13 players Bill Belichick, New England Patriots need to make leaps in 2022
No.9: Can Anfernee Jennings make an impact in New England Patriots front seven
The New England Patriots have a lot of former draft picks over the last two seasons who have spent more time watching from the sidelines than playing.
Add third-year linebacker Anfernee Jennings to those mix of players Bill Belichick will be counting on to make a leap in 2022.
Related Story. Anfernee Jennings has a familiar edge to him. light
A third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Alabama product is a bigger linebacker who will have an opportunity to compete for a roster spot at outside linebacker/edge rusher. Although his rushing skills were not highly touted coming out of college, he is a linebacker who is good against the run and has good recognitions skills.
Although the league is trending towards smaller, more athletic linebackers, Jennings should still have an opportunity to flourish under Belichick in his third season in the NFL. Given the team’s need at linebacker, it would be a disappointment if Jennings doesn’t even make the roster, which is quite possible given the other young linebackers who will be competing for spots.
After a couple seasons learning behind veteran linebackers like Dont’a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy and Matthew Judon, the time is now for Anfernee Jennings to prove his ability in the NFL. If he does, perhaps not drafting linebackers in the early rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft will turn out to be a good thing for the Patriots and show Belichick does know how to draft.