Bold Predictions for Patriots' Individual Stat Leaders in 2022 NFL Season

The New England Patriots enter the 2022 NFL season with one of the most intriguing sets of offensive skill position players.

Mac Jones has a ton of options to choose from in the passing game, but there is no indication of which wide receiver will be the top target for the second-year quarterback.

Damien Harris will again be tasked with the duties of a No. 1 running back, but Rhamondre Stevenson could cut into his production in some games.

Stevenson had an up-and-down rookie season, but he still came away from it with 606 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

The Patriots also have a few intriguing candidates to lead the defensive stat categories. They returned a good number of their defensive starters, but some have heightened roles on the unit after moves in the offseason.

One of those players must step up in certain areas to put New England back in the postseason.

Receiving Touchdowns: Jakobi Meyers

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FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 19: New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) in motion during an NFL preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers on August 19, 2022, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Jakobi Meyers could finally be in line to have an all-around great statistical season.

The 25-year-old improved on his receiving yards total in each of his first three seasons with the Patriots, but he only has two touchdown catches to pair with the 1,954.

The fourth-year wide receiver could have a chance to score in bunches if he emerges as Mac Jones' top pass-catcher among a group that includes DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor.

Parker should get the most attention from the start of the season because the Patriots traded within the AFC East for him, but he could play second fiddle to Meyers in some instances.

Meyers led the Patriots in targets, receptions and receiving yards in 2022, but he was tied for fourth in touchdown catches.

Some statistical regression could be on the way for tight end Hunter Henry, who had nine scoring catches in 2021. Bourne and Agholor had eight touchdown catches between them.

Finding the end zone more is the last remaining trait Meyers has to work on to be a complete NFL wide receiver and we should see that in 2022 as he connects more with Jones in the red zone.

Rushing Touchdowns: Rhamondre Stevenson

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 26: Running back Rhamondre Stevenson #38 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders defense during the first half of a preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on August 26, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)

The Patriots have a solid one-two punch at running back with Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson.

Harris was the lead back in 2021 and should reprise that role again in 2022, but Stevenson will be an important part of the Patriots offense in some capacity.

Stevenson turned in a pair of 100-yard, two-touchdown games in his rookie season. He was also inactive for a handful of contests, which led to the gap between him and Harris in carries and rushing yards.

Harris totaled 69 more carries, 323 more rushing yards and 10 additional touchdowns last season.

Stevenson could close the gap on Harris in carries and rushing yards because he is expected to be on the field for all 17 games. He did not play in five games and had two other games with fewer than five carries in 2021.

If Stevenson is more reliable with his ball handling and proves that he can gain some tough yards on third down and in the red zone, he may get more chances to score.

The difference between Stevenson and Harris in rushing touchdowns may not be big at all, but there could be more of an even spread in the red zone that plays in the former's favor.

Interceptions: Jalen Mills

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FOXBOROUGH, MA - AUGUST 19: New England Patriots cornerback Jalen Mills (2) during an NFL preseason game between the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers on August 19, 2022, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

J.C. Jackson's eight interceptions from 2021 are gone from the 2022 Patriots roster.

New England needs to call on one of its experienced secondary members to set a career high in interceptions to help the team keep a high turnover rate.

Jalen Mills had a single interception last season and only has five in his career between the Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles.

The 28-year-old was a shutdown corner in 2021, as 56.9 percent of the passes thrown in his direction were completed, per Pro Football Reference.

Mills should get more balls tossed at him in 2022 with Jackson off the roster and the Patriots trying to figure out some roles for new players at cornerback, including draft picks Marcus Jones and Jack Jones.

The Patriots had at least one defensive back with five or more interceptions in each of the last two seasons, and Mills could extend that streak if he turns some of the incompletions thrown at him into picks.

Mills will not be asked to be Jackson or Stephon Gilmore, but an increase of a few interceptions would be welcome to put the offense in some advantageous situations.