The New England Patriots had a season to forget in 2020 as they entered the post-Tom Brady era for the first time in two decades. Bill Belichick and his men ended their longstanding dominance in the AFC East as they missed the playoffs with a 7-9 record.
Despite having an underwhelming campaign, all is not lost for the Patriots heading to the 2021 NFL season. They spent a ton of money to acquire notable free agents while keeping some of their veteran holdovers from last season. At the same time, the Patriots roster also has a number of under-the-radar players who could turn heads with their contributions next season.
Here are a couple of underrated sleepers who could make a valuable impact for New England in 2021:
1. J.C. Jackson
The Patriots are currently in the middle of a contract dispute with their star cornerback in Stephon Gilmore but they do have a promising talent in J.C. Jackson who is already waiting in the wings to become their CB1 in the future. Even with his potential, Jackson is still going under-the-radar in the eyes of many as he will continue to play behind the shadow of Gilmore for as long as the four-time Pro Bowler stays in New England.
Looking back, after going undrafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, Jackson was able to make the most out of the opportunities that he received with the Patriots. He broke out in the 2020 season as he tallied career-best numbers of 37 total tackles, 14 pass deflections, and nine interceptions through 16 games played.
Despite his impressive showing, there is no doubt that Jackson remains to be one of the most underrated players in the league. In fact, he isn't even playing as a full-time starter for his own team as he came in during sub-package situations in five games last season.
Stephon Gilmore's potential departure from New England in the near future will certainly put J.C. Jackson under the spotlight for the first time in his career and he will finally get the recognition that he deserves. Until then, he will still be considered a sleeper and will continue to surprise many people with his contributions in the years to come.
2. Michael Onwenu
The Patriots landed a diamond in the rough when they nabbed offensive lineman Michael Onwenu with the 182nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Indeed, the Michigan product proved that he was a draft steal as he had an impressive showing in his first year as a pro.
Due to his versatility, Onwenu was able to slide across multiple positions in the trenches as he switched between guard and tackle within the team's offensive line. The injuries sustained by his fellow linemen also helped him to gain more opportunities which allowed him to start all 16 games for the Patriots last season.
Throughout their campaign, Onwenu's presence on the field eventually became an asset for the team as more lanes opened up on the field, especially for their running game. Despite being largely underrated, the lineman's contributions didn't go unnoticed as he deservingly earned a spot in the PFWA All-Rookie Team last season.
Heading to the 2021 NFL season, the Patriots still have a stacked offensive line when healthy including Michael Onwenu who is eager to prove his worth in the league. After having a stellar rookie season, the impact that he will continue to make for the Patriots will definitely help the team's QB1 and their offensive attack moving forward.
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