Predicting the Patriots’ 53-man roster after preseason Week 1

One down, two to go.

Friday’s preseason opener supplied a strong snapshot of the place the Patriots’ depth chart stands by two-plus weeks of coaching camp. A number of positions have already already established.

Drake Maye will, after all, begin at quarterback. DeMario Douglas ought to begin within the slot, and Milton Williams and Christian Gonzalez are entrenched as defensive cornerstones. Naturally, different positions want extra time to type themselves out.

For now, right here is the Herald’s newest 53-man roster projection by Week 1 of the NFL preseason:

Quarterbacks

Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs

Notes: The best place to challenge on the Patriots’ roster. Maye shouldn’t be being challenged because the group’s beginning quarterback, and Dobbs has completed nothing to lose the backup job. Undrafted rookie Ben Wooldridge is the one different participant throwing passes at coaching camp, and will be capable to return on the apply squad, if the Patriots wish to signal him again.

Working backs

Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson

Notes: Henderson has arguably been the Patriots’ finest offensive participant in apply, although he’s been taking reps behind Rhamondre Stevenson. Gibson is having fun with a strong summer season, and the three of them ought to break up touches this yr, with Stevenson beginning on early downs and Henderson featured as a pass-catcher.

The one query right here is undrafted rookie Lan Larison, who was noticed sporting a strolling boot within the locker room after Friday’s 48-18 win over the Commanders.

Broad receivers

Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Kendrick Bourne, Efton Chism III

Notes: Seven broad receivers? Sure. For now.

Ultimately, the Patriots hold Bourne — presently injured and squarely on the roster bubble — as a result of he’s one in every of their finest 53 gamers no matter place. The Pats want expertise. Bourne has system expertise and is a optimistic affect on the locker room.

Bourne also can purchase time till Chism III is able to take the sphere. The undrafted slot was lauded by coach Mike Vrabel for his play energy after Friday’s preseason opener, when he had a game-high six catches for 50 yards and a landing. Chism was the final participant included on this projection.

Tight ends

Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jack Westover

Notes: It’s been a gradual, ugly slugfest among the many backup tight ends to see who can win the No. 3 job. On this state of affairs, Westover wins out as a result of he can play fullback, as he did in Friday’s preseason sport. The Patriots may additionally choose to stash one or two of Westover, Gee Scott, Jaheim Bell and CJ Dippre on their apply squad. Henry and Hooper are roster locks and confirmed vets.

Offensive line

Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses, Demontrey Jacobs, Sidy Sow, Marcus Bryant, Ben Brown

Notes: One other overloaded place, the Patriots inventory loads of depth right here for a number of causes. The workers is already load-managing Moses, 34, who missed a number of video games final yr as a result of damage and has been nicked up this summer season. As a substitute of asking Bryant or Jacobs to grow to be the full-time swing sort out, they proceed battling into the season and supply further depth if Moses will get damage.

He is the Patriots’ best kept secret, the man behind Mike Vrabel’s rebuild

Inside, Cole Unusual misses the lower as somebody who can solely play left guard and has not panned out as a backup heart. That permits Brown, final yr’s starter, to remain on the roster and makes Sow the highest backup at each guard spots. Sow’s chief competitors is 2024 third-round decide Caedan Wallace, a extra gifted participant presently coping with damage who does not have the identical positional versatility.

Line of defense

Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Keion White, Khyris Tonga, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Joshua Farmer, Isaiah Iton

Notes: Williams, Barmore, White and Tonga are stone-cold clocks. Pharms Jr. and Farmer are shut, notably Farmer as a fourth-round rookie. Iton is the shock right here, a second-year participant who has flashed in camp and lets the Patriots hold their defensive position contemporary in a brand new scheme that can depend on its entrance 4 rotating to generate constant strain.

Linebackers

Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jahlani Tavai, Jack Gibbens, Harold Landry, Ok’Lavon Chaisson, Bradyn Swinson, Truman Jones

Notes: The one query at linebacker is who sticks exterior. Landry will begin reverse White, leaving Chaisson as their No. 3 edge defender and a rotational go rusher. Ditto for Swinson because the No. 4 choice, and Jones makes the lower after receiving some beginning reps in apply. He should additionally make an affect on particular groups to make the ultimate 53.

Cornerbacks

Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, DJ James

Notes: The damage absences of Gonzalez and Davis for many of coaching camp have allowed the younger backups to flourish, notably James, a smaller nook with a feisty taking part in type and a few first rate ball abilities. The battles for the No. 4, No. 5 and maybe No. 6 nook jobs is way from over, however for now Austin is protected behind the highest three and James joins him to spherical out this group after nabbing an interception Friday night time.

Safeties

Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson, Marcus Epps, Brenden Schooler

Notes: As soon as a longtime roster energy, security is now a place with a good quantity of questions. Dugger has outright struggled within the new scheme, admitting he should study and adapt to completely different methods and instructing factors. He and Hawkins have allowed a number of catches, notably in 1-on-1 protection. Peppers has been the most effective of the bunch, whereas Woodson is making a push to begin.

As for the backups, Epps is probably going battling Dell Pettus for a similar roster spot. Pettus is a second-year participant and hard-hitter, however hasn’t flashed sufficient to edge out a veteran free-agent addition like Epps who began video games for the Eagles and Raiders.

Specialists

Ok Andy Borregales, P Bryce Baringer, LS Julian Ashby

Notes: Kicker has been the tightest place battle of coaching camp, with Borregales and Parker Romo lacking a single subject objective mixed the previous two weeks. Right here, the sixth-round rookie will get the sting due to his draft standing and enchancment over the summer season. Baringer and Ashby do not presently have competitors for his or her jobs, guaranteeing they may make the 53-man roster.

Peyton excessive on Pats

Peyton Manning is aware of a factor or two a couple of Mike Vrabel protection.

Earlier than they battled within the now dormant Patriots-Colts rivalry, they performed towards each other in faculty. After which once more when Vrabel began his NFL profession in Pittsburgh And eventually when Vrabel ended his taking part in days with the Chiefs in 2010.

Since then, Vrabel-coached groups have foiled different elite quarterbacks, from Tom Brady within the playoffs to Patrick Mahomes twice within the common season. The Titans, whom Vrabel coached from 2018-23, are one in every of solely three franchises Mahomes has a profession shedding document towards within the common season.

Regardless of Vrabel’s lackluster end in Tennessee, the place he went 54-45 general as head coach, Manning sees success on the horizon for the Patriots.

“I went to Nashville when he was teaching the Titans, and I’ve stayed in contact with Mike and I’ve nice respect for him. I’m glad to see he’s again (with the Patriots),” Manning mentioned. “I do know he cares in regards to the historical past there in that group. I believed he did a heck of a job with the Titans, and I believe he’ll do an incredible job with the Patriots.

“I’m glad to see he’s again as the top coach.”