If there is ever a time for one to unmask themselves as a major contributor, it is now, and that unknown talent is 2021 fifth-round pick Cameron McGrone.

Like fellow linebackers Ronnie Perkins and Anfernee Jennings, the talent is there with McGrone, but the question is how the Patriots will unlock that potential now that the Michigan product is fully healed from an ACL tear that sidelined him his entire rookie season.

With Belichick not drafting a linebacker high in the 2022 NFL Draft, it does appear the team is looking at players like McGrone to make a big leap in 2022 and he appears to be ready for it.

"“Last year was a long year,” McGrone said, via NESN.  “A lot of learning.  A lot of hard days working out, trying to get back, rehabbing.  But the time is now.  I’m back out on the field.  Still a lot to learn, still a lot to improve on, but I’m very excited just to be up here with the rest of the guys working.”"

At 6-foot-1, 236 pounds, McGrone is a bit undersized for the linebacker position, but he exhibits the speed and explosiveness the Patriots need on defense, especially at the linebacker position.

Though there is a lack of veteran leadership ahead of him with the departure of Kyle Van Noy and Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins still unsigned, if the New England Patriots find a role for McGone and tap into his potential, he could be a fun player to watch in 2022 and beyond.

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