The preseason is over, and now is a good time to revisit the Patriots' rookie class. It's a good group. Mature. Hard working. Mike Vrabel and the coaching staff have tested them in just about every way possible, but the regular season is a different beast.
Will Campbell: Arrow up on the left tackle. He's already an above-average to good run blocker, which I was never worried about to begin with. His combination of athleticism, strength, and the requisite nastiness was always going to play in that regard. His pass blocking, on the other hand, has been uneven. Aside from Mike Onwenu, Campbell has had the best camp by any of the Pats' offensive linemen.
TreVeyon Henderson: Arrow up, and I'm not going to let the national commentators who are now saying outrageous things about Henderson being a top 5 back this year (Colin Cowherd, was that you?) annoy me. Henderson is explosive, tough, and trustworthy. That shared backfield should be a real strength for this team.
Kyle Williams: The arrow was starting to point up, and then he got hurt. Williams' willingness to get a pass that he knew could result in him getting his clock cleaned is a good sign. The drops, which showed up this summer, are not what anyone is looking for and a carryover from his collegiate career. Williams doesn't need to be forced-fed playing time early, not with Boutte and Hollins, but there'll still be a role that could grow as he grows.
Jared Wilson: He's leveled off the last week and change, but overall, I like what he brings to the table. He's smart, athletic, and strong. I figured we were looking at him taking over at center midway through the year. That Wilson may end up as the top left guard for week one is a bit of a surprise, and could cause some more headaches than McDaniels would like early, but he's earned playing time somewhere.
Craig Woodson: Arrow up. Woodson is probably starting at safety alongside Jabril Peppers (there's a reason why the Pats had Peppers play four series to start the final preseason game...so he could play alongside the rookie). Another really smart rookie, and he has been around the ball quite a bit, even if he hasn't made many plays on it.
Joshua Farmer: Let's call Farmer static at this juncture. When he's out there, you do see that power. But he hasn't carved out a role for himself just yet.
Bradyn Swinson: Slightly disappointed in what we've seen so far. His power has played at times, but consistency has been elusive. I'm not worried. Mike Smith does an excellent job developing these pass rushers, although Swinson is behind UDFA Elijah Ponder at this point.
Andres Borregales: Arrow down. Missing that 49-yarder Thursday night may have cost him the job to the well-traveled Parker Romo.
Marcus Bryant: Arrow up. Might be the swing tackle. He's still working on leaning less and driving more, but there has been real improvement in this area.
Julian Ashby: The operation low-key stunk in Minnesota, and he was partly responsible. But in general, he's done what they've asked. It will be a good year for Ashby if we never really have to speak his name.
Kobee Minor: The arrow would be up from where he started camp, but this last week wasn't his best. Minor is a competitive son-of-a-gun, which they like. He's allowed some vertical plays to be made against him, and I wonder if he has that closing speed a good corner needs, but on the underneath stuff, Mr. Irrelevant is competitive.
BUYER BEWARE
When Shane Steichen stepped to the podium earlier this week and announced Daniel Jones as the team's starting quarterback, it was hard not to think that this was the Colts' way of saying they no longer believe former first-rounder Anthony Richardson is salvageable.
"I think this league is a year-to-year league," Steichen said. "What do I feel is best for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025? I've got to make these decisions. That's what I get paid to do. And I gotta go with what I feel is right."
"[Steichen] made a decision," said Richardson. "That's the decision we've got to live with, but no hard feelings, nothing personal. I've just got to keep growing. I just can't let me not being a starter stop me from going and being the person, the player that I'm supposed to be."
His agent, Deiric Jackson, however, doesn't see it that way. He told ESPN that the two sides have "a lot ot discuss" and "trust is a big factor, and that is, at best, questionable right now."
Richardson completed 47% of his passes last season, an absurdly low number in a league where just about every rule favors the pass (Of course, that didn't stop him from looking like Cam Newton in his prime vs the Patriots). He has been benched twice, including once for his work habits last year. GM Chris Ballard admitted publicly that the team should have never played Richardson in his first year, that he was "drowning."
Now, despite an improved performance in training camp, Steichen is going with the safer Jones, no great shakes himself. He was overdrafted by the New York Giants, and except during his first year under Brian Daboll, never lived up to his first-round billing. Jones' default as a quarterback is to be 'Checkdown Charlie.' In 341 dropbacks last season, the former Duke Blue Devil averaged 6.1 yards per attempt. Of quarterbacks with over 300 attempts, only then-Dallas backup Cooper Rush had a lower YPA (6.0).
“You guys heard me talk about the consistency, and that’s really what I was looking for,” Steichen said. “Really, the operation at the line of scrimmage, the checks, the protections, the ball placement, the completion percentage, all of that played a factor in (the decision). I think Daniel did a great job (being consistent), and I think AR has made strides in that area, but I do feel he needs to continue to develop in those areas.”
