Patriots
A number of gamers in Foxborough stay on the roster bubble coming into cutdown day.
Mike Vrabel and his employees nonetheless have some powerful calls to make forward of Tuesday’s ultimate spherical of roster cuts.
With the preseason within the rearview mirror and roster cuts looming, right here’s a take a look at our ultimate 53-man roster projection for the Patriots.
For these protecting observe, right here’s a take a look at our earlier roster projections:
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
This section of the roster is already seemingly settled with New England slicing third-string QB Ben Wooldridge on Friday. Even with a so-so exhibiting on Thursday towards the Giants, Wooldridge ought to be a candidate for the follow squad — though New England may take a look at the waiver wire to seek out one other depth QB.
Working again (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson
No adjustments to what ought to be an space of power on New England’s roster — particularly with rookie TreVeyon Henderson trying like a difference-maker proper out of the gate.
JaMycal Hasty might be carried onto the 53-man roster if New England prioritizes added depth on the place, however Vrabel and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels ought to have lots to work with relating to a trio that may acquire yardage within the trenches, reel in catches, go block and break by for main positive aspects.
Extensive receivers (7): Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Javon Baker, Efton Chism III
As soon as once more, now we have six locks already in place between Diggs, Douglas, Williams, Boutte, Hollins, Chism — with the latter being one of many breakout gamers throughout preseason play alongside Henderson.
In the end, all of it comes all the way down to how Vrabel and the Patriots worth one other wideout in Javon Baker. Baker ought to be the kind of participant whose skillset as a boundary wideout ought to make him price protecting round — particularly provided that New England doesn’t precisely have a receiver corps teeming with big-bodied pass-catchers that may snag 50-50 balls past Hollins and probably Williams.
However, Baker hasn’t proven a lot of a capability to provide offensively throughout preseason play. He additionally received whistled for some essential penalties throughout that very same stretch.
Contemplating that Vrabel spoke extremely of Baker’s contributions on particular groups as a gunner and kick returner as soon as once more on Friday, now we have him simply making the minimize.
“Properly, I feel you take a look at the whole physique of labor, and I feel you attempt to consider every thing, not simply the particular groups, however what else can they do? And in Javon’s case, he’s a large receiver, and I feel the extra that he does the particular groups, I feel the higher that he’s gotten, and he’ll perceive how he can use his play power, his velocity, among the receiving instruments and fundamentals as a gunner, probably,” Vrabel mentioned of Baker.
Tight ends (2): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper
Henry and Hooper have been locks all summer time, however now we have New England slicing their projected third tight finish/fullback in Jack Westover and attempting to stash him on the follow squad.
Contemplating how a lot McDaniels likes to make the most of fullbacks in his offensive schemes, it wouldn’t come as a lot of a shock if New England does scour the waiver wire this week to attempt to add one other bruising fullback / tight-end hybrid.
Offensive linemen (9): Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Mike Onwenu, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, Ben Brown, Marcus Bryant, Caedan Wallace, Vederian Lowe
A section of the roster nonetheless rife with uncertainty isn’t essentially getting any clearer as soon as Tuesday’s roster cuts take impact.
The expectation is that Will Campbell (left sort out), Garrett Bradbury (middle), Mike Onwenu (proper guard), and Morgan Moses (proper sort out) would be the starters for Week 1.
It stays to be seen if rookie Jared Wilson or veteran Ben Brown will seize the beginning function at left guard, though Brown may be pressed into obligation because the staff’s beginning middle if Bradbury struggles.
Talking on Monday, Vrabel mentioned no ultimate choices have been made about New England’s ongoing competitors at left guard.
“We’re not making something official,” Vrabel mentioned. “It’ll be the 5 guys on the market with the primary group in the present day, after which – however so far as having a parade or something about it, we’re simply not going to do this proper now. Nonetheless wish to get some work in in the present day, compete towards ourselves, like we talked about, after which come again and end the week with beginning on the Raiders.”
The better issues for New England would possibly revolve across the paper-thin depth presently in place throughout the O-line. For now, now we have New England’s backup tackles headlined by Vederian Lowe and 2025 seventh-round choose Marcus Bryant, though New England may additionally peruse the waiver wire for extra reinforcements.
With one among Brown/Wilson serving as a backup on the inside, now we have Caedan Wallace beating out Cole Unusual as the opposite inside backup — particularly with Unusual struggling on Thursday at middle within the closing stretches of Thursday’s preseason loss to the Giants.
Wallace might need a bit extra upside than Unusual, who has gone from a projected starter at left guard to a roster-cut casualty. However, contemplating that Wallace was additionally taking part in deep into the fourth quarter of Thursday’s recreation, he’s not precisely on secure floor both.
This personnel grouping may look very completely different later this week as New England seems to be exterior of the group for extra reinforcements.
