13 players Bill Belichick, New England Patriots need to make leaps in 2022
No.6: Can New England Patriots second-year linebacker Ronnie Perkins make an impact?
This is going to be a big season for Ronnie Perkins who didn’t see the field during his rookie season despite being on the 53-man roster.
A pass rush machine coming out of Oklahoma, Perkins has the potential to morph into an impact player for a New England Patriots team starving for speed, physicality, and athleticism on defense.
Along with young players like Cameron McGrone, Josh Uche and even a player named previously in Anfernee Jennings, Perkins will be counted on to make a leap in 2022 more because of what he learned standing on the sidelines during his rookie season.
light. Related Story. Why Ronnie Perkins know New England Patriots fans will ‘love’ him
He will also have the benefit of learning from a player like Matthew Judon who was a dominate force on defense through most of the season. If a player like Perkins can develop and either play on the opposite side of Judon or serve as a secondary pass rusher, the Patriots’ defense will be that much better, and Bill Belichick would look genius for selecting the athletic edge rusher in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Above all, the maturation of Perkins would support Belichick not selecting a linebacker in the 2022 NFL Draft despite the team’s glaring need for one.
A big year for Ronnie Perkins indeed.