Think you’ve got a handle on the 2016 draft class now? Think the teams have answers on all their players?
Here are four names: Malcolm Butler, Marcus Cannon, Logan Ryan, James White.
Those four played a total of 42 snaps—15 on special teams—for the Patriots in Super Bowl 49. Butler was the team’s fourth corner, Ryan the fifth corner, Cannon was the fourth offensive tackle and White was inactive for that game. The following summer Butler was the only one of the four who was considered a lock to make the roster going into training camp.
Two years later? Those four played a total of 271 snaps in Super Bowl 51, only three of them coming on special teams. Butler and Ryan, the team’s top two corners, played every defensive snap. On offense, so did Cannon, now considered a rock-solid starting right tackle. White played 71 snaps and had 14 catches for 110 yards, six rushes for 29 yards, and scored all three of the Patriots’ touchdowns.
So there’s our lesson for the week:
Patience matters in player development.
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/02/10/nfl-draft-depth-talent-prospects-notebook