Tag: Maurice Harris

One Foot in and One Foot Out: Patriots to Watch in the Third Preseason Game

By Joey Ballgame on August 21, 2019 • ( 1 Comment )

Patriots.com – The Patriots will square off this Thursday against the Carolina Panthers in a preseason Week 3 matchup for the fifth time in the last six years and for the second straight season. The Patriots played at Carolina last season, a 25-14 loss.

Week 3 of the preseason is often called the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season. It is where a lot of projected starters play for extended periods of time, most notably the Quarterback, and where we get a real glimpse into who could start Week 1.

Beyond that, based on this game we could also infer, both via playing time and whether or not they play at all, who is on the verge of making the Patriots roster and, well, who isn’t. So besides seeing two solid quarters of Tom Brady under center before he mayyyybe comes out for a hand off next week, there will be some drama unfolding Thursday night as we can attempt to read into who is playing what match ups and when and what is says about their chances to be on the squad this year.

Lets take a look at a few of those guys who have both made strides and fell behind in their quest to play home games in the Greater Providence area this fall.

Well, The Winters Are Cold Here Anyway

Duke Dawson – Like a budding summer romance, I still remember the elation in the wordsmithing of all the sportswriters who championed the Patriots’ pick of the Florida Gator last fall. What a steal in the second round. He’s fast, he has a nose for the ball, and like any Belichick corner he can tackle. Well, so far really all we’ve been able to deduce is that he can get burnt like toast. Throw that in the pot with the revelation of Jonathan Jones and J.C Jackson and the drafting and then development of Joejuan Williams this spring, stir it up, bake it, and what comes out are Duke Dawson left out cupcakes. with all of that said, The Pats are known to make a surprising move or two every camp, and Belichick has shown a hesitance to cut his early picks so soon (Chad Jackson got two years on the squad. Chad. Jackson).

What to look for – If Dawson does see legitimate action against Carolina then it’s possible The Pats will keep him and jettison Jason McCourty, who has had a weird summer (we’ll get to that). If he doesn’t play much at all or sparingly it means that thanks to his pedigree and draft position that Belichick and Co are most likely fishing for a trade partner. If he is indeed relegated to mop up duty then well, it is simply the end of the road for one of our three alliteral cornerbacks.

Braxton Berrios – The feet Berrios was given for hands aside, you can’t help but kind of feel for the other second year player on this list. First, he came in with fans and media speculating, probably incorrectly, that he was the heir apparent to Julian Edelman. Just a true blue NFL legend and now Super Bowl MVP, no big deal. Then he tore his Achilles and missed all of his first year, a huge blow for a guy transitioning to the pros with such expectations on his shoulders. Finally this year, when he was supposed to come into training camp with a clean slate and work his way onto the depth chart, UDFA rookie WR Jakobi Meyers came out of the woodwork to become the star of the Patriots’ summer (more on him later). So let’s assume Edelman (1), captain clutch Philip Dorsett (2), and 1st Rounder N’Keal Harry (3) are locks. Let’s also say that the team is at least going to give Demariyus Thomas (4) a shot in the next two weeks considering they’ve kept him thus far. If Meyers (5) crushes it in preseason game three then that leaves, usually, one more slot (6). Berrios is going to have to battle journeyman Maurice Harris, a converted CB named Gunner Olszewski, and a couple of other unknowns for the last spot. That’s also assuming we keep six WRs out of camp, which we may not. Tough going for a guy we had high hopes for at one point. But hey, there is always what I mentioned before about Belichick giving his high picks every chance to shine.

What to look for – Simply put if we don’t see Berrios in the slot for any meaningful downs when Brady is on the field then that is probably it. With that said, if he goes on to get fed later in the game then it could just be he’s penciled in as WR #6 and the team didn’t want to waste meaningful TB12 reps on him.

