Each NFL team’s biggest breakout candidate
By Conor Dorney
New England Patriots – Malcolm Mitchell
The Patriots came up short in their quest for another Super Bowl title and a good deal of roster and coaching turnover has some wondering whether their remarkable dominance will continue in 2018.
Two of the biggest changes for New England occurred on the outside with the departure of Brandin Cooks (via trade) and Danny Amendola (via free agency). And one player who could be ready to step up in their absence is third-year wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell.
After a promising rookie campaign in 2016, the former fourth-round pick out of Georgia dealt with a foot injury in 2017 that caused him to miss the entire season. The injury was certainly frustrating for Mitchell and the Patriots’ coaching staff, but they’ll need him to come up in a big way to help offset the loss of production following Cooks’ and Amendola’s departure.
One thing is for certain is that Tom Brady always seems to get the most out of a seemingly-unheralded receiving corps, which could mean that Mitchell is in line for a big season. Brady trusted him enough to throw six passes his way in Super Bowl 51, meaning that a trust and rapport is certainly there on some level. The almost-departed-then-retained Josh McDaniels should also serve as a key factor in Mitchell’s development for 2018.