New England Patriots ‘Redshirted’ Next Slot Option As Rookie

A New England Patriots rookie missed the season due to a serious injury. You have already heard this one, right?

Wide receiver Braxton Berrios ended up on injured reserve during the final roster trimming. He did not play in his rookie campaign. Six of the nine 2018 draft picks were not active as rookies.

Berrios had a slow start with the team when he was a limited participant in organized team activities and minicamp. The injury kept him out of the field in the summer, and Berrios was active in just one preseason game. Berrios was able to catch just one pass for 3 yards. It was not a season-ending injury, but New England decided to redshirt him as a rookie player and Berrios ended up on injured reserve.

The New England Patriots welcomed Berrios as a sixth-round pick. The player is a prototypical Patriots slot receiver in the shape of Wes Welker and Danny Amendola.

Berrios is ready for that role. He was able to run a 4.44-second 40-yard dash with a 1.58-second 10-yard split, 6.72-second 3-cone drill, 4.18-second short shuttle, 36-inch vertical leap and 9-foot, 2-inch broad jump at his pro day last March. He was not really productive during his college seasons bug was able to catch 55 passes for 679 yards with nine touchdowns as a senior and 100 passes for 1,175 yards with 14 touchdowns in four seasons. Berrios returned 47 punts for 488 yards with a touchdown at college.

The player spent 97.3 percent of snaps in the slot at college meaning he is limited to playing inside in the pros.

The rookie may not get a place

Nothing points to the fact that Berrios will get a spot on New England’s roster in 2019. The Pats have just five receivers in Berrios, Julian Edelman, Matthew Slater, Darren Andrews and Damoun Patterson.

Cordarrelle Patterson, Chris Hogan, Josh Gordon and Phillip Dorsett are free agents.