Mike Pennel – Pennel had some substance abuse issues (I’m guessing weed) a few years back but otherwise has been a quite solid, stout DT for the Jets and Packers. So it has been a big disappointment that he has been outplayed, and thoroughly, by Byron Cowart and at other times by David Parry. This one is the hardest to predict as Belichick prefers his DTs meaty and Pennel really fits that bill (wink nudge). Still, my guess is his seat is getting a bit hot.

What to look for – Pennel to make a play, plain and simple. Maybe more than one. If he gets dominated at the line and pulled that could be it for him in New England.
What….Are You?

Derek Rivers – Another once highly celebrated pick who missed his rookie year with an injury. Once labelled a steal, Rivers has yet to make good on the promise he flashed. This preseason he has been moved off the line a bit as the Pats are possibly going to show a lot more 3-4 fronts. Early reports on his performance were good but now Rivers is hurt again. All indications are that he’ll probably make the back end of the Pats LB rotation but it may be hard to justify since he never, you know, plays.

What to look for – Tough call considering Rivers might not play due to the aforementioned injury suffered against the Titans. What that translates to is that I gueeeesss if we see guys at the dead back of the group like Munson getting a lot of snaps it could mean they are saving a seat for Rivers. If he plays, he better see some quality first half time and hear his name called.

Jason McCourty – For the second year in a row it seems like McCourty is fighting for his spot. Last year there was speculation he’d be cut before becoming a damn good CB during the Pats Super Bowl run. But the more things change, the more they stay the same and with the emergence of both J.C Jackson and Jonathan Jones, McCourty seems to be on uneasy footing, even getting a look at Safety to see if there is anything there. That said, I don’t think his spot is in jeopardy. Although this is the strongest group of corners I can remember the team having. McCourty’s veteran presence and ability to play more than one spot should keep him employed.

What to look for – If he indeed sees some significant snaps at safety, even later in the game, my eyebrows may threaten to rise. Same if he sees next to none at CB. Those extremes aside, McCourty should be fine.

On The Bright Side

Jakobi Meyers – ::Bigggg exhale:: Folks there was a training camp not so far back where an unheralded, unheard of rookie made plays all over the field and made us fans think we’d found a steal. Another Brady-esque diamond in the rough. His name was Zach Sudfeld, and he was nicknamed “Mini-Gronk”, a reference to his All-Everything counterpart in the Tight End room (despite being the taller of the two). Sudfeld indeed had a hell of a summer. And then was cut. He had a cup of coffee with the Jets and probably one or two more teams before never being heard from again. Such is preseason. So I am REALLY trying not to get onto this Meyers bandwagon only to get my heart broken. I probably look like a BFI employee hanging off the garbage truck. But man has he looked good. He’s just a “football player”. Great hands, great routes, even seems to have built a rapport with Brady. I’ll stop here.

What to look for – Big snaps and a big performance with the 1’s means he’s in. Anything else I REALLY DON’T FUCKING KNOW.

Damien Harris – For all the talent the Pats have at RB we don’t really have a true rock toter behind Sony Michel, who himself can be scheduled to miss a few games per year. Therefore, Harris could become our true #2, seeing 12ish touches per contest. The huge question mark is whose touches is he taking? My guess? The more expensive and oft-injured Rex Burkhead, who although I did not write up here, may be on his way out. Anyway, Harris has shown impressive vision among other things this preseason.

What to look for – If the kid just goes out and has some fun he could lock up the back up spot, starting when Michel is hurt (which I don’t wish for but come on).

Chase Winovich – Another rookie. Despite being a high selection Winovich was immediately declared a developmental prospect and kind of a tweener. Guess what? The Pats love tweeners. Since he put on pads all “Wino” has done is spend so much time in opposing backfields he has forgotten which team he plays for. With Rivers hurt, Michael Bennett probably on some sort of “pitch count”, and the Pats love of switching up looks, Winovich probably should plan to play a lot.

What to look for – I dunno just a crack a beer and enjoy man. Kid is a lot of fun to watch.

