Individuals have been choosing the New England Patriots to complete with the NFL’s worst report this season, however they did shock many with a Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Patriots are hoping rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who’s presently the backup behind starter Jacoby Brissett, will turn into their subsequent franchise signal-caller and a real inheritor obvious to Tom Brady, who left after the 2019 season.
New England additionally thinks it has a budding star in second-year defensive finish Keion White, who registered 2.5 sacks and a compelled fumble within the Week 1 win.
Former Patriots defensive finish Rob Ninkovich, a two-time Tremendous Bowl champion, mentioned he feels the group ought to give White a contract extension earlier than his worth probably will increase enormously within the coming months and years.
“You’re gonna have to pay him early,” Ninkovich mentioned, through Carlos Talks Pats. “… As long as he keeps playing, and if he makes a lot of plays this year, his price just keeps going up and up and up.”
Rob Ninkovich thinks the #Patriots ought to “pay Keion White early” to keep away from his worth rising.
“You’re gonna need to pay him early. You pay— you attempt to pay Keion White early… if he has one other 2.5 (sacks) after which he’s at 5 (sacks)… it’s onerous to go up 100 million bucks… pic.twitter.com/F7Z5s6kN4W
— Carlos Talks Pats (@LosTalksPats) September 13, 2024
White had a modest rookie season when he posted only one sack, 5 quarterback hits, three tackles for loss, three passes defended and 26 whole tackles (12 solo) in 16 video games (4 begins).
However he was very spectacular to begin his second NFL season, particularly when certainly one of his sacks got here with simply over seven minutes left in a third-down state of affairs to stop Cincinnati from consuming into New England’s six-point lead.
Given the rebuilding state of affairs the Patriots are in, they should handle their property properly with a view to retain sufficient wage cap area to herald some veterans who can assist them return to the playoffs sooner fairly than later.
Since Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England has completed with a successful report simply as soon as in 4 seasons, and final yr it was 4-13, its worst mark since 1992.
