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New England Patriots: Five most important backups

By Sayre Bedinger

Jun 13, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (19) during minicamp at Gillette Stadium practice field. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (19) during minicamp at Gillette Stadium practice field. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New England Patriots know that you’re only as good as your depth. Here are five of their most important backups heading into the 2017 NFL season…

Jun 13, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (19) during minicamp at Gillette Stadium practice field. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2017; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) kicker Stephen Gostkowski (3) and wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell (19) during minicamp at Gillette Stadium practice field. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /

The New England Patriots are the reigning Super Bowl champions, not necessarily because they are the most talented team in the NFL (they are certainly among the most talented, however), but because they are always one thing above any other:

Prepared.

The preparation of the New England Patriots in the Bill Belichick era is unparalleled in today’s NFL. Not only are the Patriots prepared on the field situationally, they build their roster almost like a baseball team, one that is consistently built to specifically beat teams over a long period of time with depth, and players who fit their scheme perfectly.

Unlike many teams in the NFL, the Patriots have found ways to get long-lasting production out of fitting players to a system, rather than the other way around.

It certainly helps to have a guy like Tom Brady under center, but the Patriots know that being prepared means building your roster in March, April, May, and so on.

Their recent signing of inside linebacker David Harris is evidence of that. Did the Patriots need Harris?

Maybe not now, but they had the cap space to make Harris happy financially, and an open roster spot to invite a good veteran player in and make an impact in a rotation.

The Patriots do this at nearly every position. They make shrewd roster moves and get the kind of depth that can step in where when a guy like Tom Brady gets a suspension, they can go 3-1 in his absence and not miss a beat.

Here are their five most important ‘backups’ going into the 2017 season.

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