Two New England Patriots Included in PFF’s Top 25 under 25 list for 2021

The New England Patriots’ current roster has some young talent hoping to become the next wave of great franchise players. The key to maintaining a winning culture for any organization is to draft well and plugin young talent that can play at a high level for years to come. Bill Belichick has done just that, in fact, the Patriots have added plenty of impactful rookies over the last two offseasons.

So speaking of talented young players, last week, Sam Monson, of Pro Football Focus, released a ranking of the Top 25 NFL players under the age of 25 entering the 2021 season. Two Patriots players made the cut, Michael Onwenu, and Isaiah Wynn. That’s certainly a step in the right direction considering in this same article last year, not a single Patriots player made the list.

Michael Onwenu

The best rookie for the Patriots in 2020 more than likely wasn’t who you would expect. Drafted in the sixth round out of Michigan, Onwenu has quickly caught everyone’s eye early on in his career with the Patriots.

“If offensive linemen didn’t go largely unnoticed most of the time, Onwenu would have had a very legitimate case for rookie of the year in 2020,” Monson wrote. “Playing multiple positions along the New England Patriots offensive line, the sixth-round rookie allowed just 14 total pressures all season.”

Monson also noted that Onwenu will be moving full-time to guard for 2021, the position from which he earned his best single-game PFF grades.

The only offensive lineman ahead of Onwenu is Tampa Bay Buccaneers right tackle Tristan Wirfs, who Monson listed at the No. 9 spot. Wirfs is a terrific young talent who also immediately thrived as a rookie in 2020.

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Isaiah Wynn

Wynn has battled some injuries early on in his career. He had surgery for a torn labrum after his 2017 season at Georgia, he tore his Achilles just a few snaps into his rookie preseason in 2018, he went on IR for turf toe in 2019 and he finished last season on IR with an ankle injury. Subsequently, Wynn has appeared in just 19 out of a possible 52 regular season and playoff games. That being said, when Wynn is on the field, he is an excellent player. As a matter of fact, Wynn is so valuable to the Patriots that the team exercised his fifth-year option.

The adage goes that if you don’t hear an offensive lineman’s name much, he’s probably doing a very good job. Wynn just quietly goes about his business for the New England Patriots and rarely gets a mention; he allowed just 16 total pressures across 10 starts last season, and his run-blocking grade was more than 20 points better than his rookie year. Wynn’s biggest issue in the NFL so far has been injuries, but outside of that, he has been a stellar player along the offensive line.

While all eyes will be on the quarterback position in New England this year, their two best young players are offensive linemen who will be major pieces to any quarterback’s success. Whether it’s Cam Newton or Mac Jones, having two young studs on the offensive line will help make their jobs easier.

–Kevin Tame Jr. is a Staff Writer for Full Press Coverage Sports Media and covers the New England Patriots. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Tame

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