New England Patriots’ 5 Most Irreplaceable Players Heading Into 2015 NFL Training Camp

New England Patriots’ 5 Most Irreplaceable Players Heading Into 2015 NFL Training Camp

By Nick Sardina

July 16, 2015

New England Patriots’ 5 Most Irreplaceable Players Heading Into 2015 NFL Training Camp

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski — The New England Patriots don’t have as much star power as some other NFL teams. Instead, the Patriots try to build with good players and depth across their entire roster. That doesn’t mean the Pats don’t have elite players. Here are the five most irreplaceable players on the Patriots' roster.

The New England Patriots don’t have as much star power as some other NFL teams. Instead, the Patriots try to build with good players and depth across their entire roster. That doesn’t mean the Pats don’t have elite players. Here are the five most irreplaceable players on the Patriots' roster.

5. Julian Edelman

Julian Edelman

5. Julian Edelman

Julian Edelman — Edelman has grown from a project out of Kent State to one of the key players on a championship team. Edelman is a do-it-all performer who can beat teams running, catching, throwing and while returning kicks. He’s become a team leader and one of Tom Brady’s most trusted targets. In last season’s playoff run, Edelman made 26 receptions in three games, including nine catches for 109 yards and the winning score in the Super Bowl.

Edelman has grown from a project out of Kent State to one of the key players on a championship team. Edelman is a do-it-all performer who can beat teams running, catching, throwing and while returning kicks. He’s become a team leader and one of Tom Brady’s most trusted targets. In last season’s playoff run, Edelman made 26 receptions in three games, including nine catches for 109 yards and the winning score in the Super Bowl.

4. Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty

Advertisement

4. Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty — With uncertainty at every other position in the secondary, the Patriots can take solace in the fact they have one of the best free safeties in the game. McCourty had been a steady performer since moving from cornerback to safety midway through the 2012 season. He has quickly become one of the most respected leaders on the team. While not a guy who makes huge plays, McCourty is extremely disciplined and rarely allows any big plays.

With uncertainty at every other position in the secondary, the Patriots can take solace in the fact they have one of the best free safeties in the game. McCourty had been a steady performer since moving from cornerback to safety midway through the 2012 season. He has quickly become one of the most respected leaders on the team. While not a guy who makes huge plays, McCourty is extremely disciplined and rarely allows any big plays.

3. Jamie Collins

Jamie Collins

3. Jamie Collins

Jamie Collins — Jamie Collins is one of the rising stars in the game. He has otherworldly athletic ability, and as he’s become more of a student of the game, his production has skyrocketed. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Collins can stop the run, cover in space, run down ball carriers all over the field and blitz the quarterback. He’s the most talented player the Patriots have on defense, and he has a chance to become the best linebacker in the game.

Jamie Collins is one of the rising stars in the game. He has otherworldly athletic ability, and as he’s become more of a student of the game, his production has skyrocketed. At 6-foot-3, 250 pounds, Collins can stop the run, cover in space, run down ball carriers all over the field and blitz the quarterback. He’s the most talented player the Patriots have on defense, and he has a chance to become the best linebacker in the game.

2. Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski

2. Rob Gronkowski

Rob Gronkowski — Simply put, Gronk is a monster. He’s a complete tight end and emotional leader for the Patriots. His ability to draw double teams allows the rest of the offense to function at a higher level. The offense and quarterback Tom Brady have struggled when Gronk has missed time due to injury. When Gronk is on the field, he changes the way defenses play. He’s too athletic for linebackers and is too big for safeties and corners to deal with.

Simply put, Gronk is a monster. He’s a complete tight end and emotional leader for the Patriots. His ability to draw double teams allows the rest of the offense to function at a higher level. The offense and quarterback Tom Brady have struggled when Gronk has missed time due to injury. When Gronk is on the field, he changes the way defenses play. He’s too athletic for linebackers and is too big for safeties and corners to deal with.

1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady

1. Tom Brady

Tom Brady — Tom Brady is arguably already the best quarterback to play the game and still has a burning desire to win. Brady’s strengths are his intelligence and competitiveness. Like most of the elite quarterbacks, Brady plays his best when the pressure is greatest and has proved that by winning four Super Bowls. In all four Super Bowl wins, Brady has rallied the Patriots from deficits and mounted winning drives in the final minutes in three of them.

Tom Brady is arguably already the best quarterback to play the game and still has a burning desire to win. Brady’s strengths are his intelligence and competitiveness. Like most of the elite quarterbacks, Brady plays his best when the pressure is greatest and has proved that by winning four Super Bowls. In all four Super Bowl wins, Brady has rallied the Patriots from deficits and mounted winning drives in the final minutes in three of them.

Teams in this article »

New England Patriots

Share On Facebook

Share