The 2021 season probably went better than the New England Patriots thought that it would. They turned to rookie quarterback Mac Jones to run the offense in Week 1 and the results were pretty solid.
Jones showed that he was the readiest of the 2021 rookie quarterback class to lead a team. He played as a high-end game manager, completing 67.6 percent of his passes, throwing for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns. He had only two 300-yard games and two games in which he threw for more than two touchdowns. The Patriots relied heavily on their run game, which is the smart thing to do with a young quarterback under center.
Heading into Year 2, he is ready to take on a bigger role in the offense. Jones looks capable of handling more on his plate, but to help him take that next step, it would be good for the team to upgrade the weapons around him.
New England did a good job of bringing in solid playmakers last offseason. Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor were signed in free agency to join Jakobi Meyers and N’Keal Harry. Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry were signed at the tight end spot.
While all upgrades on what the team had in 2020, they are still lacking that true, go-to No. 1 wide receiver for Jones. With Josh McDaniels no longer leading the offense, it would be a good idea to get him better weapons to compensate for the changes that will be coming scheme-wise.
One player that Bleacher Report believes you should keep an eye on is Calvin Ridley of the Atlanta Falcons. Ridley would be the perfect acquisition for New England heading into the 2022 season.
There is some uncertainty surrounding Ridley and his future, as he stepped away from the Falcons after five games in 2021 to focus on his mental well-being. There hasn’t been an indication of what the plan is for this season, but there are rumblings that he and Atlanta could part ways.
Bleacher Report believes if the Patriots are willing to part ways with their 2022 first-round pick, No. 21 overall, they could snag Ridley from the Falcons. It would make sense, as New England is unlikely to select a player that can have an impact as big as Ridley can this season and their track record in selecting wide receivers is not strong.
While 2022 didn’t go as hoped, Ridley has shown that he has the chops to be a go-to receiver and one of the best in the game. He stepped into the No. 1 role in 2020 when Julio Jones was hurt and responded in a big way.
2020 was a breakout for the 2018 first-round pick, as Ridley caught 90 passes and turned them into 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. If he decides to continue his playing career, he will quickly remind people that may have forgotten based on his 2021 output just how good he is.