{"id":70460,"date":"2021-07-20T21:46:26","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T02:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=70460"},"modified":"2021-08-26T11:06:15","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T11:06:15","slug":"lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-1-mac-jones-and-cam-newton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-1-mac-jones-and-cam-newton\/","title":{"rendered":"Lazar’s Most Important Patriots in 2021: No. 1, Mac Jones and Cam Newton"},"content":{"rendered":"

CLNS Media Patriots Beat reporter Evan Lazar’s annual list takes you through the ten most important Pats for the 2021 season.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Quarterback is the most important position in all sports, so it has to be number one on our list.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/colgroup>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Lazar’s Most Important Patriots in 2021<\/strong><\/td>\nLINK<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1. QBs Mac Jones and Cam Newton<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-1-mac-jones-and-cam-newton\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2. CB Stephon Gilmore<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-no-2-stephon-gilmore\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3. S Devin McCourty<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-3-devin-mccourty\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4. LB Dont’a Hightower<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-4-donta-hightower\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5. TE Hunter Henry<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-5-hunter-henry\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6. CB J.C. Jackson<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-6-j-c-jackson\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7. C David Andrews<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-7-david-andrews\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8. TE Jonnu Smith<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-ten-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-8-jonnu-smith\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9. OL Michael Onwenu<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-9-michael-onwenu\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10. ST Matthew Slater<\/td>\nhttps:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/lazars-most-important-patriots-in-2021-no-10-matthew-slater\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As Patriots head coach Bill Belichick noted following the draft, Cam Newton is currently New England\u2019s starter, \u201csomeone would have to play better than he [Newton] does,\u201d Belichick said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With improvements to his supporting cast, there is a path for Newton to play better in 2021.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lazar: If Cam Newton Starts, What Does a Viable Passing Offense Look Like for the Patriots?<\/em><\/a><\/h5>\n

Suppose Newton\u2019s timing and grasp of the system improve while offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels caters the passing offense to the former MVPs strengths. In that case, Newton may hold off rookie pick Mac Jones and continue as the starter for the 2021 season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the odds aren\u2019t in his favor when we look at the recent history of first-round quarterbacks. Since 2010, only three of the 34 quarterbacks selected in the first round sat as rookies. In other words, the \u201crookie redshirt\u201d year is becoming more of an anomaly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most recent examples are Green Bay\u2019s Jordan Love sitting behind Aaron Rodgers after the Packers took Love with the 26th overall pick in the 2020 draft. Rodgers went on to win league MVP, earning a berth in the NFC Championship Game after a 13-win season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n