Fansided

10 NFL players ready to become household names in 2020

By Russell S. Baxter

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Running back Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball before he is stopped by linebacker Troy Reeder #51 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 29: Running back Kenyan Drake #41 of the Arizona Cardinals carries the ball before he is stopped by linebacker Troy Reeder #51 of the Los Angeles Rams in the first quarter of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 29, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 22: Elandon Roberts #52 of the New England Patriots points to the sky prior to the game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 22: Elandon Roberts #52 of the New England Patriots points to the sky prior to the game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

9. LB Elandon Roberts, Miami Dolphins

The New England Patriots have certainly had their share of standout defensive players over the years, most notably under current head coach Bill Belichick. That includes proven pros such as linebacker Dont’a Hightower and safety Patrick Chung, who have opted out of playing football this season (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss) due to the current pandemic.

This offseason, the club saw a mass defection of talent via free agency, led by veteran quarterback Tom Brady. But the Pats also watched a trio of linebackers leave for new homes as playmaker Jamie Collins signed with Matt Patricia’s team in the Motor City and both Kyle Van Noy and four-year performer Elandon Roberts joined former New England defensive mind Brian Flores in South Florida.

While the former is a six-year NFL veteran and certainly the more notable of the two newest Dolphins’ defenders, Roberts is a player that bears watching. His best season came in 2017, when he played in 15 games, made 14 starts and finished fourth on the club with 67 tackles. The 2016 sixth-round pick from the University of Houston played in all 16 games a year ago but made only three starts but figures to make an immediate impact on the league’s 30th-ranked defense from a season ago.

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