Top Storylines to Know Through Week 1 of Patriots Training Camp 2019

By Mattes on August 1, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )

It’s officially been one week since the Patriots’ first training camp practice of 2019. That also means we’re now officially only one week away from the team’s first preseason game! (And for those who need something in the meantime, the Broncos and Falcons are set to square off tonight in the annual Hall of Fame Game! Yes. As in this very evening. Esta noche. TONIGHT! Football is officially back, my friends.)

With so many practices and so many different players fighting for one of only 53 spots, it’s been tough to keep up with the flurry of news and notes that have been coming out of Foxborough over the past seven days. Last week, we gave you a quick rundown of the team’s top storylines and under-the-radar players I’m keeping an eye on. Now, I’m back to help you sift through all the noise ever since and help you focus on what’s really mattered so far.

Isaiah Wynn Still Limited & The Possibility of Trent Williams

Even though he was not placed on the PUP list, Isaiah Wynn still hasn’t gone full bore at camp as of yet. Though he’s been on the field and seen time with the starters, the team has given him extended breaks. Especially during contact drills, the staff has chosen to instead use guys like Joe Thuney and Dan Skipper in his place at left tackle.

This was to be expected, as players are typically eased gradually back into playing time after suffering such a serious injury. Though it’s been almost a full year since he tore his Achilles, you can never be too careful. Various reports also seem to indicate that the team is not worried about his Week 1 status and that he should be just fine by the start of the regular season.

But does that mean he’s actually ready? Is the team still rolling the dice a bit by throwing all their eggs in Wynn’s basket? Is the lack of depth at such an important position – you know, the one that’s responsible for protecting your 42-year-old QB’s blind side – a serious problem, and should Bill & Co. perhaps look for reinforcements?

The first question is tough for anyone to answer. Nobody has really seen the kid play any meaningful NFL action yet, but he looked good in individual blocking drills in minicamp and put together a pretty impressive college track record, which led to him being selected in the first round of the draft in 2018. I have yet to see any reason to doubt him.

But there’s a guy by the name of Trent Williams – a nine-year veteran who has made the past seven Pro Bowls with Washington – who might be available on the trade block right now. He also just so happens to be one of the very best left tackles in the game. Many out there, including The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, have indicated the Pats could be very interested in the 30-year-old’s services:

The Redskins are having trade discussions regarding tackle Trent Williams, according to a source. Unclear what type of compensation they’d require in a trade. There’s a feeling around the league the Patriots would be involved due to depth issues at the position.

— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) July 31, 2019

Off the top, it’s pretty obvious why the Pats would be interested, and Williams has elite-level talent. There’s no question about that. But would the juice be worth the squeeze? First and foremost, the team would need to move some salary around, as Williams carries cap hits north of $14 million in each of the next two seasons. Secondly, there’s still the whole Brady contract drama to sort out (more on that in a minute). And thirdly, what if Wynn really is as good as advertised and we spend all that money and effort for a not-entirely-necessary luxury?

Williams is a freakin’ beast, though. Can’t deny that.

This one will be interesting to watch play out, as there’s no doubt that Williams and Washington seem pretty dead set on parting ways. And while I’d still lean more toward Wynn getting the chance to prove his worth and a trade not happening, nobody can say for sure right now exactly whom will be watching Brady’s back come September 8.

Obligatory Tom Brady Extension Talks

Here we go again…

As is the case what seems like every summer, Brady is approaching the last year of his contract, and the team has yet to sign him to a new extension. Throughout his career, Brady and the Pats have typically chosen to go the short-term, flexible contract route as opposed to signing a more restrictive long-term pact. There are pros and cons to both approaches, but there’s no doubt that Brady has always been willing to sacrifice a lot in terms of dollars – he is only the 18th-highest paid QB in the NFL – without any complaints.

Yes, he has a ton of endorsements. Yes, his wife is one of the richest women in history. And yes, he’s doing just fine. But still, the Pats are getting an absolute steal with this contract. It’s almost unfair.

