Within the minutes earlier than Tom Brady’s statue was unveiled in entrance of a sea of New England Patriots followers exterior of Gillette Stadium, workforce proprietor Robert Kraft acknowledged the sobering actuality that the franchise has confronted within the years for the reason that legendary quarterback left in 2020.
“Since Tom’s departure, we have been reminded simply how tough it’s to win within the NFL,” mentioned Kraft.
He isn’t incorrect. Within the 5 years post-Brady, New England has endured 4 beneath .500 campaigns and is extra not too long ago seeking to claw their approach out from the NFL basement with back-to-back 4-13 seasons.
Whereas dropping the best quarterback of all time definitely will depart a dent in your group, it wasn’t the one motive for the Patriots’ plummet. The membership’s incapacity to replenish the roster through the NFL Draft has hamstrung them, notably on the offensive facet of the ball. However issues could also be trying up in that division.
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Brent Brookhouse
This offseason, New England deployed great assets into bettering the expertise, which included using its first two alternatives on the 2025 NFL Draft on key figures on offense. With their first choose, they added LSU offensive deal with Will Campbell after which used their second rounder on Ohio State working again TreVeyon Henderson, and one in all their third rounders on Washington State wideout Kyle Williams. In fact, it is early, however these two did appear to supply fast dividends within the workforce’s preseason opener towards the Washington Commanders.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB
Draft choice: Second spherical (No. 38 general)
In the event you did not know who Henderson was earlier than kickoff, you discovered shortly. The thirty eighth general choose took the opening kick of the sport — his first contact within the NFL — 100 yards to the home for a landing, giving New England as quick a 7-0 lead as you possibly can hope for.
Whereas Henderson definitely confirmed that he could be a menace within the kick return recreation with that dazzling landing, it is within the backfield the place the Patriots arguably want him probably the most. For years, New England has lacked true explosiveness offensively, and Henderson flashed his dual-threat potential as each a rusher and pass-catcher out of the backfield.
Whereas enjoying with the starters — together with Drake Maye — Henderson rushed as soon as, however for 18 yards (extra on that under within the Campbell part) and caught all three of his targets for 12 yards. That features a reception across the line of scrimmage from Maye, the place Henderson shed one would-be deal with after which lowered his shoulder to realize further yards after choosing up the primary down.
Henderson will seemingly have a task as a pure rusher, but it surely’s as a receiver the place he might shine brightest. Josh McDaniels, who has returned to the franchise this season because the offensive coordinator beneath first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, has a historical past of using his backs within the passing recreation.
Throughout his first stint holding the OC title for the Patriots, Kevin Faulk averaged 49.3 receptions per season. Over his second stint (2012-2021), the likes of Shane Vereen (averaged 52.6 receptions per season from 2013-2015) and James White (averaged 64.8 receptions per season from 2016-2020) had been key items to Tremendous Bowl-winning offenses. Henderson could possibly be the subsequent to fall in that lineage with the added upside of his speeding potential, and Friday’s debut flashed the preliminary indicators of that.
Will Campbell, OT
Draft choice: First spherical (No. 4 general)
Henderson will seemingly be the headliner from New England’s preseason opening win over Washington, however do not sleep on Will Campbell. He is unquestionably an important rookie the Patriots are ushering in, as he is earmarked to be the membership’s beginning left deal with after being the fourth general choose final spring.
Bear in mind after we mentioned we might get again to Henderson’s 18-yard rush? Effectively, that was largely because of Campbell opening up a large gap for his fellow rookie, exhibiting his velocity working out to dam Commanders cornerback Noah Igbinoghene into subsequent week.
Halfway via the primary quarter, Campbell additionally had one other Commanders defender skating backwards on a brief run by Rhamondre Stevenson.
To be honest, it wasn’t excellent for Campbell. He was a part of one of many lowlights of the evening for the Patriots, permitting Drake Maye to get sacked resulting from some poor communication with fellow rookie Jared Wilson, and the second-year quarterback then fumbled the soccer.
Once more, that felt like extra of a psychological blunder by Campbell/Wilson moderately than being overpowered, and it was additional compounded by the miscue from Maye. All-in-all, it was a robust debut for the presumptive Week 1 blindside deal with.
Kyle Williams, WR
Draft choice: Third spherical, No. 69 general
You is perhaps scratching your head right here in the event you’re merely trying on the field rating. Williams completed with zero catches on the evening, however that does not inform your complete story from his debut. The Washington State product was getting open, however the ball merely wasn’t discovering him. And we imply OPEN.
On the finish of the primary quarter, Williams cooked his defender on the line of scrimmage, which ought to’ve arrange a walk-in landing, however the throw from Joshua Doubs was behind him, and the ball fell incomplete.
On the drive earlier than halftime, Williams was suffering from one other poorly positioned ball. He cleanly beat nook Bobby Worth deep up the fitting sideline, however Doubs’ throw was quick and practically picked off. Had the ball hit Williams in stride, it is probably a runaway landing.
So, whereas the stats do not present it, Williams’ separation that he confirmed on Friday reveals us that the massive performs are on the horizon, particularly when it is Maye throwing him the soccer.
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