Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Danny Jaillet

ESPN tabs this player as Patriots X-Factor for 2022 season

New England Patriots tight end Jonnu Smith was one of the team’s prized free agent acquisitions last March. After a rough 2021 season, he is being pegged as a major X-factor heading into 2022.

Smith caught 28 passes for 294 yards and a touchdown last season. Although he showed flashes of his playmaking ability throughout the season, he was never able to put it all together in the season’s entirety.

ESPN’s Ben Lindsey tabbed Smith as one player that could be a major piece for the Patriots next season. New England hopes to replicate the two tight end production that was a staple of the offense in the early part of the 2010s.

Smith’s emergence will be key for the Patriots offense, as they look to piece things together at the tight end position. With new faces in the wide receiver room, tight ends may be relied upon heavily.

With a new offense in place, and a more confident quarterback in Mac Jones, this could be a recipe for success for Smith. If Smith fails to have a good season, that will leave a gigantic gap at the tight end position.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.