FOXBORO — Bradyn Swinson has two priorities in his first Patriots training camp: sacks and snacks.
On the field, the fifth-round draft pick is trying to carve out a role in New England’s edge rusher rotation. Off it, it’s Swinson’s job to make sure his more experienced position mates are well fed during meetings.
“For the most part for me, I’ve just been having to bring snacks,” Swinson said after Wednesday’s practice. “I’ve got boys like Keion (White) and KC (K’Lavon Chaisson) — I’ve got big boys in my room, so they always want snacks. But they eat some old head snacks, like vanilla wafers and stuff. Like, what are we doing?”
Swinson’s snack list also includes Gushers, fruit snacks, sunflower seeds and Chex Mix. The biggest eater in the group, Swinson said, is Harold Landry III, who goes through snacks “like he’s breathing oxygen.” The rookie out of LSU has had to refill Landry’s allotment “about six, seven times” since camp began last week.
In addition to being de facto food delivery men, Patriots rookies carry veteran’s helmets and pads off the field after each practice and, according to Swinson, are required to tell jokes “every time we come into a room.” The traditional rookie “skit night” also is coming up soon.
“It kind of feels like it’s crossed over into a fraternity or something,” Swinson said. “… But I’m enjoying doing it. It’s a blessing to be here, so I’ll do whatever they tell me to do.”
In return, Swinson has received valuable guidance from one of the Patriots’ most experienced position groups. Landry, Chaisson and Anfernee Jennings all have played five-plus NFL seasons, and White is entering his third year in New England.
“I feel like it gets me ahead of everything, you know?” the 23-year-old said. “Because I’ve got guys like Harold that have been in the league for, like, seven, eight years, seeing how he gets off the ball. I’ve got guys like Keion that’s the bigger-framed guys. Because I’m kind of in between; I can do either or. But just having multiple guys I can go to that will help me with my moves, just learning the game and just taking me under their wing. They all took me under their wing like it was nothing, and I appreciate them for it.”
Teaming up with fellow LSU product Chaisson, in particular, has been special for Swinson. Chaisson, a 2020 first-round flop who’s looking to revive his career with New England, has been one of the biggest risers of camp thus far.
“The only time I saw him (in college) was he was on the LSU wall for wearing No. 18 (a prestigious honor for the Tigers),” said Swinson, who was holding his and Chaisson’s helmets as he spoke with reporters. “It’s kind of like a full-circle moment seeing KC during this time right now. But it’s been everything that I expected out of him — guy that’s taken me under his wing, teaching me everything and also staying on me.”
New England’s young players will have plenty of opportunities for playing time this season. As of Thursday, the Patriots’ new-look roster featured 26 rookies, plus a handful of others who have yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game.
Swinson currently is behind all of the aforementioned vets on the depth chart, but he delivered some positive moments in the opening week of training camp, including a 1-on-1 win over first-round pick and former LSU teammate Will Campbell on Wednesday.
“That’s good work going against each other,” Swinson said. “I feel like me and Will know each other real well. We know each other better than anyone else out there because we went to college together for a long time. Overall, it’s just good work between us, and iron sharpens iron. It’s always a good competition between me and Will.”
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