Ranking New England Patriots' 10 Most Important Contributors in 2017

One thing that's always interesting about the New England Patriots is the fact that many of the pieces on the roster appear interchangeable.

Quarterback Tom Brady is absent for a month? The team goes 3-1 without him. Rob Gronkowski undergoes season-ending surgery? Martellus Bennett steps in and becomes the team's dynamic pass-catching tight end. LeGarrette Blount isn't getting the job done in Super Bowl LI? James White rushes for two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.

Yes, the Patriots are built to withstand adversity. This has been a calling card of the franchise throughout the Bill Belichick era. However, it doesn't mean that many of the players on the roster aren't important for the team's success. The team has proved it can win a game or a stretch of games without its stars, but losing a guy like Brady or Gronkowski certainly makes winning over the course of the season a lot more difficult.

New England is looking for its sixth Lombardi Trophy this season. While this edition of the team appears as talented as any the franchise has fielded in quite some time, some players are just more vital to this overall goal than others. We're here to count down the 10 most crucial contributors. We're going to rank them and to explain why exactly each is so important.

Oh, and to be clear, we're only looking at players here—so those of you who believe the Patriots success is purely a product of coaching can mentally place Belichick and Co. wherever you like.

10. Devin McCourty

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

While the first three quarters of Super Bowl LI might not have reflected this, the reality is that the Patriots were a defensive team in 2016. No team allowed fewer than the 15.6 points per game allowed by New England. Even with plenty of opponents chasing New England on the scoreboard, the team's defense allowed just 237.9 yards per game through the air.

Considering the team didn't exactly have an elite pass rush—just 34 sacks in the regular season—this is a credit to the secondary. While cornerback play garnered much of the attention in the back end of the defense, the presence of free safety Devin McCourty shouldn't be understated.

McCourty provided a playmaker at the back of the secondary, giving both opposing pass-catchers and quarterbacks something to think about every time he shifted spots pre-play or closed in on a receiver's route after the snap. If a running back managed to get into the secondary, McCourty was often the guy to halt his progress.

While McCourty only produced one interception, he amassed an impressive 83 tackles, seven passes defended and a forced fumble over the season.

New England has a trio of solid safeties in McCourty, Duron Harmon and Patrick Chung, but McCourty is usually the man providing the last line of defense for New England. His presence gives defensive coordinator Matt Patricia a lot of flexibility with the 10 defenders playing in front of him.

9. Julian Edelman

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The Patriots offense is going to feature plenty of pass-catchers this season. The team added Brandin Cooks to a wideout room that also includes Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell. The team also has tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen, plus pass-catching backs like James White and Dion Lewis.

Edelman's presence and health are vital, though, even with so many other options around him. He's the wide receiver Brady appears to trust most—and he's certainly one of the guys he's closest to on the team.

As Kevin Dillon of MassLive recently pointed out, Edelman, Brady and Amendola have been together in early July for a "summer camp" in Montana. Brady is close to both Edelman and Amendola, but Edelman is undoubtedly his go-to wideout.

Edelman caught 98 passes last season for 1,106 yards and three touchdowns. He also produced perhaps the most impressive and clutch catch in Super Bowl history en route to a victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Yes, guys like Amendola and Hogan can be dangerous. Yes, Cooks is going to add a new down-field dynamic to the Patriots' passing attack. However, it's Edelman who Brady is going to seek out when the game is on the line.

8. Trey Flowers

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

As we've already mentioned, the Patriots didn't have the most stellar pass rush in 2016. This is one area on a championship-caliber team that the Patriots can clearly improve.

New England added pieces who can help the pass rush this offseason. The team traded for defensive end Kony Ealy, signed defensive end Lawrence Guy and drafted edge-rusher Derek Rivers. However, it's 2016 sack-leader Trey Flowers who is the most important piece of the bunch.

Flowers led New England with 7.0 sacks last season. Considering Flowers appeared in just one game as a rookie because of injury, he was basically a rookie in 2016. This means he should be in line for the kind of jump we often see in pass-rushers' second years. If he can log double-digit sacks this season, it'll go a long way to improving an already strong defense.

The efficiency of other pass-rushers can also be improved if Flowers has a strong season. He should command much of the opposition's attention, which should open things up for guys like Rivers and Ealy.

7. Mike Gillislee

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

The Patriots decided not to re-sign LeGarrette Blount, the team's leading rusher in 2016, this offseason. Blount was responsible for 1,161 yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns last season.

Mike Gillislee was signed away from rivals Buffalo Bills as a restricted free agent this offseason. He—along with free-agent addition Rex Burkhead, who deserves an honorable mention here—is likely to lead the rushing attack in 2017.

There is reason to believe that Gillislee can help the Patriots forget about Blount. He averaged an impressive 5.7 yards per carry last year while scoring eight touchdowns on just 101 carries. He and Burkhead were also efficient runners in 2016.

Gillislee and Burkhead were the league's two most efficient backs on a per-play basis last season, according to Pro Football Outsiders.

If Gillislee succeeds as a leading rusher, the Patriots offense will be even more dangerous. If he struggles, it could take a step back from the unit we saw in 2016.

