The hardest offseason for a player is prior to their rookie season. They’re new and usually in a place they don’t know much about.
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1549306096732479489
The process and logistics of an NFL team is completely different than college. The NFL is full of professionals paying mortgages and supporting their family. While most college players only have to worry about conditioning and school.
Training camp is the two week ramp up period to the preseason, this intense preparation for the season is also called “two-a-days”.
G Cole Strange
Picked in the first round at 29, Strange, from The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga, is 6 – 5 and weighs 305 pounds. He was a surprising pick but is expected to compete for a starting position, especially since utility man Ted Karras and Shaq Mason are gone.
WR Tyquan Thornton
Picked in the second round at 50, Thornton, from Baylor, is 6 – 2 and weighs 182 pounds. Impressed by his speed New England hope he can turn into a dynamic playmaker, something last year’s offense lacked.
CB Marcus Jones
Picked in the third round at 85, Jones, from Houston, is 5 – 8 and weighs 175 pounds. If there’s one thing Bill Belichick knows how to develop, it’s corner. Jones is expected to compete for the slot nickel role.
CB Jack Jones
Picked in the fourth round at 121, Jones, from Arizona State, is 5 – 11 and weighs 175 pounds. Longer than draft classmate Marcus Jones, Jack is an outside-position corner project. New England is hoping to rely on him in future years to come.
Pierre Strong
Picked in the fourth round at 127, Strong, from South Dakota State, is 5 – 11 and weighs 205 pounds. Another speedster picked in the early rounds, Strong is competing for the gadget running back role. He might not win the battle this year but a year under the guidance of veteran James White can only help.
QB Bailey Zappe
Picked in the fourth round at 137, Zappe, from Western Kentucky, is 6 – 1 and weighs 220 pounds. As the most prolific quarterback in college football history he obviously has talent. However, his role is to challenge second year QB Mac Jones, just to make sure he’s locked in.
RB Kevin Harris
Picked in the sixth round at 183, Harris, from South Carolina, is 5 – 10 and weighs 225 pounds. Heavier and more powerful than Strong, Harris is competing with Damion Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson for the workhorse role. Harris is in the last year of his rookie deal, Strong could be his replacement.
DT Sam Roberts
Picked in the sixth round at 200, Roberts, from Northwest Missouri State, is 6 – 5 and weighs 295 pounds. As mentioned in the USFL article linked below, the Patriots biggest weakness defensively in recent memory has been the run stuffing. They haven’t had enough “big people” on their defensive line.
C Chasen Hines
Picked in the sixth round at 210, Hines, from LSU, is 6 – 3 and weighs 330 pounds. NFL teams can never have enough linemen, offensive and defensive. Hines is competing for the interior lineman role, even if he doesn’t win it, growing into an interior utility man helps.
OT Andrew Stueber
Picked in the seventh round at 245, Stueber, from Michigan, is 6 – 6 and weighs 325 pounds. Hines might be the alternative interior lineman this upcoming season, but Stueber is competing to be the exterior one. Can never have enough linemen.
Make sure to check out our Patriots coverage here at Gridiron Heroics. Here’s an article on their signing of a former USFL player.