This is my 3rd projection of a 53-man roster. The last pre-season game on Thursday is a meaningless contest being played by a majority of players that won’t be on the roster a week from now at 4:00. Here is my best guess.
Offense (23)
QB (2) Joshua Dobbs, Drake Maye
Cut Ben Woolridge*
I don’t like Dobbs as a backup and if a better option is available on waivers I think the Patriots will claim him.
RB (3) Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, TreVeyon Henderson
Cut Terrell Jennings*, JaMychal Hasty, Shane Watts*
The two RB on Practice Squad will serve as insurance should one of the big three get hurt. Too bad that both UDFAs Lampe and Larison got hurt and are now on IR. Jennings is hurt and his release may be with an injury buyout, Don’t be surprised to see him back on the Practice Squad as an insurance policy. The final 53 has only three running backs. The same could be said for JaMychal Hasty, who looked pretty good Saturday.
TE (2) Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper
Cut Jack Westover*, Cole Frothringham*, Gee Scott, Jaheim Bell. And CJ Dippre*
I see the Patriots keeping just two and making call ups from the PS to fill the FB/3rd TE role.
WR (7) Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Javon Baker, Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism III
Cut Kendrick Bourne (Inj), John Jiles*, Jeremiah Webb
Trade Kendrick Bourne
I like Jiles but there is no room at the Inn. I don’t think he will re-sign with the Patriots Practice Squad. Bakers off day on Saturday is as much or more the fault of Dobbs. He was open twice, one for a TD and Dobbs poor throw was nowhere near him. Baker can contribute on Special Teams and that is what will keep him on the roster. Don’t be surprised if Polk makes the initial 53-man roster and a veteran that doesn’t have to go through waivers is cut, then Polk is put on recallable IR.
C (2) Garrett Bradbury, Ben Brown
Cut Alec Lindstrom*
I keep Strange as a 3rd Center and veteran backup at Guard. Bradbury had a bad game versus Vikings backups. Brown could start at Left Guard or at Center.
G (3) Mike Onwenu, Cole Strange, Jared Wilson
Cut Layden Robinson, Tyrese Robinson, Sidy Sow, Mekhi Butler *
Jared Wilson got demoted after a poor pass blocking game versus Washington and an injury at the 1st Joint Practice. PFF had him for an awful Pass Blocking rating of 22.2. I have never seen a rating so low. I don’t think either Robinsons would accept a contract from the Patriots for their Practice Squad. I think the Patriots will be looking for a trade or waivers for a guard or center. Butler played well versus Washington and is worth keeping on the Practice Squad.
T (4) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Marcus Bryant, Vederian Lowe
Cut Jack Conley * Demontrey Jacobs*
Conley has limited foot speed and needs reps. A spot on the Practice Squad would benefit him. Jacobs went from starter to swing tackle to third team player. He would be offered a spot on PS but would look elsewhere first. The line is so bad right now that I would be taking a good hard look at moving either Bryant or Lowe to Left Tackle and Campbell to Left Guard. It’s not because Campbell can’t play Left Tackle but because the Guard and Center positions are so bad. Move Campbell to Guard and Brown to Center. Improved Pass Protection but significantly worse Run Blocking.
Defense (26)
EDGE (3) Keion White, Milton Williams, Truman Jones
Cut Elijah Ponder
Ponder showed some promise but he needs a year on the Practice Squad. Wouldn’t be surprised if he is waived that he gets claimed.
DT (5) Christian Barmore, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Joshua Farmer, Khyiris Tonga, Kyle Peko,
Cut Jahvaree Ritzee, David Olajiga**, Jereme Robinson
With Iton being waived injured (goes to IR if he clears waivers), I have Peko making the team now.
OLB (4) Harold Landry, Bradyn Swinson, Anfernee Jennings, K’Lavon Chaisson
I have changed my mind about Jennings. He played his butt off despite playing with the 3rd team Defense late into the game. Jenning’s strengths don’t fit with the new Defensive philosophy being implemented by Vrabel. However, Jennings can still set the edge very well, and this defense is going to need a player like that. I’ll have more on that in my season preview.
