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Handing Out Real Patriots Rookie Numbers

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In case you missed it this spring, Bill Belichick was up to some new tricks with the rookies, not giving them numbers that fit their positions but instead just handing out numbers starting at 50 in order (h/t to NESN’s Doug Kyed for cracking that code).


Yup, right now the line in order of the picks, but still skipping the retired 56 (Andre Tippett) and 57 (Steve Nelson).

When training camp opens in 20 days everyone has to have actual numbers that fit their positions and even then players could again switch once cuts are made and other, better numbers become available. Yeah, it’s a good bet Christian Sam won’t be doubling up on 54 with Dont’a Hightower.

Let’s take a stab at which numbers would be good choices for the notable rookies.

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Help. Who’s Who at Patriots Rookie MiniCamp?

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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.

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Patriots 2018 Draft Recap

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After months of buildup, the 2018 NFL draft is now in the rearview mirror and Patriots fans can begin to focus on mini-camps, the June-July void and finally, training camp. The major pieces that will comprise the 2018 Patriots are in place, and while the draft was a trade-down-fest with plenty of fodder for sports talk shows, the team once again got a bunch of really good football players who will improve a team that came within one stop of their third Super Bowl title in four years for the second time.

When you think back to a decade ago, things were very different. The Patriots veteran defense was hanging on by a string in 2008, and when Tom Brady went down in the opening quarter of the season, the rebuild was jumpstarted. They missed the playoffs that season on a tie-break and would be upset at home in their first playoff games in both 2009 and 2010, before scrapping their way back into a Super Bowl in 2011. They haven’t missed a conference championship game since.

But now the Patriots have seen little-to-no dropoff on the offensive side of the ball. Brady has maintained his level of excellence even though the pieces around him continue to shift. Last year’s MVP performance was a crowning achievement even in the final game’s defeat. Yes, Brady has lost three Super Bowls, but 52 was just an epic performance by him.

The Patriots’ window is still very much open with Brady, but time is running out. How will these draft picks assimilate and help? Let’s take a big picture view.

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Patriots Address Linebacker Need With Bentley and Sam

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After I lamented the Patriots lack of draft capital invested in the front seven, they made two picks on Saturday at the middle linebacker position, taking Ja’whaun Bentley and Christian Sam in the 5th and 6th rounds respectively.

Both should immediately step into competition with Elandon Roberts and could possibly push for playing time as rookies, especially if injuries strike. That’s how thin the Patriots are at off-the-ball linebacker. But both players reinforce our image of what the Pats look for at linebacker.

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