The Patriots' rookies are still in town for a few more days to finish their orientation, and then they'll join their veteran teammates in being off until late July. For most of them, it's their first substantial time off since they reported to summer practices in college almost a year ago. After their season, it was draft prep time, and then they were ushered into the NFL.
But they'll keep working over the next six weeks to some extent to make sure they don't fall behind. Because once the teams report around July 28th, it will be full bore into January.
Where are the rookies heading into the summer? What's being said by and about them? Who has a chance for playing time come the season? It's very, very early, but here's an early read:
Cameron McGrone, LB
The fifth-round pick is coming off ACL surgery so he's not expected to be seen in action on the field anytime soon, but it seemed very encouraging that the Michigan product was omnipresent on the practice field during the OTAs and minicamp. I mean, McGrone was on the field all the time and not just watching — he was talking with other player and coaches as the periods were going on. That's the kind of stuff a future field general does and that seems to be the hope for McGrone — people inside the building are excited for his future, and his recovery is going really well.
What they're saying: "McGrone is a good football player, replaced [Devin] Bush at Michigan, and had a really good career there. Had a knee injury last year, missed the end of the year. We're not really sure what the expectation of availability is for him, but we're prepared certainly to not have him available this year, but we'll just have to wait and see how that goes. There are no false expectations here. He should have a good recovery and be a good player. We'll just have to see what the timing is on that." - Bill Belichick post-draft.
Will he play much of a role as a rookie? With his recovery doing so well, it's not out of the realm of possibility that McGrone is actually participating by the end of the season, but it is doubtful. However, it's rare to hear this type of optimism from people around the team. It's there, however.
Joshuah Bledsoe, S
The first of two sixth-round picks been able to do very much after needing wrist surgery but the hope is there that come training camp he will be ready to go at some point, if not for the start. That would be helpful, especially if he can take to the free safety position where the Patriots don't have much behind Devin McCourty, especially if Jalen Mills has to play more cornerback. Bledsoe's surgery is why the team had to sign Adrian Colbert — they just needed numbers at the position.
What they're saying: "Josh, he played at Missouri and he played in a tough league in the SEC and he played against a lot of good players and he was very competitive. He played a couple of different positions which was good for us to see. My impression since he's got here, he unfortunately hasn't been able to get on the field as much as we want. He had wrist surgery. But he has been mentally engaged and he's trying to get better every day and improve. That's all you can ask for, especially from a young player, to improve a little bit every day, because there's a lot to improve on obviously when a guy comes in as a rookie. But if they can keep getting better that ceiling keeps going up and if we can keep improving that really helps. So he hasn't been able to get in the field a lot yet but mentally he's been getting better and putting in extra work, as all rookies should. Because there's a lot to learn. But he's on his way to learning it.". - Brian Belichick.
Will he play much of a role as a rookie? With 3.5 safeties on the field a lot (McCourty, Adrian Phillips, Kyle Dugger and then Mills) probably not much but once he gets to camp, Bledsoe will be able to at least earn a role on special teams and that's a start. That will get him on the gameday roster and then you never know. The best thing he can do is sidle up to McCourty and be a sponge. Being the second free safety isn't all that complicated — Duron Harmon played fairly early in that spot — but it's going to be hard to displace a veteran in the secondary. Special teams is the way.
William Sherman, OL
The other sixth-round pick has been on the field and participating, and he's gotten the full Patriots rookie experience moving all over the line during minicamp. It's impossible to really gauge where he is without pads on, but the Patriots were throwing a lot at him and he appeared to acclimate himself well. It's wide open for Sherman to earn a role either at guard or tackle — the Patriots could use good depth at both spots.
What they're saying: He’s got some potential to play tackle, as well as guard. And I think we’ll continue to work him at both spots and just see where he settles. I think right now, Will will tell you, it’s just a matter of coming in here, learning the system, learning the culture, and buying into how we work, and how we operate. But, yeah, we’ll keep floating him around, and see where he ends up.” — Carmen Bricillo, offensive line coach.
