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.
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We finish up with the top nine -- the best of the best. The nucleus. If these nine are playing the way they have demonstrated in the past, individually, you could make a Pro Bowl case for most of them, based on their collective resumes. And from a teamwide perspective, if they are at the top of their game, it's going to be awfully hard to stop New England from another title. On the flip side, if any one of these guys go down for an extended stretch this coming season, there would be issues. If one (or multiple players) go down with a season-ending injury at some point, there would be some big issues.
9. James White: There are some questions about the rest of the backfield when it comes to health, effectiveness and general experience at the NFL level, which means White figures to be the man out of the gate for the Patriots. One of a handful of backs to have 150-plus catches since the start of the 2015 season, his versatility as a pass catcher (out of the backfield, in the slot, or split wide) allows New England to put stress on opposing defenses in a unique way. And while he’s not necessarily built to carry the ball 15-20 times a game, he is capable of picking up tough yardage in a pinch. With Julian Edelman slated to miss the first four games of the season and some questions about the depth at wide receiver, he’s positioned to be one of the most important parts of the offense over the first month of the season, but he figures to be vital to the New England offense all year long.
8. Shaq Mason: The right guard,
who has built a rep as one of the sturdiest offensive linemen in the league, is set up almost perfectly. He’s compiled a really impressive resume to this point in his career — he was arguably the best right guard in the league last season — and is now heading into a contract year poised to cash in. Our guy Miguel has done some great work looking at what it might take to sign Mason long term, and Greg targeted Mason as a potential summer surprise when it comes to a trade. (It’s worth remembering the Patriots dealt another great guard, Logan Mankins, at the end of the summer.) Regardless of what happens down the road, Mason deserves to be in our top 10, as his durability, stoutness and strength have made him the latest in a long line of tough guards churned out by New England. (For the record, we put four offensive linemen — Mason, David Andrews, Marcus Cannon and Joe Thuney — in our top 15.)
7. Trey Flowers: Like Mason, Flowers is also going into the final year of his contract, and his body of work suggests he could also land a sizable payday, provided he stays healthy. (Honestly, the fact the Patriots got Mason, Flowers and Malcom Brown all in the 2015 draft is really impressive. Maybe even more impressive? They got them both in the fourth round after they used a second-round pick on Jordan Richards.) A versatile defensive lineman who has become New England’s most accomplished pass rusher (he has more sacks than any Patriots since the start of the 2015 season), he’s capable of working along the interior or on the edge. Maybe the most impressive thing about him? When Greg asked him this spring about the possibility of him flipping sides to accommodate Adrian Clayborn (whose strength is on the same side as Flowers), Flowers simply shrugged and said whatever. Most players heading into a contract year would raise holy hell about that. For the disarmingly practical Flowers, it sounds like no big deal.
6. Devin McCourty: What more can you say about McCourty other than when it's all said and done, he might be one of the finest defensive backs to have ever played for Bill Belichick? One of the steadiest veterans the Patriots’ defense has had for a long time, McCourty is the third member of that safety trio we detailed earlier in our countdown. He’s a smart, consistent performer who will be relied on to help with the transition from Matt Patricia to Brian Flores.
5. Stephon Gilmore: He was shook badly at the start of 2017, but rebounded down the stretch, and had one of the best postseasons of anyone on the defense. This spring, he looked confident and nimble, knocking down anything that came his way. Based on the way he finished 2017 and what we saw from him this spring, he appears poised for a big season.
4. Julian Edelman: It’s been an eventful 11-month stretch for Edelman, who now has to deal with a four-game ban for PEDs to start the season. Between that and his rehab, it’s going to be an interesting 2018 for the slot receiver. You can argue his relative “value” might take a bit of a hit because the team came within one drive of winning it all last year without him, but from an overall standpoint, he’s still one of the most important guys on the roster. His connection with Brady, his performance in big games and his track record within the offense are all pretty much unmatched. (For what it’s worth, it’s remarkable to think Edelman, Rob Gronkowski and Tom Brady haven’t been together on the field since Nov. 27, 2016.)
3. Dont’a Hightower: The defensive centerpiece. The Patriots collectively lost some of their mojo without him on the field last season, and it not only showed at linebacker, but on other spots on defense. With him back, there’s a sense of balance to what New England has to do to succeed on defense. Given the personnel changes over the last year, it’ll be interesting to see if the Patriots use him in the middle or off the edge as a potential pass rush presence (the belief here is more of the former than the latter), but the simple fact that he’ll be out there is good news for New England. Of course, there’s always the “If he can stay healthy” qualification when you’re talking about Hightower, but if he’s able to stay on the field for the duration, it’ll represent a big step toward another Super Bowl run.
2. Rob Gronkowski: Talk about your eventful offseasons … and the drama might not be done yet. The big tight end has been at the center of plenty since the end of the Super Bowl, but after a come-to-Jesus talk with the coach, it sounds like everyone is on the same page, at least for now. Despite all the nonsense, when he’s healthy, Gronkowski remains the most overwhelming offensive option in the league.
1. Tom Brady: There’s no surprise here. For what feels like the millionth consecutive year, the quarterback is the most important part of the roster. I can’t wait to see how he’ll respond to the events of the offseason — by staying away from the voluntary portion of the offseason workouts, the simple truth is if the offense stumbles out of the gate, he’s left himself open to second-guessing. But the whole thing doesn’t work unless he’s under center.
[democracy id="11"]