The Patriots had one of the oldest teams overall in 2020, but a few of their youngest players are in line to be some of their better players in the coming years.
NFL Media released its All-Under-25 Team recently and two Patriots made the list -- Michael Onwenu and Jake Bailey.
"A sixth-round pick in 2020, Onwenu blossomed into a dependable blocker as a rookie," Nick Shook wrote. "He was primarily a right tackle in 2020, but he's listed as a guard here because that's where he's likely to play in 2021 following a reunion between New England and tackle Trent Brown. Onwenu is a prime example of what effective scouting can do for a team. In this instance, the Patriots unearthed a late-round gem who projects to be a rock-solid blocker for years to come."
Onwenu was one of the best value picks in the entire 2020 NFL Draft, as the Patriots grabbed him in sixth round.
Bailey was another great value pick as the Patriots got him in the fifth round of the 2019 draft.
"The Lions' Jack Fox was a close second to Bailey, who earned his first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2020," Shook wrote. "Bailey finished second in punts dropped inside the 20 with 31, trailing Seattle's Michael Dickson by one while also punting six fewer times. Perhaps most impressively, Bailey allowed just 71 return yards for the entire season (sixth fewest). The quick math tells us returners averaged less than a yard and a half gained per Bailey punt. That's elite production from the Patriots' punter."
The list was limited to players who are younger than 25 years old at the start of this coming season.