Defensive tackles (5): Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
No adjustments with this spot on the roster, which is anticipated to be anchored by a pair of disruptive game-wreckers on the line of scrimmage in each Barmore and Williams. Tonga has additionally been one of many high surprises in camp as a run-stuffing drive as the massive man in the course of the D-line.
Farmer hasn’t precisely popped throughout coaching camp, however he ought to be afforded a while to develop as a rookie, whereas Pharms stands as some added insurance coverage at an space of power. In what has been a recurring theme throughout this roster projection, New England may additionally minimize Pharms in the event that they suppose they will discover a higher various on the waiver wire.
Edge gamers (7): Harold Landry, Keion White, Ok’Lavon Chaisson, Truman Jones, Bradyn Swinson, Elijah Ponder, Anfernee Jennings
Even with some adjustments on this personnel grouping relating to Chaisson leapfrogging Keion White on the depth chart, we anticipate New England to roll with a fairly stacked squad on the sting.
Landry, Chaisson, and White are all anticipated to earn the lion’s share of snaps relating to getting after the quarterback. However, New England has some intriguing depth to show to additional down on the depth, particularly relating to an undrafted pickup in Ponder.
Ponder is already poised to be a core special-teamer this season, however he’s additionally flashed throughout coaching camp whereas successful a number of 1-on-1 matchups.
After Patriots exterior linebackers coach Mike Smith tabbed Ponder as “the most effective undrafted free agent pickups” he’s ever seen earlier this month, Vrabel additionally doled out some reward towards the previous Cal Poly standout.
“I feel for a younger exterior linebacker that hadn’t performed it a bunch, I believed he picked it up pretty effectively – the punt units and having the ability to play in area after which additionally attempting to construct a task on protection,” Vrabel mentioned of Ponder. “So, these younger gamers that, when you’ll find that they will again up a place but in addition provide you with some flexibility on particular groups, they begin to assist themselves.”
For now, now we have the Patriots additionally protecting Anfernee Jennings — who has proven this preseason that he can nonetheless be an efficient participant, even when he might not match the precise scheme that Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams need to construct in Foxborough.
It wouldn’t come as a shock if the Patriots finally find a trade suitor for a player like Jennings in the coming days.
Linebackers (4): Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu
The Patriots want all the assistance they will get at this space of the roster. However, with Jahlani Tavai nonetheless hindered by a nagging damage that has stored him off the sector for many of the summer time, one has to surprise if the veteran linebacker is moved to IR.
If Tavai was wholesome, the case might be made that New England would go for depth and roll with 5 linebackers coming into Week 1. However after an encouraging efficiency towards the Giants throughout New England’s preseason finale, now we have safety-turned-linebacker Marte Mapu making the roster no matter Tavai’s standing.
Even when Mapu is probably not an anticipated starter on protection, he — very like Baker and Ponder — may develop right into a key contributor on particular groups.
“He’s been a core particular groups participant and has labored at some spots on the within, and I feel that he’s continued to develop,” Vrabel mentioned of Mapu. “I feel he labored extraordinarily arduous when he was away to get again in there and to be able to go, and confirmed us quite a bit by on the brink of go for the Giants recreation. So, clearly reveals that he desires to earn a task and is attempting to do this.”
Cornerback (5): Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, DJ James
The dearth of readability concerning Gonzalez’s return from a nagging hamstring damage ought to elevate issues. Nonetheless, it is a group that boasts each outright expertise and loads of upside — particularly with each Alex Austin and DJ James elevating their inventory with heavy snaps throughout preseason motion.
Security (6): Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler
Sure, Kyle Dugger is probably not the perfect match for Vrabel and Williams’ scheme on protection, as evidenced by the truth that the veteran has performed effectively into the fourth quarter in the course of the Patriots’ preseason bouts with the Vikings and Giants.
However even when Dugger might not mesh with the system now put in place in Foxborough, it feels impossible that the Patriots will minimize Dugger outright on Tuesday — nor does it seem to be one other staff will wish to take his contract off New England’s fingers through commerce.
The Patriots would possibly ideally wish to transfer on from Dugger, however they’re additionally not incurring a significant useless cap hit simply to unlock that roster spot.
Simply as he showcased towards the Giants in a recreation the place he recorded an interception to associate with six tackles and two go breakups, Dugger remains to be a strong participant who may nonetheless supply worth on this protection — even when his function would possibly shift in 2025.
Particular groups (3): Parker Romo, Julian Ashby, Bryce Baringer
Andy Borregales would possibly nonetheless beat out Romo within the competitors for the beginning kicker function in New England as a result of the Patriots allotted a draft choose (sixth spherical, 2025) on him.
However, it’s clear that the veteran in Romo has been the higher participant this summer time. The previous XFL participant related on extra area objectives whereas showcasing some critical kicking power after booting a 57-yard area purpose throughout preseason motion.
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