Season 1: Mac Jones
Season 2: Riley Leonard
Season 3: Riley Leonard
No changes from season 2 – 3, Riley Leonard is looking to cement his place as the Patriots franchise QB this season. There was some competition in the preseason between Leonard and Alex Orji, but Orji fell off as the preseason went on, and he did not receive a dev trait.
HB:
Season 1: Ezekiel Elliott
Season 2: Will Shipley
Season 3: Phil Mafah
This is no knock on Will Shipley that he is being replaced, but Phil Mafah is exactly what the Patriots were looking for in a running back. Mafah is fast, can run with power or make people miss, and is a solid receiver. Shipley will still get a solid amount of carries as a number 2.
WR:
Season 1: Juju Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Devante Parker/Jalen Reagor
Season 2: Tyquan Thornton, Calvin Ridley, Tyrone Broden
Season 3: Tyquan Thornton, Tyrone Broden, Colbie Young
2 starters remain the same, and Calvin Ridley is still on the roster. Young was the Patriots 3rd round pick and was the only rookie to receive a dev trait. Thornton is now a superstar, and Broden is developing in to a solid WR2 which gives Colbie Young some time to develop.
TE:
Season 1: Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki
Season 2: Bryson Nesbit
Season 3: Bryson Nesbit
The Patriots are extremely happy with Nesbit’s development as an all around player. He is becoming a big threat through the air and is a great addition as a blocker as well. Hunter Henry has been brought back as a back up to provide depth in 2TE sets or if Nesbit goes down.
OL:
Season 1: Trent Brown, Marcus Cannon, David Andrews, Michael Onwenu, Cole Strange
Season 2: Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Michael Onwenu, Morgan Moses
Season 3: Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Michael Onwenu, Xavier Truss
Another season returning 4/5 starters on the OL is huge for New England. Truss was the 6th offensive lineman last season and saw a solid amount of work with injuries to other starters. The most impressive part has been the ability for Trent Brown and David Andrews to not regress and stay important starters on this line.
DL:
Season 1: Keion White, Brandon Williams, Deatrich Wise, Matthew Judon
Season 2: Keion White, Leonard Taylor, Kris Jenkins, Barryn Sorrell
Season 3: Keion White, Leonard Taylor, Kris Jenkins, Barryn Sorrell
The exact same starting lineup as last season, this is exactly what we hoped for going in to last season with 3 rookies and a 2nd year player on the DL. DJ Reader has been added as a depth piece inside, but this young group has been very impressive and was a big reason the Patriots got their week 1 win.
LB:
Season 1: Jawhuan Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Mack Wilson
Season 2: Jawhuan Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Bobby Wagner
Season 3: Jawhuan Bentley, Tyreem Powell, Erik Kendricks/Shadrach Banks
The LB core took a big step back from last season with the loss of Bobby Wagner in the middle. Tyreem Powell is a great young project but who knows how ready he is to contribute now. Most of the Patriot defense is with 2 LB on the field, and there is not much depth at the position, so New England needs Bentley and Powell to stay healthy.
Cornerbacks:
Season 1: Christian Gonzalez, Ameer Speed, Jonathan Jones
Season 2: Christian Gonzalez, Ameer Speed, Chidobe Awuzie
Season 3: Christian Gonzalez, Ameer Speed, Chidobe Awuzie
Same group as last season, extremely talented group with good depth as well. Awuzie regressed a little bit, but Gonzalez and Speed are top flight CBs and might be the best top 2 CB duo in the league. Speed and Gonlzalez are now both superstars, and Speed has gone up nearly 30 overall points in 2+ seasons.
Safeties:
Season 1: Adrian Phillips, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers
Season 2: Isaiah Bolden, Kyle Dugger, Byron Jones/Kyle Fuller/Khyree Jackson
Season 3: Isaiah Bolden, Kyle Dugger, Devon Kirkwood/Jonathan Jones
Bolden had a huge impact in his first season as a starter, Dugger makes huge plays all the time both at sublb and at deep safety. His 2 pick 6s in the playoffs were huge momentum changing plays in those games. Kirkwood is a nice developmental rookie with the size and strength to play anywhere, and Jonathan Jones is a good veteran DB who has been here for a while.
Special Teams
Season 1: Chad Ryland, Bryce Baringer
Season 2: Chad Ryland, Bryce Baringer
Season 3: Chad Ryland, Bryce Baringer
Ryland took a big step forward last season with his play, and now has 99 kick power. Baringer is whatever but the Patriots drafted him so he’s staying around.p
