Sizzling Offensive Position Battles For 2022 Patriots
As we enter the end of May, and the next phase of the Patriot’s offseason begins we will look at the offensive side of the ball in this article. The front office has been busy through the draft and free agency adding talent to the roster they hope will improve the team.
Offensive Position Battles
Although there have been many questions with the coaching staff and which coach is going to coach what position they will have some epic battles as the summer begins to sizzle red hot. Some of the best battles are going to be a backup quarterback, offensive line, and even the wide receiver’s and tight ends will be worth watching this year.
Patriots fans will be wondering which players will stay and make the team and who will be packing their bags and will be cut. Players such as Hoyer, Asiasi, Harry, Butler, Bailey, and Uche will they make the team or not?
Quarterback Depth Chart
First up are the Quarterbacks so we all know who QB1 is he is Mac Jones. After Jones, we have old reliable Brian Hoyer, and newly drafted Bailey Zappe to battle for the backup position. Mac has been putting in a lot of the offseason work a veteran and team leader needs to do to be able to succeed in the league.
Jones has been in the weight room bulking up his strength and holding his sessions with his wide receivers building up his chemistry with his teammates. Next up the Patriots saw something strong in Bailey Zappe to move on from Jarrett Stidham as I believe he will out seed Hoyer for the backup position.
Now you may ask what happens to Brian Hoyer and will he remain with the Patriots if cut and I say this he moves into coaching with the team.
With his years of experience in the league and on the Patriots, he knows the system as well as anyone and yes just as well as Josh McDaniel’s. I can see Brian moving to Offensive Coordinator or Quarterbacks Coach teach Mac and Bailey the Patriot Way on Offense.
Runningback Depth Chart
Now the strongest position on offense and maybe the whole team is at running back. Returning this year are Damien Harris, second-year running back Rhamondre Stevenson, J.J. Taylor, and newly drafted running backs Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris.
You must be wondering why haven’t mentioned James White that’s because he will probably open the season on injured reserve.
Although the Patriots signed veteran Ty Montgomery he may end up being the odd man out in a crowded backfield. The next position we will look at will be a wide receiver.
Wide Receiver Depth Chart
Going into the season the Patriots currently have 9 wide receivers on the roster. However, N’Keal Harry should be traded or cut before training camp leaving only 8 wide receivers to battle for five spots on the final roster.
Newly acquired wideout DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, and Jakobi Myers are all locks to make the team. Our fourth receiver on the team will be rookie second-round draft pick Tyquan Thornton.
Now there has been a lot of speculation about whether Nelson Agholor will or won’t be on the team this upcoming season and I say yes.
Why do I say yes, he is a Mac Jones favorite as he has been invited to his offseason organized throwing sessions with Jones this spring and is a solid veteran in the league. So that leaves Kristin Wilkerson, Tre Nixon, and Malcolm Perry as the odd men out and practice squad candidates.
Tight End Depth Chart
In the past, the tight end position was a position of strength but of late they have not had success at that position. Now three years ago they tried to address it in the draft by taking two players Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene.
Last year they signed who proved to be Mac Jones’ favorite Hunter Henry and tight end Jonnu Smith formerly of the Tennesse Titans. They also signed another tight end recently Matt Sokol who should add training camp depth.
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Jonnu Smith
Both Henry and Smith are locked to make the team and I believe Asiasi will also make the team coming out of camp. So what about a player the Patriots traded up to take in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft at 101 overall will be moving to the full-back position on the team and will remind Patriots fans of James Devlin again.
Offensive Line Depth Chart
Now rounding out the offense will be a true battle in the trenches. Bill Belichick will look to find a formattable group to protect the franchise quarterback Mac Jones. Led by left tackle Isaiah Wynn and right tackle Trent Brown.
Under Center old reliable and captain, David Andrews who is a lock to make the team. Also locks to make the team are at left guard will be this year’s first-round draft pick Cole Strange and Mike Onwenu at right guard and that will be your starting line this year.
Then the true battle in the trenches will begin battling for five or six spots on the roster. I have Chasen Hines this year’s 210th pick overall and a sixth-round draft pick and a lineman who reminds everyone of Shaq Mason who we traded to Tampa Bay this offseason making the team.
Filling out the final spots on the offensive line should be veteran Yasir Durant, Justin Herron, James Ferentz, Will Sherman, and this year’s rookie seventh-round pick Andrew Stueber finalizing the offensive line. In summarizing this should be a hard-fought summer for the Patriots on the offensive side of the ball. Please read my upcoming article on the defensive side of the ball next.
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