It's not hard to envision a scenario in which Jones falls flat on his face and Steichen has to go back to Richardson. But considering concerns about the young QB's professionalism, and now the agent making noise, there's no guarantee Richardson will ever become what the Colts dreamed. In the end, that may cost Steichen and Teflon GM Ballard, the two men who thought they could develop the youngster, their jobs.
NEW LEAD BACK IN WASHINGTON?
There were 25 running backs drafted this spring, but is it possible that the final selection has as significant an impact as the first? Jacory "Bill" Croskey-Merritt has become the talk of the town in D.C. In fact, yours truly got a message from a National NFL writer who wondered if I saw what the local Washington reporters were buzzing about during the joint practices with the Patriots (he had a couple of nice runs that day).
The reality is, the Commanders' 7th-round pick has been stacking days since OTAs. His elevated performance made erstwhile starter Brian Robinson available via trade - and Washington just shipped him off to San Francisco for a late-round choice.
Croskey-Merritt rushed for 46 yards on 11 carries in that contest and added a pair of catches as well. He's already surpassed Chris Rodriguez and Jeremy McNichols on the depth chart, and with Robinson removed from the equation, would likely split carries with veteran Austin Ekeler. Not bad for a kid who started his career at FCS Alabama State, transferred to New Mexico for a season, then got one game at the University of Arizona before being ruled ineligible because of a clerical error.
“I like the group we have; there’s no doubt Bill’s had some good flashes for a young guy,” said offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
You may wonder how a guy named Jacory could be nicknamed Bill. Me too. Apparently, there was a character in a Bill Cosby animated production named "Little Bill," and Croskey-Merritt's friends thought they looked alike. Hence, Bill.
LICHT, RIGHT AGAIN?
One of the more surprising first-round picks in this April's draft was made by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They tabbed Emeka Egbuka in the first round, having just spent big money re-upping Chris Godwin one year after doing the same with Mike Evans. Also, they had the promising Jalen McMillan coming off an excellent rookie campaign (former Washington product outshining higher-drafted teammate Ja'Lynn Polk in 2024-25). But now, about two weeks from the opener, no one in Tampa is questioning GM Jason Licht's decision to select Egbuka. The rookie out of Ohio State has worked with the ones since the spring, and with Godwin not ready tp start the year (though he is off PUP) and McMillan dealing with a neck injury that will keep him sidelined for an extended period, Egbuka may become a breakout star in this Baker Mayfield-led offense. If you listen to the quarterback, the Ohio State product has a real chance to be one of the best receivers in football.
"He does. He does,” Mayfield told Yahoo Sports. “Obviously, being a guy drafted in the first round, you have to have physical talent. But that’s not what separates him. I mean, he’s got all the talent in the world, but upstairs, the mental aspect of it, he is a smart cookie. He knows the offense, and this is not an easy one to learn, but he can plug-and-play any receiver spot for us right now.
"The way he handles himself, it also elevates and pushes the younger guys to say, hey, he just got here, He knows his stuff, so there's no reason you shouldn't as well."
Egbuka set OSU's school record with 205 career receptions, including 81 last season for the National Champs. He caught just about everything he could get his hands on and was dangerous after the catch, finishing 10th in the NCAA in YAC (5.9 yards per). That had Mayfield comparing him to a current NFL standout.
"Receivers don't always stay on the ground, run through the catch to get yards after the catch, and he reminds me of Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) in a way, which is obviously high praise," he said. "Amon-Ra St. Brown is an absolute stud, but he does a lot of things similar to where he's always trying to make a big play."
St. Brown has been an All-Pro in each of the last two years.
ALLERGY SEASON COMES EARLY
Not sure if you caught the Tyson Bagent press conference from Wednesday, but man, did the allergies unexpectedly kick in. Bagent became the first Chicago Bear quarterback since 2014 to sign an extension with the team. He got two years and $10 million, with incentives that could make it reach $16 million. Not bad for a backup. But for Bagent, the moment meant a hell of a lot more than that.
"A lot of people don't know this, but my dad is my right-hand man, and he didn't even have running water until he was in high school," Bagent said, fighting back tears. "There's definitely a lot of things and people that I think I can certainly help with this gift I've been blessed with. Just little things like that. I don't really know anybody back at home with any money. So yeah, it feels good. It's certainly a weight off my shoulders and my family's shoulders. So yeah, it definitely means a lot."
The 25-year-old went to Division 2 Shepherd University and has been in Chicago since 2023. He initially didn't accept the contract offer because he and his head coach, Ben Johnson, believe he can be a starter in this league.
"I don't think there's any question about it," Johnson said. "I mean, I've really been blown away by his approach from the spring to the start of camp to where we are now. He does a tremendous job knowing what to do, how to do it, and getting it done."
Bagent's father is a 17-time world champion arm wrestler. I am not.