FOXBORO, Mass. — The New England Patriots are 10 practices into training camp and have their final session Tuesday before the preseason begins Thursday against the Carolina Panthers. It seems like a good time to reflect on where each player stands.
We provided one analysis of each offensive player on Monday. We are going to talk about defense now.
DL Matthew Judon: Even though he says he will play on, he is not really excited about his contract status and is not present at practice. He is looking for a fresh contract. And the assumption here is that, within the next week, the parties will reach a resolution that somewhat appeases Judon.
Mr. Deatrich Wise, DL Wise is thirty years old, thus his prime is most likely behind him. Even so, he still fits well with this adaptable defense because he can line up in a variety of areas.
DL Christian Barmore: Following off his impressive second half of the previous season, the team’s top interior pass rusher appeared ready for a monster year. But like David Andrews in 2019, his blood clot issues have sidelined him indefinitely and could cause him to miss the entire season.
DL Keion White: He fits the bill and has the right appearance. A year earlier, the second-year player also had a strong camp, but aside from a few standout plays, it did not carry over into games. This year, we will see if White continues to build on his camp success.
DL Davon Godchaux: The run stopper signed a new contract with the Patriots that effectively ensures he will play for the team for the next two seasons. I understand the need to maintain cultural fit throughout this reconstruction, but more than $16 million over two years was promised for a defensive tackle who is starting his third season and does not actually rush the passer. If it had been his prior contract, I probably would have let him finish the year.
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 31, 2024
Josh Uche, DL: In contrast, I am investing in Uche as he embarks on this one-year contract with the hopes of profiting from the upcoming offseason. He has an amazing burst of speed and has been lightning fast off the line in camp.
DT Daniel Ekuale: Although an injury ended his 2023 campaign, with Barmore sidelined, he is perhaps the most likely to see an increase in playing time.
DT Armon Watts: He has changed his position somewhat, becoming a run stopper instead of a pass rusher, but he has not exactly impressed us thus far.
Jeremie Pharms Jr., DT: His lack of physical prowess restricts his potential and pass rush. However, Pharms will most likely earn a spot on the roster since the Pats need depth in the interior.
Sam Roberts, a defensive tackle: Although his greatest move is the power rush, he lacks the quickness to be more than a rotational member of the defensive line.
OLB Anfernee Jennings: Jennings only has one responsibility, which is to stop the run, and he excels at it. Although he may be exposed during play action, he will be an important asset in the face of run-first offenses.
OLB Oshane Ximines: Ximines, who was recently signed by the Pats, has only participated in two practices thus far, but in 48 career games, he demonstrated potential as a pass rusher.
John Morgan, DL: Morgan is undersized and does not have a clear place on the defensive line at 6 feet 1, 252 pounds. However, this defense has a proven track record of producing players of that caliber—perhaps because Bill Belichick is in charge of it.
DT William Bradley-King: Bradley-King is an intriguing option to stash on the practice squad because, like Morgan, he is tiny but a strong athlete.
DT Mike Purcell is another recent free agent addition to the Pats roster. With over 2,500 NFL snaps under his belt, Purcell is an experienced player who the team is giving an opportunity to see if the 33-year-old has any more left in him. It is a flyer worth taking.
DT Trysten Hill In 2019, Hill’s strong combine performance contributed to the Dallas Cowboys selecting him in the second round. However, he has never received steady playing time, so the Pats are hoping a move to a new location will benefit him.
DT Josiah Bronson: Prior to joining the USFL last year, he spent time on the practice squads of four NFL teams. He has little chance of making the roster.
Ja’Whaun Bentley, LB: Bentley has high expectations since coach Jerod Mayo believes he can develop into one of the league’s top linebackers.
LB Jahlani Tavai: Considering that teams usually are not willing to spend as much in their linebackers as the Patriots do, his contract extension was another one that caught me off guard. Nevertheless, over the last five years, he has probably been Belichick’s second-best free agent acquisition.
LB Sione Takitaki: After being impressed by him in Cleveland, Eliot Wolf brought him to New England. However, due to a knee injury, Takitaki has not played in camp, making his start with the team less than ideal.
