The Patriots' 2022 training camp is done. Seventeen practices, two preseason games and one trip to Las Vegas are in the books as New England begins to set the stage in earnest for the regular season. Consider this the capper on camp — 16 awards for what I've seen sitting in the stands for the last month — that will lead into our final 53-man roster.
We cover everything from the best defensive and offensive rookies, to the biggest disappointments.
2021 version
The envelopes please …
BEST PASS BLOCKER
One-on-one results, including two joint practices:
Winner: Mike Onwenu.
Big Mike did a great job with his pass blocking, and improved a bit (28.6) from his numbers last year. Even better? He did better than Shaq Mason did a year ago (14.3 percent).
Like we've been saying, the offensive line is fine when they're just straight-up pass blocking, so talent is not an issue. It's all the other stuff. Unit improved from 40 percent loss rate last year, to 35 percent this year.
BEST PASS RUSHER
Winner: Christian Barmore.
He led the team in wins and decisive wins this summer, and despite not putting up the same stats as last year (69 percent win rate), Barmore was still a load to handle.
COMEBACK PLAYER
Nominees: LB Anfernee Jennings, WR Nelson Agholor, LB Raekwon McMillan, OG Will Sherman, WR Tre Nixon, S Joshuah Bledsoe.
Winner: Anfernee Jennings.
Oft-injured his first two seasons, Jennings was finally on the field consistently and he showed that there's something there in terms of his pass rush off the edge. How that translates to the games, we'll have to see. But no question he looks like a bonafide contributor.
"The big thing for Anfernee is he's out there," Bill Belichick said. "Last year he really wasn't out there much at all and his rookie year was okay and then the last two years really he's been limited. So the fact he's been out there every day gives him an opportunity to improve, do things, correct them, improve on them, get them better the next day. He's been able to stack those days together and that's made a huge difference for him. I don't think he's changed that dramatically physically. I mean he's improved like everybody has but it's really been an opportunity to play and get consistent. So, that's been great to have him out there."
Sherman was a serious contender. Hard to overstate how awful he was a year ago. Kid obviously worked his butt off on the practice squad to the point he's close to pushing for a starting spot if some veterans should be moved.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
DESCENDING PLAYER
Nominees: DT Lawrence Guy, DE Henry Anderson, S Devin McCourty.
Winner: Lawrence Guy.
A year ago we were wondering what was going on with the veteran and now, after his subsequent subpar season (for him ... high bar) has rolled into the next training camp, we know it's not an injury. Guy's not done, but he's definitely on the decline.
BEST DEFENSIVE ROOKIE
Nominees: CB Marcus Jones, CB Jack Jones, DE Sam Roberts, DT LaBryan Ray.
Winner: UDFA LaBryan Ray.
Yes, this is a bit shocking but Ray seems closest to a real role on this team as a sub pass rusher. The Jones boys need a year of seasoning on defense, and Roberts is a depth guy and not a total roster lock.
(Adam Richins for BSJ) BEST OFFENSIVE ROOKIE
Nominees: LG Cole Strange, WR Tyquan Thornton, RB Pierre Strong, QB Bailey Zappe, RB Kevin Harris, OG Chasen Hines.
Winner: Cole Strange.
This was definitely going to be Thornton — by a good margin — but his shoulder injury caused him to drop out of the running. No question Strange has the talent, but you would hope he would be a little further along by this point.
WORST ROOKIE
Nominees: RB Kevin Harris, QB Bailey Zappe, RB Pierre Strong, OG Chasen Hines.
Winner: Kevin Harris.
Most would probably pick Hines but he's flashed some since he returned from injury. Can't think of one play Quadzilla has made all summer.
BEST NEWCOMER
Nominees: WR DeVante Parker, LG Cole Strange, WR Lil'Jordan Humphrey, LB Mack Wilson, RB Ty Montgomery, OL Arlington Hambright.
Winner: (tie) Parker, Montgomery.
The first half of camp, this was easily Parker. Since then, Montgomery has made steady progress and it looks like he'll be getting a lot of touches. Parker has disappeared a bit. The Raiders got physical with him and he didn't answer.
WORST NEWCOMER
Nominees: WR Josh Hammond, CB Terrance Mitchell, DB Brad Hawkins, DB Jalen Elliott (released), K Tristan Vizcaino
Winner: Tristan Vizcaino.
The kicker has been fine in team drills but his warmups on the practice field are all over the place. Not quite Rohrwasser-esque, but pretty close.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
MOST CONSISTENT DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Nominees: Matthew Judon, Christian Barmore, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Jalen Mills, Carl Davis.
Winner: Matthew Judon.
He's been the best defensive player on the field nearly every day in camp. Now, can he sustain that for the whole season.
MOST CONSISTENT OFFENSIVE PLAYER
Nominees: Jakobi Meyers, Mike Onwenu
Winner: Jakobi Meyers.
So smart and so surehanded, he almost doesn't need to have coaching to be ready to deliver. Automatic pilot. Man, they'd be lost without him with Kendrick Bourne's demise.
THE KENNY BRITT MEMORABLE MOMENT AWARD
Nothing will ever top Kenny Britt walking off the field in the middle of practice to get treatment and stopping to play with his kids on the field (or wearing over-ear headphones onto the field) ... but we won't be able to forget the image of Mac Jones, steam coming out of his ears after an INT during the offense's terrible practice Tuesday vs. the Raiders, pacing up and down the sideline. He looked like a pissed-off parent who wanted to let everyone know how mad he was. Good. I don't think it's a coincidence things were better the next day. Jones looked like he had about enough.
LONGSHOT WHO CAUGHT OUR EYE
OL Arlington Hambright.
LaBryan Ray would be the most obvious choice since we've been talking him up since about the second day of camp. But let's go with the Bears' castoff who looks like he's pushing for a spot, and can play guard or tackle well.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
CB Jalen Mills
At this point last year, you wondered if Mills was ever going to be a good player for the Patriots. But he's made steady progress and now is the clear No. 1 corner on the team. That might not speak well of the Patriots' talent at cornerback, but there's no question Mills has elevated his play.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
The run blocking.
There's no way to sugarcoat it: they have been absolutely horrible blocking the run in camp, to the point that 11 of 13 runs against the Raiders in two days went for zero or negative yards. Complete trainwreck to the point we've almost forgotten Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson are on the team, let alone threats for a big play.
BEST PLAYER OF CAMP
Matthew Judon.
You'd get some arguments for Mills, Mac Jones, Parker and Onwenu, but we have to go with Judon. He dominated both joint practices. No one else can say that.
WORST PLAYER OF CAMP
Cam McGrone.
It's unfair because this is all due to his rehab coming back from ACL surgery, but he hasn't threatened to move up the depth chart and has looked out of place in the preseason games. Needs a practice squad yet, and then try again. The talent is there.