The post-Chase Winovich Era Patriots are days away from taking to the practice field for the official start of training camp on July 27.
All sarcasm aside, living on the edge is something that certainly suited the New England Patriots defense in 2021, at least for as long as Pro Bowl linebacker Matt Judon had his foot on the gas pedal.
New England’s prime free-agent pickup on defense – he of the $32 million guaranteed – earned his third straight Pro Bowl selection, mainly from September-November. During New England’s seven-game win streak, he was the dominant force on the field. In December-January – a stretch in which the Pats closed at 2-4 – he had one sack, coming in a Buffalo monsoon.
With Judon’s late malaise, the Patriots dropped from a top 10 spot to 18thin sacks.
New England needs an influx of athleticism at the edge in 2022. The team expects that to come from youngsters like Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings and Ronnie Perkins.
How they progress and how Judon rebounds could dictate where this defense lands and whether or not this football team takes a step forward into the land of true contenders.
1. Matt Judon
Buy his stock: Not since Chandler Jones roamed these parts in 2015 have the Patriots had a double-digit sack artist. Judon matched Jones' season best here with 12.5.
Sell, sell, sell: The former Raven was run out and taken out of the game in the final month of the season and against Buffalo in the playoffs.
Longo says: As expected, the team talked about Judon’s injury issues late as the determining factor for slowing him down. The fact of the matter is he provided this defense with the game-changer it still doesn’t have.
He’ll have to bounce back. The Patriots certainly need it.
2. Josh Uche
Buy his stock: Uche is hard to quantify because his snaps and production don't exactly scream breakout star. But when he's on the field, he attracts attention. He catches the eye. And you feel like the chance to put it together is upon us.
Sell, sell, sell: Man, Uche had better have some strong, broad shoulders, because he’s carrying all kinds of hopes for New England football fans from Attleboro to Augusta.
Longo says: As Christopher Moltisanti said to Adrianna on the Sopranos, “That’s the guy.” Yes, Uche, who showed a couple of flashes in 12 games last year – totaling three sacks – is expected to ramp it up in Year Three. He’s a second-round pick. In a similar way as Judon, maybe even more desperately because he’s young (23) and affordable, the franchise needs plays from Uche, immediately if not sooner.
3. Anfernee Jennings
Buy his stock: It’s a pivotal year for the 2020 third-round pick out of Alabama. Opportunity is knocking and there is plenty of it.
Sell, sell, sell: Let’s be honest, the rookie season, with 14 games played and 20 tackles would appear a lot better if Jennings followed it up with a big second season. Instead, he sat out the year on injured reserve.
Longo says: He was a big-time recruit at Bama and has potential. Can he get the engine to finally turn over?
4. Deatrich Wise Jr.
Buy his stock: The lone survivor from Bill Belichick’s 2017 draft class, Wise has been a serviceable situational sub at the end spot. The fourth-round selection gets high marks for his durability, having played in 78 of a possible 81 games in his five seasons. He played 48 percent of the snaps a year ago.
Sell, sell, sell: The 17 sacks he’s accumulated over that time aren’t striking much fear into the opposition.
Longo says: To steal a phrase. He is what he is. Belichick demands accountability, and he’s brought it over his career consistently. He’s just not a big-play guy.
5. Ronnie Perkins
Buy his stock: Perkins, with good length at 6-foot-3 and size at 247 pounds, is a 2020 third-round pick who easily passes the look test. He’s also just a puppy at age 22.
Sell, sell, sell: It was a puzzling rookie campaign for Perkins, who spent the first 13 games as a gameday scratch then was placed on injured reserve with an ankle issue.
Longo says: In three seasons at Oklahoma in the pass-happy Big-12, Perkins averaged 5.5 sacks a game. The Patriots would certainly take those numbers, but he’s got to find his way to the field first.
6. DaMarcus Mitchell
Buy his stock: An undrafted free agent, Mitchell was not invited to the NFL Combine but caught the Patriots’ eye at Purdue’s media day.
Sell, sell, sell: The production at Purdue wasn’t exactly huge with a combined 5.5 sacks in two years.
Longo says: He’s an athlete blessed with quality physical attributes, but there was a reason he went undrafted.
7. Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
Buy his stock: Signed out of the USFL, from the 1-9 Pittsburgh Maulers, Pharms looks to kick-start an NFL career at age 25.
Sell, sell, sell: After beginning his college ball at Sacramento State – the alma mater of three-time Super Bowl champion long snapper and snow angel legend Lonie Paxton – Pharms went on to do his best work at some place called Friends University.
Longo says: Pharms hopes to add depth to a group in need of true play-makers.