Counting down the most valuable Patriots -- No. 18 to No. 10

With training camp looming, we’ve decided to rate the Patriots’ roster, counting down the most valuable from No. 90 to No. 1. “Valuable” can be defined on multiple levels, but for purposes of this exercise, we’re going to take a few different things into account: talent, dependability, track record of success in the system, and their individual spot on the depth chart. (Basically: How bad would things be if they were removed from the lineup?)

There are some cases — namely, the first-year players — where it’s tough to predict where they should land. But based on their performances in the spring workouts and having talked to teammates and people around the league, we took our best shot.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

Today, it's Nos. 18 through 10. Many of the guys in this group aren’t considered the above-the-marquee talent that dominates the headlines, but are vital (or will be vital) to what they want to get done on either side of the ball in 2018.