But again, we’ve been here before. Don’t let the media and all the Chicken Little articles about what would happen if he didn’t re-sign scare you. Brady himself didn’t even seem that worried about it yesterday. Everything is going to be fine. Relax.

Moving on…

The Receiver Battle Rages On for Now

At this point in time, here are the Patriots wide receivers I’m absolutely 100-percent, unquestionably, indubitably certain will make the roster: Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, and Phillip Dorsett. (Technically, you can put Josh Gordon in there, too, but it doesn’t seem like he’s anywhere close to playing anytime soon, and he will likely be left off of the initial opening-day roster.)

So that’s three guys who are locked in and about four others – Braxton Berrios, Dontrelle Inman, Maurice Harris, and Jakobi Meyers – competing for the final two, maybe three, spots at the position. (Very rarely does the team carry more than five at the position – which does not even count special teams captain Matthew Slater, who is also technically a receiver – so I would safely bet that there are only two slots remaining open.)

I’ve already thrown my hat in the ring for Dontrelle Inman, on multiple occasions (including last week’s piece), but already it seems like his chances are dwindling more and more by the day. One reason is due to the fact that he missed both Sunday’s and Monday’s sessions for undisclosed reasons, and even one missed practice can set a player back significantly in such a fierce competition.

Image result for dontrelle inman patriots camp

My boy’s still got the talent, but he better pick it up real quick.

The other reason is simply the fact that reporters have been heaping praise onto the play of Maurice Harris so far, and Jakobi Meyers has apparently made waves over the past couple of days as well. Just Google the name “Maurice Harris,” and you’ll be flooded with a ton of headlines with every type of positive buzzword and adjective imaginable. I’ve mentioned earlier this offseason that he could be a very sneaky breakout candidate, and apparently he’s been an absolute standout in camp so far. I’m about ready to give him “roster lock” status as well.

From everything I’ve read so far, this kid is apparently the second coming of Jerry Rice.

Meyers is undrafted rookie who had 92 catches in his lone season at North Carolina State last season. NESN’s Doug Khyed pointed out how he received “extensive first-team work” at Thursday morning’s practice session after a great week, and Mike Giardi went so far as to say he’s been the best rookie out there so far, even outperforming Harry:

Undrafted free agent WR Jakobi Meyers has consistently made plays in competitive situations. Has out-performed N’Keal although again, we’re just a week in. #Patriots

— Michael Giardi (@MikeGiardi) August 1, 2019

Berrios, the media darling and projected favorite heading into this offseason, has struggled mightily. While there’s no question about his hands, he’s struggled with physicality and getting separation from those covering him. Though nobody’s ready to DQ him from the fight, it seems like he’s already behind the 8-ball.

Look, it’s been just one week of practice, and the preseason games have even yet to begin. Again, this thing ain’t over just yet… but it actually may be a lot closer to the end than we initially thought. Stay tuned.

Sony Seems OK

On Wednesday, Sony Michel took part in 11-on-11 drills for the first time, and all seemed to go well. Yes, the team still seems to be taking a conservative approach with him overall, but by all accounts so far it still seems like this is still Sony’s backfield to lose.

I know a lot of people are ready to bestow a big role on rookie Damien Harris already, who looked fantastic in minicamp and has some seriously underrated talent. However, let’s also not forget that it’s hard to not to look good when nobody else was competing against you at the time, and there’s also the fact that Michel is still really good, too.

At this point, I’m expecting more of a 70/30 (maaaybe 65/35 split) between Michel and Harris this season, with some James White and Rex Burkhead (if he even makes the team) sprinkled in along the way. There’s no reason to push Michel back into a lot of intensive work at this point, and I’m just glad he’s been able to stay on the field so far. Let’s hope he can keep it going.

I’m not sleeping on Harris, but the dude still needs to earn his stripes.

