One of my favorite annual articles to write is the Patriots Rookie Eyeball Test, where I take an in-depth look (literally) at the newest players to join the team and break down their numbers, facemasks and general aura in a hard-hitting article. However this year things were made nearly impossible after the photos were released from rookie mini-camp.
First, no one is actually labeled on the Patriots.com pics and randomly, all of the players seem to have been given nonsense numbers. This is a new development, as Belchick used to have the team often without numbers at all to improve communication. The NFL put the kibosh on that a couple seasons ago. For what it’s worth, the official team roster still has all the rookie numbers as “N/A”.
Let’s take a quick dive into the minicamp photos and do the best I can to identify who is who, while I’m forced to wait for actual numbers for each player.
Bill Belichick quiets the crowd
Let’s start with this picture which is clearly a quarterback so it’s got to be Danny Etling, aka not the heir apparent/not Jimmy Garoppolo. This is a glaring example as the Patriots decided to put him in… number 58? Obviously, this makes no sense on any levels other than “Hey Danny, pull any random jersey off that pile and put it on,” although the fact that it is red for the quarterback indicates some level of planning.
No, they didn’t re-sign Shea McClellin to throw passes at mini-camp so who knows what the point is.
Or how about this one, which I believe is rookie linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley rocking Dont’a Hightower’s 54, aka one of the most legendary Patriots linebacker numbers. Of all the numbers you’re handing out to rookies who haven’t done anything in the league yet, 54 might only be second to 12 in terms of untouchability.
My only posit? That someone like Bentley will be playing a similar role to Hightower so it made it easiest for the coaches to know where he should be? Again, I’m grasping at straws here.
Maybe this is Isaiah Wynn? He sure looks athletic in his stance, right? But who knows what number he’s wearing, maybe something in teens would make the most sense by making no sense at all.
This guy looks pretty good. He’s in blue and wearing 58 and doing a pass rush drill so of everything this pic makes the most sense. Maybe it’s Christian Sam? All I know is it’s not Red 58 Danny Etling. Maybe this 52 (aka not Elandon Roberts) is Sam. This number/color fits too.
More that make no sense: A defensive back in 67. Someone reaching out for a hug in 64. What’s this, a skill position player in 68? Ouch.
I’m always fascinated to see what kind of little games Belichick plays in practice to get guys communicating and familiar with each other. This rookie mini-camp number game doesn’t seem to have a whole lot of rhyme or reason, but it does send a bit of a message to each player that they are a long way from making the team right now. I know if I’m a QB and they’re giving me 58 I’m sure not making any long term plans in the area.
And hopes are high that someone like Bentley can contribute but it certainly won’t be in 54, a fact that can’t be lost on him, though it might set some expectations for him.
We can be sure that once the rest of the team joins the OTAs we’ll finally get some sense of the actual numbers being assigned and then I can truly start to get excited about those players who superficially look like NFL studs and those who don’t.
Happy for you this year, Mike, that there are much more interesting rookies for you to write about. I’d much rather write about Michel and Wynn than Rivers and Garcia.
Yeah, as much as I’d love a first-round linebacker to write about there’s plenty of really good football players who should round the team out really well. Michel is going to be a fascinating element.