By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The New England Patriots could clearly use some unexpected consistency from the roster to pair with Mike Vrabel’s arrival. Although a new culture is forming and the schedule appears favorable to some, the players still have to produce at a high level. For a team that needs to prioritize protecting the football, keeping the quarterback upright, and consistently creating separation on routes, there’s some infused talent that could help address it.
The only clear positive about having so many draft picks is that you can gather talent from the next generation, a pool of players that fits the league’s trends. Jared Wilson, TreVeyon Henderson, and Efton Chism are players who, if they reach their ceilings quickly, could be enough to push the Patriots to a playoff appearance.
Jared Wilson, a third-round pick out of Georgia, is already making a solid case for himself individually in training camp. With a crucial sophomore season ahead for Drake Maye and last year’s protection still uncertain, the Patriots need a few blockers to step up. The praise from fellow teammates has been immense, so Wilson is off to a good start.
If Wilson can carry his preseason progress into the regular season, it will simplify things for the Patriots coaching staff, making it easier to decide on a starting five and the depth behind it. Quarterbacks are often ruined by their environment, so this team needs to solidify the offensive line and turn its focus to other potential leaks on the roster.
TreVeyon Henderson, a second-round pick out of Ohio State, is also turning heads at training camp. Projecting more and more as a James White-lite, Henderson has a chance to earn extra reps if he surpasses Rhamondre Stevenson by protecting the football. The Patriots are expected to run the ball often this season, and Henderson is on track to contribute in both run and pass situations.
Stevenson has been taxed over the past couple of years, and his fumbles last season have been enough to turn some heads away from him. He’ll still get his looks in an offense that wants to emphasize toughness, but Henderson’s agility, route-running, and ball security could lead to a more effective Josh McDaniels-led unit.
Efton Chism, an undrafted addition, is already showing flashes of being a Danny Amendola-lite. For the Patriots, that would mean a rare boost in separation, something they’ve lacked in crucial moments. Although DeMario Douglas is on track to be the go-to slot option, a heady receiver like Chism could earn reps by sticking to what Drake Maye prefers in route nuances.
This would form a promising group of separators with Douglas, Chism, and Kyle Williams moving forward. The Patriots have long needed a primary receiver with all-around talent, but a shifty, intelligent player like Chism brings value you can’t always quantify.
To get back to a playoff spot, the Patriots need to bring their young players up to speed on the intangibles that have long defined the franchise. The good news is that, compared to past years, the Patriots finally have the coach to clarify this vision and the recognized potential in their prospects to carry it out.
Whether these players truly deliver this season is up to them, but the promise is there, and it matters to know what their emergence could mean for the team. Keep an eye on these players throughout what has become a crucial preseason stretch every year.
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