The New England Patriots are in the middle of one of their most turbulent off-seasons in recent memory. Not only is the team facing league-wide restrictions due to the global coronavirus pandemic, they notably lost superstar quarterback Tom Brady as well as a number of other key players in a fairly brutal free agency. Bill Belichick and the Patriots’ front office went some way to filling the gaps in this year’s draft, but it’s fair to say that the second-year Patriots will have to step up if they are to have any kind of success this season.
It goes without saying that the most important of the second-year Patriots that must step up this season is quarterback Jarrett Stidham. The 23-year-old is favorite to take over as starting quarterback in New England but may face competition from veteran back-up Brian Hoyer.
Three Non-Stidham New England Patriots Who Need to Step Up in 2020
N’Keal Harry – Wide Receiver
In the limited field time N’Keal Harry had last season, he showed flashes of true promise for an NFL rookie of his caliber. He averaged 8.8 yards per reception with two touchdowns – and one which was disallowed by the refs against the Kansas City Chiefs.
With Tom Brady out of the picture and Julian Edelman undergoing surgery, Harry will need to step up and be a key part of the Patriots’ offense. The former first-round pick showed flashes of promise that can hopefully show up on a more consistent basis in 2020. Through his rookie year, he made some impressive catches, including a nice back-shoulder touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys, putting his 6’3″ frame to good use. He only played in seven games thanks to an ankle injury but with experience under his belt and unhampered by injury, he should improve during his second year in the league.
Chase Winovich – Edge Rusher
In his first NFL season, Chase Winovich hit the ground running and ended the year as the New England Patriots’ most productive rookie. The third-round draft pick played 291 defensive and 256 special teams snaps last season. He finished with 26 tackles and 5.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, one fumble recovery, and returned one blocked punt for a touchdown.
With the departure of valuable linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins, Winovich should see an increased number of snaps and will need to step up to fill the Van Noy-sized void. Although Winovich has reportedly undergone surgery this off-season, he should be ready to go if and when the regular season gets underway and could be set for a breakout season.
Jake Bailey – punter
With their offensive struggles last season, the New England Patriots saw a sharp uptick in punts as their drives dwindled to a halt. Fifth-round draft pick Jake Bailey more than rose to the challenge and earned himself two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week nods last season.
Although he initially faced competition from veteran punter Ryan Allen, Bailey’s solid game-play made him the undisputed Patriots punter for much of the 2019 season. With a new quarterback stepping into one of the most intimidating shadows in sports history, the offense may continue to stall while it finds its new identity.
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