It has to be Dobson on the offensive side of the ball, although I’d fully expect an open competition at every receiver spot and he won’t be handed the starting X job.
I’ll be curious to see how Thompkins progresses as well. I really liked him at the start of the season but the double-catches and constant leaving his feet to catch the ball started to grow some doubt in my mind if he really was as good as a lot of us thought he was coming out of training camp. He could be starting or cut and neither would surprise me.
Defensively I think it has to be Jamie Collins. Can he become a three-down linebacker? Will he permanently takeover the nickel linebacker spot next to Mayo? He really flashed some star potential in the playoffs and if he can become that kind of impact player the whole defense will take a big step forward. He’s the perfect kind of linebacker for today’s NFL and especially for the Pats’ defense.