A few other quick notes:

Though everyone was freaking out after he missed the first few days of practice, Michael Bennett has been an absolute monster at camp so far. He’s going to be a force this year, which should come as a surprise to nobody.
Speaking of continuing to dominate, Stephon Gilmore has been untouchable in camp. After earning First-Team All-Pro honors last season, and fresh off being rated as the game’s top corner in this year’s NFL Network Top 100 Players list, the dude has not skipped a beat so far. According to reports, he’s barely allowed anyone to catch a pass, and apparently the team’s quarterbacks have avoided him entirely most of the time. He looks ready to serve as the secondary’s keystone once again this season.

Don’t even try this dude.

Along with Bennett, Mike Pennel was another offseason addition to the defensive line, and he has reportedly led the way for the team’s “dominant” defensive front in camp so far. Overall, it seems like the D is way ahead of the offense at this point, and Pennel is a big reason why. Pennel has been in the league for a few years but really flew under the radar with the Jets. People are going to know his name by the end of this season, though. You can count on that.
Jamie Collins has also continued his great play from minicamp. With his presence and the return of Ju’Whuan Bentley to the lineup, there have been rumblings that we could see the team implement a lot more 3-4 looks in 2019, as opposed to always going with four down lineman. With Bentley and Dont’a Hightower, the team has two solid guys to hold down the middle of the field while Collins and Van Noy patrol the outside and rush the passer. Furthermore, the previously mentioned Pennel and Lawrence Guy, who was great last year, could serve as the plugs on the interior up front. Regardless of just how much of his previously elite form he can regain this year, Collins’s presence gives the Pats more defensive versatility than they’ve had in years. The defense could be straight up NASTY in 2019.

He’s baaaaaaack.

So overall it seems like the defense is way ahead of the other side at this point, and there’s still a lot to be sorted out on offense. But again, folks, it’s only just the beginning. The biggest takeaway so far is that there’s been a lot of good and promising news out of camp so far, with very limited negative notes. So I am hopeful, Pats Nation…. at least so far.

The Pats kick off the preseason slate next Thursday night against old buddy Matt Patricia and the Lions out in Detroit.

It’s the Opening Day of Training Camp! Here are Some Lowkey Patriots to Keep an Eye on This Summer

By Mattes on July 25, 2019 • ( 1 Comment )

As I sit here on the opening day of Patriots Training Camp 2019 (!!!), it’s really hard to decide exactly which of the many storylines surrounding the team right now is the most important:

Is Julian Edelman’s thumb really OK? And what does it mean for the team’s still undefined receiving corps?
Is Isaiah Wynn truly healed up? If so, is he actually ready to be Brady’s No. 1 protector?
Is Sony Michel even reliable? Or is rookie Damien Harris going to come in and steal the show?
Who is going to play tight end? And what the hell is a “Matt LaCosse”?
How will the team fare after losing pretty much 99 percent of its coaching staff from last season? (OH, and our de facto GM also doesn’t want to be here anymore either. Let’s not forget about that.)
And, of course, there’s also the never-ending Josh Gordon saga…

But, as with any team around the league, many of the major preseason worries and concerns will be addressed over the next couple of weeks, and per usual Belichick & Co. will find a way to ensure they don’t become major problems. Also, there’s already a smorgasbord of articles out there addressing each of the things I’ve mentioned above, and it’s all speculation at this point anyway.

So instead, ya boy Mattes is here to point out some under-the-radar guys who I’m really keeping my eye on at camp this summer. While most of them won’t be starters, a couple of them are players who have a chance to still make a major impact and serve as a key cog in a well-oiled 53-man machine. There are also others who might not be guaranteed a spot on the team as of yet but do have the chance to surprise some people this summer.

Chase Winovich – DE/OLB

Our faithful 300s readers already know that I have been absolutely gushing about Winovich ever since he was drafted back in April. In fact, I wrote an entire feature article right after the draft dedicated solely to just how awesome this guy is. (Seriously, he is a gem as both a player and an individual.)