6. Dont'a Hightower

Gregory Payan/Associated Press

Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower has developed into a true defensive leader over the past few seasons. He's like a quarterback on the defense, helping to relay plays and to get players into position pre-snap.

Losing that would make it more difficult for defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to set his defense and to make adjustments on the fly. Hightower is a lot more important than raw stats—he had just 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble last year—might indicate.

According to NFL Research, the New England defense allowed nearly a full yard per play fewer when Hightower was on the field than when he wasn't.

While Hightower doesn't always impact games the way a quality edge-rusher or top-end pass defender can, he's an integral cog in the New England defense. Losing him for an extended period of time would certainly hurt.

5. Nate Solder

Winslow Townson/Associated Press

Starting left tackle Nate Solder is entering the final year of his current contract, and the Patriots may be prepared to move on from him next year. Losing him this season, however, would be a major blow.

Solder is responsible for protecting Brady's blindside, and the Patriots just aren't well equipped to replace him right now. LaAdrian Waddle and Cameron Fleming are journeymen. Rookie third-round pick Antonio Garcia most likely isn't ready to start.

The Patriots line was a strength last season. It was rated 11th in pass blocking and third in run blocking by Pro Football Focus. It's difficult to believe, though, that the line will be as effective without Solder anchoring the left side.

With pass-rushers like Von Miller, Khalil Mack and Cameron Wake on the team's schedule this season, protecting Brady's blindside has to be a major priority. Doing so without Solder could prove to be a massive challenge.

4. Rob Gronkowski

Steven Senne/Associated Press

The Patriots survived a season-ending injury to star tight end Gronkowski last season. However, there's no denying that New England's offense is a lot more dynamic when Gronk is healthy and on the field. Keeping him there is going to be even more critical than it was a year ago.

The Patriots survived Gronkowski's injury because Bennett was also in the fold. Bennett is now with the Chicago Bears, though, and the Patriots will rely on Allen instead.

Allen has shown some promise during his four-year NFL career, but he isn't as proven as Bennett. He isn't as reliable either, having not played a 16-game season since his rookie year. In addition, Allen has struggled to adjust to the Patriots offense and has dropped passes in offseason practices. The young tight end has become frustrated with his transition.

"It's always frustrating when you don't do your best, whenever you don't play to the standard that is set here," Allen said, per Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. "That's exactly what that was, a lot of frustration, because I know I can play better."

New England simply might not be able to fall back on Allen the way they did Bennett last year. If something happens to Gronkowski this season, it could be much more damaging than his absence was in 2016.

3. Stephon Gilmore

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

The secondary is one of the most important pieces of New England's defense. The addition of former Bills standout Stephon Gilmore might make it even better. Gilmore is young, is coming off his first Pro Bowl season and snagged five interceptions last season.

If Gilmore struggles, however, it could have a negative impact on the New England defense. His addition was a high-profile one, and his new five-year, $65 million deal seemed to rub fellow corner Malcolm Butler the wrong way.

Butler has become one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. He is also a proven talent in the Patriots system. Yet he was only offered a one-year deal as a restricted free agent, while Gilmore was given the proverbial fat cash.

If Gilmore struggles to adapt to the Patriots system—or simply struggles on the field—it could lead to some negative vibes from Butler or other teammates.

Gilmore himself has admitted that there are a lot of differences between his old team and his new one.

"Pretty much the sense of urgency," Gilmore said on WBZ 1030's Zolak and Bertrand last month. "And the way they practice is super fast. They set higher expectations in New England. I think all those three things makes the most sense for me as the distance between the two teams."

Gilmore is a good young player, but there's no guarantee he'll thrive in New England.

2. Malcolm Butler

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Gilmore can have a major impact on New England's 2017 season, but Butler is still the team's No. 1 corner. He matches up with and usually manages to defend the top pass-catchers the opposition has to offer.

Pro Football Focus rated Gilmore second in pass coverage among all cornerbacks last season.

If the Patriots were to lose Gilmore to injury—or see him suffer from poor performance—it could hurt the season in a big way. The Patriots have a pretty good offense of their own, but if they're going to win another title, they'll have to deal with some of the other best offenses in the league.

Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders will challenge the Patriots defense in the AFC. Teams like the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons could challenge them in the Super Bowl. Losing Butler as the team's top pass-defender could be devastating.

1. Tom Brady

Bill Sikes/Associated Press

We know that the Patriots are capable of winning games without Brady under center. They proved that last year—at least on a limited basis.

For as good as backup Jimmy Garoppolo looked during his six quarters of action, he isn't Brady.

Brady is perhaps the greatest modern-era quarterback we've seen. He's also playing the best football of his career. Despite missing four games in 2016, he still finished the year with 3,554 yards passing, 28 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He also led all quarterbacks with 1,137 yards passing in the postseason.

Pro Football Focus rated him first among all quarterbacks for the 2016 season.

If Brady suffers a season-ending injury or suddenly experiences the type of age drop-off experienced by Peyton Manning a couple years ago, it's going to be a heck of a lot harder for the franchise to win Lombardi No. 6.