Cut Monty Rice*, Marte Mapu, RJ Moten, Cam Riley*
Rice has done nothing in training camp to make the team. All of our linebackers have been very bad in coverage of Running Backs and TEs. I think Rice and Riley will be offered spots on the PS.
ILB (3) Robert Spillane, Jack Gibbens, Christian Elliss
Cut Jahlani Tavai*
Tavai is a tough cut because they are thin at the inside LB spot with only Gibbens as a backup. Tavai is another player that doesn’t fit the new system. He should have some trade value. I believe the team can sign a veteran player to the PS. He would be that candidate.
CB (6) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Alex Austin, Marcus Jones, Miles Battle, D.J. James
Cut Isaiah Bolden*, Tre Avery*, Kobee Minor*, Brandon Crossley*
I like Battles size, and DJ James has just played himself onto this team. Austin is a quality backup and can play in the slot. Carlton Davis is hurt every year, and you can expect him to miss at least a month. Marcus Jones has played well, but his small stature is a major problem in the Red Zone.
SS (2) Dell Pettus, Jabrill Peppers
Cut Kyle Dugger
The Dugger era is over. He can’t cover anyone and doesn’t have any instincts for the game. There is no way to trade Dugger because of his outrageous contract. They would have to pay a big chunk of his contract in order to get anything back. His Interception at the end of the game Saturday was typical of his career. He makes the Interception to seal the game, but doesn’t go down immediately. He is held up, and an alert Vikings receiver tries to punch the ball out of his hands. The officials ruled he was down??? It was a bonehead play that is typical of his career.
FS (3) Craig Woodson, Jaylinn Hawkins, Marcus Epps
Cut Jordan Polk*
Hawkins appears to be the leader for the Free Safety position. Woodson has terrific instincts and has by all reports has been in the right position all camp. Woodson can also play the slot corner. Do not be surprised to see the Patriots’ base defense be the nickel. Epps is making a comeback from ACL surgery last season, and has looked good. Polk will be offered a chance to stay with the team on the Practice Squad.
Special Teams (4)
P (1) Bryce Baringer
LS (1) Julian Ashby
ST (1) Brenden Schooler
K (1) Andres Borregales
Cut John Parker-Romo
It was a really good kicking competition, but Romo shanked a Kickoff that didn’t land in the specified area (new kickoff rules). That just may be the difference. I think Romo will get signed by another team looking for a kicker.
Total Players: 53
*Player offered to sign with Practice Squad
** International Pathways Program Player (17th spot on PS)
IR Brock Lampe, Lan Larison, Jaquelin Roy, Yasir Durant. Isaiah Iton (pending), Marcellus Dial
Created with PatsPicker at PatsFans.com
Isaiah Iton Goes On IR, WE Phil Lutz signed
Iton was hurt in the pre-season win versus Minnesota after making a couple of good plays, including a tackle for a loss. He was making a push for a roster spot. The Official transaction from the team says that Iton was waived-injured. If he clears waivers, he will revert to the Injured Reserve list. To replace him, the Patriots signed UDFA Phil Lutz. Fans of the Tufts University Jumbos will know Lutz, who played three years there, making two 1st team All-NESCAC, and one 2nd Team nod in his 3 seasons in Medford. He transferred to Delaware, where he caught 59 passes for 1,071 yards with 12 touchdowns over two seasons. He participated in New England’s pre-draft workout for local college players. After the Draft, he went undrafted and was invited for a tryout at the Pats rookie minicamp.
Signing a WR became necessary when Javon Baker and Efton Chism came up lame after the last pre-season game. The top 4 players (Diggs, Boutte, Douglas, and Hollins) will not play on Thursday night. The following players won’t play because they are injured (Chism, Baker, Bourne, Polk and Williams). Look for Lutz to get plenty of snaps Thursday night.
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About Mark Morse
Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
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Tags: New England Patriots Patriots Roster Prediction
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