Though the team did go out and bring in Michael Bennett to replace Trey Flowers this offseason, Winovich’s ability to step in right away and produce is going to be vital. Even with Flowers last season, the team was pretty mediocre (to outright “bad” at times) in terms of their pass-rush. And on Sunday, we received the news that Deatrich Wise – who was my breakout candidate last preseason before suffering what became a nagging, season-long ankle injury – will start camp on the PUP list. While Wise could be ready to go by the start of the season, it’s certainly not very encouraging news, and the issue will likely still affect him early on in 2019.

I still believe in you, D! But you gotta actually stay on that gridiron first.

Behind Bennett and Wise, there is not much else, at least not in terms of guys who can really get after the quarterback. This will likely be Derek Rivers’s last chance to prove that he’s not a bust, and John Simon is a nice rotational piece but certainly nothing to write home about. Keionta Davis has potential but has yet to prove himself; in truth, he probably needs a standout camp performance to even make the team. And while Lawrence Guy and Mike Pennel are a pretty solid interior combo, it’s clear that the team’s depth in terms of edge guys is pretty lackluster.

Winovich honestly has the ability to become the second- or third-best pass-rusher on this team right away behind Bennett and Kyle Van Noy (and maybe Jamie Collins, too). Not only do his insane combine numbers and college track record back that claim up, but he’s also got the attitude and drive to make it happen as well. This kid is going to be real fun to watch for years to come. Trust me.

Ja’Whuan Bentley – LB

Bentley started off with a bang as a rookie last summer, standing out pretty much right away in the preseason and quickly earning a big-time role on defense early on in 2018. That is, before he tore his bicep in Week 3 against Detroit, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. It was a pretty deflating outcome to what was a white-hot start to his career.

Seriously, though, Bentley received starter-level playing time before the injury, as he was in on 64 percent of the defensive snaps through the first three games before going down. Very rarely has a defensive rookie ever received so much trust from Belichick so quickly, and there’s no reason to expect he won’t be given the chance to grab hold of a big role once again in 2019.

Though both Van Noy and Dont’a Hightower are still here and the team brought back Jamie Collins, who has apparently looked fantastic so far, Bentley will still be asked to serve as a big, run-stuffing force in the middle. He even held his own in coverage last season, allowing only two-of-four targets against him to be completed, with an interception to boot. There’s no doubt that he’s earned the respect of Bill and the rest of the staff, which is not surprising considering that he was a three-time captain during his time at Purdue.

Image result for ja'whaun bentley purdue captain

Bentley was easily the heart and soul of the Boilermakers during his college days.

Bentley could be the next coming of Jerod Mayo – who also just so happens to be the man coaching Bentley and the rest of the linebackers this year. Hmmm…

Dontrelle Inman – WR

Honestly, Inman shouldn’t even be eligible for this list considering he’s a five-year vet with over 150 career catches. Still, the dude is being slept on hard by the vast majority of beat writers in the area, and I just do not understand it.

Look, I know that Jules is still the team’s No. 1. Unless the thumb injury turns out to be something more serious, nothing is going to change that. N’Keal Harry, the team’s first-round pick this year, is also going to get every chance to become the No. 2. There’s also the potential for Josh Gordon to come back, and Phillip Dorsett is still here as well. And young guys like free-agent signing Maurice Harris and second-year man Braxton Berrios are getting their tires pumped as potential options, too. But I truly believe that Inman has the chance to become one of Brady’s favorite weapons by season’s end, and that is not hyperbole.

I already said as much in my piece breaking down the team’s wide receiver depth before the start of OTAs, but ICYMI here’s a little quick-hitter on the 30-year-old journeyman:

Inman is another big-bodied guy (6’3″, 205 pounds) who has bounced around a few teams the past couple of seasons (Chargers, Bears, Colts), and I’m not really sure why. In 2016, he put up 810 yards on 58 catches while playing with Philip Rivers. The Chargers even placed a second-round tender on him the following offseason when he was set to become a restricted free agent. And in just four starts with the Colts last year (nine games played overall), he hauled in three touchdowns with 28 catches on only 39 targets.