Will he play much of a role as a rookie? Doubtful but just look at Mike Onwenu — who went from spring afterthought to major player as a rookie in the same round last year — anything can happen once the pads go one. Sherman looks to be more of a tackle and not as advanced as Onwenu but you never know. Sherman looked fairly promising without pads on. He'll be one to watch in camp to see if he can grab a role.
Tre Nixon, WR
Was right in the mix in camp playing multiple spots like all the Patriots' receivers and I'd say the thing that stood out the most about Nixon was he's smart. He seemed to really pick things up quickly, didn't make a ton of blatant mistakes and has a chance to compete a bit in camp. Won't blow you away with his physical skills, but he's got good enough speed and good hands. Feels like there might be something here ... down the road.
What they're saying: "I think that’s the one thing that when you do these draft evaluations and process, how much does the guy really love football? I enjoyed speaking with him in the pre-draft process and he has an extremely great work ethic, loves football. Obviously was very productive at UCF as a perimeter receiver. Most guys at the receiver position in college play in one spot on the outside, and it’s a certain type of system that’s different from the pros. That’s just facts. I think his ability to showcase his willingness to learn, his love for the game and you know what? His production spoke for itself at UCF in terms of his play speed and big-play ability. He did a good job there. Hopefully, he can do that as he learns as a young player. Like anything, he’s a young player looking to develop. As we get more time with him on the field, we’re looking to see what he can do and put him in the right spot to be successful." - Mick Lombardi, WR coach.
Will he play much of a role as a rookie? If he wants any role, he's going to make a mark on special teams in coverage. That's where it starts. If you're not a factor there, then he can forget about it. I would say the most likely path for him is being released and signing to the practice squad for further development. While Nixon is in a good place at this stage, he's going to have to show out in camp to grab a real role on this team. Not out of the realm of possibility but a long shot.
Quinn Nordin, K
Unheralded as the team's only undrafted free agent signing to this point, Nordin has to be considered one of the stars of the minicamp ... for not even being close to game situations. He has one of the biggest legs you'll ever see from a kicker — the ball just sounds different coming off his foot — but he has a long ways to go because he was underwhelming at Michigan. Still, the Patriots seem to be investing a lot of time in him.
What they're saying: "I think Quinn's made a lot (of progress). Again, Joe [Houston] and Cam [Achord] have spent a lot of time with him going all the way back to rookie minicamp and in terms of working with his technique and his kicking mechanics, and he's definitely made some changes, I'd say, for the better. And so, we'll see where all that goes but he's doing well and as I said, he's continuing to improve, so we'll see where that takes us here." - Belichick.
Will he play much of a role as a rookie? I think he has a real chance to earn a role, possibly as a kickoff and long field-goal kicker specialist if the team continues to go with Nick Folk. The Patriots have already released Roberto Aguayo, leaving Folk and Nordin. I wouldn't go crazy yet because everything will be revealed in camp and in the preseason — and I doubt Belichick would trust him as a rookie to replace Folk — but I do think Nordin has a real future on this team. But there is still much unknown at this point.
NICKEL PACKAGE
1. Nope, didn't love Jonnu Smith skipping OTAs and pulling a hammy halfway through this first practice. The Patriots need him on the field as much as possible so this offense can get going.
2. That being said, Smith's situation gave Devin Asiasi a chance to step up — something he did not do at all last season — and he appeared to answer the bell. Asiasi had a good camp and appeared light years ahead of where he was last year.
3. I don't know why people love to dump on N'Keal Harry — the dude is always trying and it's not his fault the Patriots drafted him in the first round — but I thought he had a solid camp. I don't think he needs to move to TE quite yet (former brief Patriot Jordan Matthews is attempting to do that) but I would really like to see the Patriots invest some real time in camp trying to make Harry a big slot on a full-time basis. He has a chance to do that. I could see him being a latter Anquan Boldin or Larry Fitzgerald, that type.
4. Sending good thoughts to Vince and Bianca Wilfork as they deal with a personal situation with their son, D'Aundre Holmes-Wilfork.
5. Happy Father's Day to all my fellow dads out there, especially to my father. Not only did he teach me to watch the line play and not the ball at an early age, but he's always been super supportive of his sons and his grandkids, and instrumental in their success.