Chris Hogan, Wide Receiver

Chris Hogan has been a solid weapon for the Patriots the last couple of seasons. He is a 6-foot-1 wide receiver who looks taller than his height and is surprisingly very shifty. Hogan signed with the Patriots in 2016 from the Buffalo Bills, in hopes to win a Super Bowl. The Patriots and Hogan achieved that in his first season on the team, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in the Super Bowl.

Hogan was a big reason the Patriots reached the Super Bowl in 2016. In the AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Hogan thrashed the Steelers defense. Hogan finished the game with nine receptions, 180 yards, and two touchdowns en route to a 36-17 victory. He went would then go on to have a solid Super Bowl performance with four catches for 57 yards. Last season he put on a show as well, having six catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. The Patriots would fall short to the Eagles in their ultimate goal to hoist the Lombardi trophy.

This season could be a breakout year for Hogan with all the departures and suspensions the Patriots have going into this year. Hogan has the trust of Brady and it has shown on the field. Hogan had the fifth-most receptions on the team last year with 34. Two of the guys in front of him in Cooks and Amendola are no longer on the team. This should make Hogan the number one or number two guy at wide receiver to begin the season.

Although it was preseason, Hogan looked impressive in the Patriots second preseason game. The Patriots decided to have their starters play almost a whole half against the Eagles. You knew the Patriots wanted to send a message back to the Eagles for winning the Super Bowl, even in an exhibition game nonetheless. That’s not how I would go about it, but at this point, I don’t question anything the Patriots do. Now back to Hogan, he started the game off with a four-yard touchdown from Brady. He led the team with seven targets and five receptions. This could be a sign of things to come for the former college lacrosse player.