Again, I have no idea why he’s shuffled around the NFL as much as he has in recent years, but this is actually a really good signing. Inman could honestly surprise a lot of people this year playing with the G.O.A.T.

Especially with Gronk no longer being a part of this team (for now??), Inman’s profile and skill set could be huge for the team’s offense. Yes, there is the chance he loses out in the positional battle, and there are some out there who think he’s no guarantee to even make the roster. (And I’ll eat a huge crow pie if he’s back on the unemployment line come late August.) However, I really believe in Inman, and I think you should, too.

Obi Melifonwu – S

Melifonwu is one of those uber-athletic but still super raw players with oodles of potential and a long way to go. The fact that he was a second-round pick by the Raiders just two years ago demonstrates the type of talent he possesses; the fact that he’s already on his second team after being drafted only two years ago shows that he’s also far from a sure thing. Still, Belichick thought highly enough of the 25-year-old to sign him to a two-year deal last November, shortly after being released by Oakland.

He ultimately only appeared in just two games for the Pats last season, recording a measly three tackles. To be fair, though, Melifonwu was also less than a year removed from hip surgery at the time of the signing. In fact, because of the same injury, he never even really had a chance to get on the field for the Raiders before getting cut at the beginning of his second season in the league. Belichick obviously wasn’t going to throw him into the fire right away, especially with the team already having such a loaded secondary.

Still, this was a guy who had 118 tackles and four picks as a senior at UConn, and he could have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation behind Devin McCourty, Pat Chung, and Duron Harmon this season. But it is certainly going to be an uphill battle. The biggest roadblocks for Melifonwu are Nate Ebner and free-agent signing Terrence Brooks, both of whom are special-teams standouts and thus probably already have a leg up on Melifonwu in terms of making the roster. The Pats also traded up to select Joejuan Williams in the second round in April. And though Williams is being listed as a cornerback by many, he also profiles as a CB/S hybrid, much in the mold of Melifonwu.

But there’s no doubt that Melinfonwu’s ceiling as an overall player is significant, and the former Huskies star could potentially turn heads this summer if he’s finally healthy once again.

And just a few more quick ones:

Braxton Berrios, Maurice Harris, and Jakobi Meyers – WR: Rather than doing an individual write-up on each of them, they will instead be grouped as one trio battling amongst themselves for the final one or two spots on the receiving depth chart. Berrios is the one who has been receiving the most attention from those close to the team, and Harris showed some serious flashes down in Washington last year. Meyers is another one whose name has been tossed around in certain circles as well. I do expect one or two of these three to make the roster and provide the team with some much-needed security (and long-term hope) at what is currently an entirely unsettled position.

Image result for braxton berrios patriots

Some are already pegging Berrios as the next big thing.

Keion Crossen – CB: Here’s someone who was quietly decent last season. While he did not ascend to the same heights as fellow 2018 rookie corner J.C. Jackson, he did appear in 11 games and played on over 20 percent of the defensive snaps in each of the final two regular-season contests. Though he really didn’t show up on the stat sheet, there were a few plays where you might remember hearing his name called. Cornerback is actually one of the only positions where the Patriots have some serious young talent that they can build upon for years to come. Crossen should be one of those guys.

Jakob Johnson – TE/FB: This is really more about pure intrigue and wishful thinking than anything else. To be honest, I don’t think the 6’5″, 285-pound German spectacle has a snowball’s chance of making the roster, but at least the monster of a man can’t be entirely ignored. Especially with the dearth of options the team has at tight end – even after yesterday’s signing of Lance Kendricks (mehhh) – it’s not like he doesn’t have the opportunity to prove himself. Regardless, he’ll be a fun guy to monitor all summer long. (Here’s a quick write-up from Red on the big fella after the team initially signed him back in April.)

This guy is a complete wild card but a beast nonetheless.

Regardless of what happens with any of these guys, though, all that matters is that football is back, baby! Let the fun begin.

The 300s

Discussions from the cheap seats