Seven Players To Watch As Patriots Face Giants In Preseason Finale

Seven players to watch as Patriots face Giants in preseason finale originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

With the regular season two weeks away, expect the Patriots to take a different approach to their preseason finale Thursday night. While Drake Maye and other starters played two series in each of New England’s first two preseason games, those top players — even the fully-healthy ones — should have the night off against the Giants.

What, then, should fans be looking for when Mike Vrabel’s team takes on Brian Daboll’s? Here are seven players worth keeping an eye on at MetLife Stadium…

Kyle Dugger, S

With the Patriots playing Dugger deep into preseason action, it’s clear he doesn’t sit at or near the top of the safety depth chart in Foxboro anymore. Viewed as less of a fit for Vrabel’s system compared to players like Jaylinn Hawkins and Craig Woodson, Dugger has struggled at times in man coverage and the deep half of the field. If he can continue to come downhill and disrupt with his physicality — which he did briefly as soon as he hit the field in last weekend’s preseason game against the Vikings — perhaps there’s a team out there who would be willing to acquire him via trade so long as the Patriots take on salary.  

Anfernee Jennings, OLB

It seems clear that Jennings remains an NFL-caliber player. He dominated against reserves late in the Vikings preseason game, getting in on three sacks. But, like Dugger, it seems as though he’s been deemed a bad fit for a defense that values twitchy pass-rushers on the edge. Can Jennings, if teams are considering trading for him, increase his value in the preseason finale? 

Javon Baker, WR

The second-year wideout was a standout in Week 1 of the preseason, showing up offensively and on special teams. Week 2? Not so much. He had multiple passes go through his hands on diving attempts, and he appeared to stop running a route that might’ve resulted in a touchdown had he been on the same page with quarterback Josh Dobbs. He missed practice time this week but could try to play — and potentially earn a roster spot — in Jersey. 

Marte Mapu, LB

The safety-turned-linebacker has struggled to stay on the field consistently since his arrival as a third-rounder in 2023. But when he’s available, it seems as though Vrabel wants Mapu to win a job. He was the personal protector on the top punt team in practice this week. Can he provide some second-level depth to the Patriots defense behind Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss and Jack Gibbens?

Caedan Wallace, OL

With Ben Brown’s elevation and the emergence of rookie third-rounder Jared Wilson, last year’s third-rounder on the line could get lost in the shuffle. Wallace has had difficulty staying on the field at times and hasn’t established himself as a go-to backup. Can he help himself on Thursday, or has that ship already sailed for Vrabel and his staff?

Cole Strange, OL

Strange has been on the field throughout camp, but it’s been a while since he saw consistent time protecting Drake Maye. Would the Patriots ever keep multiple interior backups? If so, then perhaps Strange’s time with the team that made him a first-rounder in 2022 isn’t over. But it feels like this could be the end of the road for Strange since Mike Onwenu, Garrett Bradbury, Wilson and Brown are the team’s top interior protectors. 

Julian Ashby, LS

The rookie long-snapper, who was taken in the seventh round this year, has been a bit up and down of late — both on his snaps for field goals as well as punts. It’d make sense if the Patriots wanted to work out other snappers sometime soon just to give themselves options at the position. Have to keep an eye on kickers Andy Borregales and Parker Romo, who’ve both had solid camps; how do they fare on their field goal attempts but also their kickoffs (Parker picked up a penalty for landing one outside the landing zone last weekend)? But Ashby is worthy of attention in this one, too.