The New England Patriots hope to have an improved year after missing out on the playoffs in 2020. They have a legitimate position battle for the starting quarterback role that has everyone's attention. Even so, the Patriots could be a surprise team this year, as you can never count out Bill Belichick's coaching prowess.
New England was extremely busy this offseason as the front office made numerous big acquisitions. Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry aim to play important roles out of the tight end position. The Pats have improved their roster, which makes them a potential playoff team this year. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, as they play in a tough AFC East division.
Defense has always been a strong suit for the Patriots, but there could be a new starter in the midst this year. Overall, the defense is rock solid and will keep the Patriots competitive throughout the season. Even so, a Patriots veteran could wind up losing his starting role to a young prospect. With that said, here are two Patriots starters in danger of losing their starting jobs.
Patriots Starters
Cam Newton
As of now, Cam Newton seems to be the favorite to win the starting job, as he's the listed starter on the Patriots' unofficial depth chart. However, rookie Mac Jones has been impressive throughout training camp and looked great in the preseason opener. The Pats front office built an offense that fits Newton's playstyle, but Jones is thriving as well. It's a tight race that will be a tough decision for Belichick and the coaching staff.
Newton hasn't quite been the same since suffering a shoulder injury back in 2018. However, he's still a tremendous athlete and didn't look too bad last year before testing positive for COVID-19. Mac Jones is clearly the future, but the way he's playing the Pats might start him sooner, rather than later. Keep an eye on the Patriots quarterback situation, as the job is up in the air for now. New England's preseason matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles could provide more clarity.
Kyle Van Noy
Kyle Van Noy has been a tremendous outside linebacker throughout his career. After spending a one-year hiatus with the Miami Dolphins, Van Noy comes back to New England where he's played his best football. Even so, the Patriots have Josh Uche, a second-year prospect who has been playing well throughout training camp so far. With Van Noy dealing with injury problems and recently coming off of the PUP list, Uche has a chance to steal the starting job away from Van Noy.
Uche only played nine games last year, but he seems to be making a ton of progress in his development. He's been a pleasant surprise in the Patriots training camp so far, putting pressure on Van Noy to perform well. Kyle Van Noy is likely to win the starting role with Josh Uche serving as a strong backup for at least one more year. Even though that's the likely outcome, Van Noy needs to perform at a high level throughout the season to keep his job. Look for Uche to continue making noise in the Patriots training camp, as he'll make a case to earn a starting spot on the defense.
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