Patriots roster projection 1.0: What we’ve learned so far
With the dog days of camp and the first preseason game in the books, it’s time for the first Patriots roster projection of the summer.
The New England Patriots have slogged through the dog days of camp, and on Thursday night played their first of three preseason games this summer. With cutdown day now just a few weeks away, the roster crunch is on.
There are still some very important and influential days ahead, including a joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles and two more preseason games (against the Eagles and Washington Commanders). Still, where do things stand heading into this crucial period?
We’ll take a look with our first Patriots roster projection of the summer. Who is currently positioned for a roster spot, and who had more work to do before the roster limit shrinks to 53 players on Aug. 27? (Reminder, players still on PUP on cutdown day do not count against the roster limit and have to miss at least the first four games of the season.)
Before we get to it, a few reminders about how our Patriots roster projections work. We’re looking through the scope of if the cuts were made today, instead of assuming what will and won’t happen through the rest of the summer. Also all players are listed alphabetically by position, so the order doesn’t reflect a depth chart.
Alright, let’s get started…
Quarterbacks (3)
–Jacoby Brissett
—Drake Maye
—Joe Milton
If Milton keeps playing the way he did on Thursday night the Patriots won’t be able to get him on the practice squad. In that case, he could stick on the roster as a project. Plus, the Patriots playing Zappe as much as they did as Jerod Mayo mentioned the offensive line was part of what limited the top quarterbacks’ reps isn’t a great sign for Bailey Zappe. He could still – as he did last year – start the season on the practice squad then be added back to the active roster later as a ‘buffer’ quarterback between Brissett and Maye if Brissett gets hurt before Maye is ready.
Running backs (3)
–Antonio Gibson
–Kevin Harris
–Rhamondre Stevenson
The Patriots running back position seems to be one of the more ‘set’ groups on the Patriots’ roster right now. Stevenson and Gibson are locks at the top of the depth chart, and Harris has been the clear-cut third option so far this summer.
JaMycal Hasty and Terrell Jennings have a good chance to stick around on the practice squad. Hasty could be an option as a change-of-pace back down the road and adds special teams value. Jennings is a hard-running power back who could eat carries in a rotational role if depth becomes an issue due to injuries.
Wide receivers (6)
—Javon Baker
–Kayshon Boutte
–DeMario Douglas
–K.J. Osborn
—Ja’Lynn Polk
–Jalen Reagor
–Kendrick Bourne (PUP)
Heading into Thursday night’s game it felt like the battle between Boutte, Reagor, and Tyquan Thornton for the final one or two wide receiver spots was a tight one. Reagor gets the edge over Thornton in the ‘speed’ role due to special teams ability and Thornton’s recent soft-tissue injury detrailing what had been a strong start to camp. Meanwhile, Boutte has been much more consistent and gives the team another option for the ‘X’ receiver spot. Also, don’t sleep on UDFA David Wallis for a practice squad spot after his impressive night on special teams.
Tight ends (3)
–Hunter Henry
–Austin Hooper
–TBD veteran addition
Yes, we’re including a hypothetical roster move in this Patriots roster projection (last year we had a ‘TBD’ running back the week before the Patriots signed Ezekiel Elliott). Based on the way they’ve operated at practice, it certainly seems like the Patriots want to have a blocking tight end to complement Henry and Hooper in that room. However candidates for that role like Mitchell Wilcox and Jacob Warren haven’t shown enough to earn a spot. This is where the Patriots could add a player during roster cuts, like they did last year with Pharaoh Brown. Meanwhile, rookie Jaheim Bell is still playing catch-up after missing the first week of padded practices and seems like a practice squad candidate for now.
Offensive tackles (4)
–Calvin Anderson
–Vederian Lowe
–Chuks Okorafor
–Caedan Wallace
Tackle is another position where the Patriots may add externally – like they did last year with Lowe and Tyrone Wheatley. However, there’s no guarantee they’ll find any upgrades over the group they have available, so they may have to figure out a way to make it work with these four, at least to start the season. It’s worth noting here Jerod Mayo told reporters on Friday the team has scheduled to host free agent offensive linemen for workouts in the coming days.
