Who Were the New England Patriots Minicamp Stars
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — A friend once told me "minicamp stock is like tracking Greece's fourth-quarter gross domestic product." (Spoiler alert: Greece's GDP has fallen precipitously since 2008). So although several New England Patriots players may have seen an uptick in their stock, let's not go putting anyone in the Hall of Fame yet—in the words of Bill Parcells.
And now, with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick running the show, there's always the chance that a dark horse could earn a roster spot. The hooded one is not opposed to going against the public discourse when deciding who will and won't be with the Patriots.
Minicamp was the first opportunity for those players to prove that they belong.
It's worth remembering, however, that these practices are geared toward the passing game. There is very little contact between the receivers and the defensive backs at the line of scrimmage. The defense is geared less toward confusing the offense with exotic play design than instilling the principles of the scheme. That goes for offense, as well, where the plays are much less intricate.
This setting allows players to reveal their potential, and these players were the ones that showed the most of it.
Chris Hogan
1 of 5
Some Patriots receivers made more big plays than Chris Hogan during minicamp, but none were more consistent. Of course, he might have stood out more because Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola were both absent from minicamp due to offseason surgeries.
Still, he had a solid week. Hogan had 18 receptions in three days of minicamp and didn't drop a single pass in team drills. The 6'1", 210-pound receiver also made a couple of impressive catches on long passes that further solidify his status as a potential X-receiver in the Patriots offense.
Hogan has never been a featured receiver, with career-highs of 41 receptions, 450 yards and four touchdowns. With that said, he could be a valuable piece in a versatile offense featuring multiple threats. He appears to be off on the right foot—and he could help the Patriots continue to buck their trend of failed veteran additions at receiver.
Aaron Dobson
2 of 5
It's June, which means Aaron Dobson is making plays. Whether it's a lefty one-handed grab with multiple defenders covering him, a tipped-ball ricochet or a sideline snare where he taps his toes inbounds, Dobson is showing up and showing out.
At minicamp, Dobson led all receivers with 19 receptions while dropping just two passes. Minicamp is the perfect setting for a player with Dobson's skill set, where he can use his speed off a free release and use his size in a jump-ball situation. We haven't seen enough of Dobson on the field to be reminded of the skills that made him a second-round pick. Those skills haven't changed; they've just re-emerged.
There was one difference with Dobson. He was consistent, which is something we haven't seen from him on the field (or even in practices) since his NFL debut. Bearing that in mind, let's wait and see if the consistency translates to the preseason and regular season.
Malcolm Mitchell
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Three wide receivers stood out? Well, they don't call it "passing camp" for nothing.
Rookie wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell stands at just 5'11" and 200 pounds, but he towered over his competition (receivers and defensive backs alike) at minicamp. It's not every day you see a sub-6-foot receiver leaping over a defensive back to make a one-handed grab, but we saw Mitchell make spectacular plays in each of the Patriots' three minicamp practices.
We know Mitchell has big-play potential. He averaged more than 14 yards per reception in three of his four seasons at Georgia (the only season he fell short was the year after he infamously tore his ACL while celebrating a touchdown by a teammate.
In the end, it may amount to nothing. Mitchell is just one receiver at a crowded position where many of the roster spots are already locked in. He would have to surpass the likes of Keshawn Martin, Aaron Dobson and others to make the roster. He could, however, earn a spot on the practice squad if he continues to perform at a high level.
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Cyrus Jones
4 of 5
We couldn't in good faith compose an entire list of offensive players as standouts from minicamp. Rookie cornerback Cyrus Jones was the defensive player with the best week of practice. Jones was in the mix among the top cornerbacks on the field, playing alongside starters Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan. He used this opportunity to grab an impressive, acrobatic interception off Jimmy Garoppolo in the end zone.
His strong performance in practice was not due solely to his role on defense. The Alabama product also served as one of the team's top punt returners in practice. That role has belonged to Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola in recent years, but Jones could be the next in line as the Patriots look to shift some of the weight off their two veteran receivers.
Jones' multifaceted value was what drew the Patriots to draft him in the first place. Minicamp gave us a good taste of what could be in store for Jones' early career.
D.J. Foster
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Given the Patriots injury woes at running back in 2015, it's easy to see why there's a spotlight on the depth chart at the position this offseason. Breakout running back Dion Lewis missed minicamp (although he returned for the Patriots' final OTA practice before the summer break), and in his absence, another electric running back stood out.
Rookie D.J. Foster showed the electric speed and quickness that could make him a threat in a third-down role, and the route-running ability that could allow him to translate at receiver—where he played in college at Arizona State.
Foster tweaked his left hamstring on the second day of practice and did not participate in the final day of minicamp, but he made his presence felt at the beginning of the session. It will be interesting to see if Foster works into a rotation with Lewis in training camp, and if so, who will emerge with the lion's share of the third-down workload.
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