The NFL Scouting Combine begins later this week, which means it's time for people to look to Indianapolis for their team's next wave of young contributors.
Don't be like those people. Not yet, at least.
Before we head out to Indy, which we'll do later this week, first take a look at the young players already on the Patriots roster - ones you may have forgotten about.
- MORE PATRIOTS - Another cryptic Gronk tweet to decipher
We've already taken a brief glimpse at some of them, but here's a little more on potential under-the-radar contributors for 2018. All of them have one advantage on anyone participating in the combine later this week: Experience in the Patriots system.
Derek Rivers, EDGE, 6-foot-5, 250 pounds
New England Patriots
Jonathan Jones, CB, 5-10, 190
Cole Croston, OL, 6-5, 315
Harvey Langi, EDGE, 6-2, 252
Practice squad returnees
After the Super Bowl, the Patriots re-signed all 10 of the practice squad players who finished the 2017 season with the team. That list included tight end Will Tye, slot receiver Riley McCarron and safeties David Jones and Damarius Travis. Over the next few weeks, plenty of space on the internet will be dedicated to the future of the tight end position in New England. Tye isn't it. But if the Patriots choose to part ways with both Martellus Bennett and Dwayne Allen in 2018, he could be in the mix as a No. 2. He's started 18 games for the Giants and Jets over the last three seasons. McCarron, meanwhile, impressed as a member of the Texans during training camp, and Houston coach Bill O'Brien dubbed the former Hawkeye "the Iowa Flash." The Texans released him from their practice squad in September, and the Patriots picked him up four days later. It'll be interesting to see how McCarron develops after a full offseason in the program. The undrafted rookie safety pair of Jones and Travis have good size and look like developmental box-safety types who could be special teams fits.