Receiver and Corner Still Have Questions To Be Answered.

There are three positions I still think we need to pay attention to. The stretch receiver role and both outside cornerback spots. The Patriots have pieces but they have just as many questions about those positions. The good thing is we should get to see them at the same time. So making the evaluations should be that much easier. Hopefully answers come sooner than later.

Cornerback 

J.C. Jackson is gone but Myles Bryant and Jalen Mills are still with the team. On top of that The team brought in Malcolm Butler and drafted Jack Jones. I have not seen Mills's or Bryant's name talked about a lot yet but Butler and Jones's name have been brought up as possible starters in either the number one or number two corner role.

With mandatory camp coming, the media will get a picture of what's going on. Will it be like 2021 where they ignored Mac's training and only saw Cam with the first string or will they see the entire picture? Honestly, the Patriots had a number two corner by committee in 2021 as nobody truly stood out and both outside corner spots maybe by committee in 2022.

Stretch receiver

Nelson Agholor was brought in with big expectations from the media and fans. Some thought he would be a thousand yards receiver and were disappointed in Agholor's production. People failed to see that Agholor's production also came by running sprints and drawing coverage away from the underneath guys. The most of the few who do recognize that think anyone can lore the safety into coverage. As Patriots fans, we know that's not the case.

The Patriots had Philip Dorsett who ran a 4.33 forty time, just a hair faster than Agholor and Dorsett didn't draw coverage the way Agholor does. People assume that Tyquan Thornton can just be a plug and play will do that. We have not seen what Thorton looks like in an NFL uniform. And a lot of players with speed look good in college. If the Patriots get rid of Agholor and Thorton turns out not to be the downfield threat fans want, then defenses are going to come up like they did in 2020. 

The other thing to consider is some believe Thorton to be a deep slot guy and not an X receiver. Yes, the Patriots have parker but is Parker going to be flanker or the X in the Patriots system? IF Parker is a Z receiver and Thorton turns out to be a deep slot, who's playing the X if Agholor goes, Harry? Bourne? Meyers? Henry? At the moment, It makes sense to keep Agholor for the 2022 season or at least until the trade deadline.