LB Raekwon McMillan: Although Tavai hailed McMillan as the group’s unsung hero, his on-field performance has only been mediocre thus far.
LB Marte Mapu: Mapu’s camp experience has been underwhelming thus far. In Year 2, they expected him to make a significant improvement. Rather, he has been unable to play due to an injury.
LB Christian Elliss: The preseason snaps will be crucial for Elliss since special teams will play a major role in his quest for a roster place.
LB Giles-Harris Joe: He struggles in pass coverage because of his poor movement, therefore in order to establish himself, he will need to become an effective run stopper.
LB Steele Chambers: After excelling at Ohio State, Chambers might make a good addition to the special teams unit. He also has a wonderful linebacker name. He was cut by the Detroit Lions in June, and the Pats picked him off waivers after he went undrafted.
CB Christian Gonzalez The 22-year-old wants to show that his three+ games as a rookie were not an anomaly, but over the past week, there have been a few difficult workouts. Though he has not taken center stage, it is probably not a big deal.
Throwing the pads on again 😈 pic.twitter.com/UuVmJ9U6ZU
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 2, 2024
CB Jonathan Jones: He is the Patriots’ most reliable player, and his ability to play many positions helps Mayo and the defense.
CB Marcus Jones Jones’s health is his most crucial consideration, but as a nickel corner and returner, he is prepared for a huge season. I also forget how tough he is; at camp, he is always among the first defensive backs to roughhouse with receivers.
CB Alex Austin: He was effective in his brief appearance last season and is an excellent matchup versus deep threats because of his straight-line speed. However, Austin may stumble when covering quicker receivers particularly in the red zone.
CB Marco Wilson Wilson, one of the team’s finest athletes, has had a solid camp. Over the past week, he has had some practice with the starting defense.
CB Isaiah Bolden: The coaches are waiting to see if Bolden can prove himself as a depth corner long enough to remain on the team, even though the Patriots adore the concept of him as a special teams ace.
CB Shaun Wade: Despite the fact that other players occasionally rank higher on the depth chart, Wade has made the squad for three years running. Do not write him off just yet.
CB Marcellas Dial: He is extremely quick but small, which comes up from time to time in camp. The Patriots have given him plenty of opportunities to see how fast he picks things up.
CB Mike Victor: The undrafted free agent is similar to Dial in that he is big but lacks the speed you would expect in an outside cornerback.
CB Azizi Hearn: He is making a strong case for a spot on the practice squad after his excellent coverage on a deep pass to Jalen Reagor last week resulted in an interception.
S Kyle Dugger: Dugger always appears to be around the ball and in the proper place. It will be interesting to observe how this new employee uses him creatively.
S Jabrill Peppers: The defense’s mainstay if Judon is unhappy could be Peppers, an old-school, physically strong defensive back with versatile playmaking ability. He serves Mayo well as a chess piece.
S Jaylinn Hawkins: His tackling can be a problem, but he is more akin to a genuine deep safety, something the Patriots lack.
Jaylinn Hawkins is taking advantage of increased opportunities.@MikeDussault19 on the new safety in the secondary: https://t.co/gwuecc1z0L pic.twitter.com/hfP80Xfoqr
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) August 3, 2024
Joshuah Bledsoe, S. Bledsoe’s latest injury has kept him out of commission, giving younger safeties an opportunity to prove their mettle. It brings us to the following:
S Dell Pettus: Currently, the Troy graduate may have the best opportunity of any undrafted rookie to be selected by the team. Even though he is tiny at 5 feet 10 inches, he has been a pleasant surprise when he plays angry.
S Brendan Schooler: His status as a special teams ace is well-known. However, Mayo has been integrating him more into the defense in the hopes that he could also be useful as a depth safety.
S. A.J. Thomas: The Pats added Thomas last week since they have been battling injuries at safety. When he played in the UFL, he was undoubtedly the best safety in the division.
P Bryce Baringer: After a strong rookie campaign, expect Baringer to have a great year. He needs to be more consistent, but he can crush the ball.
(Photo: Eric Canha / USA Today)