Interior offensive linemen (5)
–C David Andrews
–G/C Nick Leverett
–G/T Mike Onwenu
–G Layden Robinson
–G Sidy Sow
–G Cole Strange (PUP)
While the Patriots’ tackle position has its questions, the group on the interior seems solid. Leverett offers multi-positional depth, with Robinson as a potential longer-term starting option in the event of injury. Michael Jordan and Atonio Mafi sit just off the roster for now, and would be practice squad candidates.
Defensive linemen (7)
–Daniel Ekuale
–Davon Godchaux
–Trysten Hill
–Jeremiah Pharms
–Armon Watts
–Keion White
–Deatrich Wise
–Christian Barmore (IR)
–Jotham Russell (IPP)
Thursday night was an encouraging showing for the offensive line, especially from Pharms and Hill (who was one of the last additions to this Patriots roster projection with his performance). Replacing Barmore is going to be a multi-player effort, and those two have emerged as leaders for some of those assignments. Mike Purcell, William Bradley-King, and Sam Roberts are practice squad candidates here. Finally, even if it’s just a remote, remote chance he plays this year, it makes sense for the Patriots to use one of their IR-return spots on Christian Barmore as things stand right now.
Linebackers (7)
–Ja’Whaun Bentley
–Anfernee Jennings
–Matthew Judon
–Raekwon McMillan
–Jahlani Tavai
–Joshuah Uche
–Oshane Ximines
–Sione Takitaki (PUP)
McMillan started the game for the Patriots last night which is an encouraging sign for him as the Patriots continue to stick with him through multiple season-ending injuries. McMillan’s performance could allow the Patriots to be more patient with Takitaki, allowing him to open the season on PUP.
Ximines is in the group of players that have really made a strong push in the last week, and stood out in the game. Not only has he been effective as a pass rusher but has made plays in special teams too. Speaking of special teams, Christian Elliss is a practice squad candidate here.
Cornerbacks (7)
–Alex Austin
—Marcellas Dial
–Christian Gonzalez
–Jonathan Jones
–Marcus Jones
–Shaun Wade
–Marco Wilson
This is another position where it feels like the battle went right down to the game. The final spot or two spots are being contested for by Dial, Wade, Wilson, and Isaiah Bolden. Wade and Wilson got the start, with Wade putting together a solid game. Plus, Wade gives the team true slot cornerback depth behind Marcus Jones, while the other three players listed are primarily boundary corners. Meanwhile, Wilson is one of the more ‘veteran’ player in what is a very young room.
That all being said, that’s just what the room looks like for now. There’s still plenty of time for things to shift here. It’s way too early to count out guys like Bolden as well as Azizi Hearn and Mikey Victor.
Safeties (5)
–Kyle Dugger
–Jaylinn Hawkins
–Jabrill Peppers
–Dell Pettus
–Brenden Schooler
–Marte Mapu (IR)
Pettus has come on strong in camp since the start of padded practices, and continued that effort Thursday night as he tied for the team lead with five tackles. For now, we have him just ahead of Joshuah Bledsoe for the final depth safety spot. Meanwhile, Mapu isn’t eligible for PUP but given he really hasn’t practiced, he’s a strong candidate to get one of the Patriots’ IR-return spots on cutdown day.
Specialists (3)
–K Chad Ryland
–P Bryce Baringer
–LS Joe Cardona
Jerod Mayo told reporters Friday morning the kicking competition is “still wide-open,” confirming what has looked to be the case to this point. But this is a Patriots roster projection and we have to make a choice, so for now we’re giving a slight edge to Ryland over Joey Slye. Why? He’s been better in the most important range for kickers, going 9-for-9 from the 40-49 yard range (Slye is 8-for-10). Overall Ryland is 26-of-29 this summer, while Slye is 23-of-28.
On the bubble
Last 4 on:
–WR Jalen Reagor
–DT Trysten Hill
–S Dell Pettus
–CB Marco Wilson
Last 4 off:
–CB Isaiah Bolden
–WR Tyquan Thornton
–S Joshuah Bledsoe
–DT Mike Purcell
