This is my final New England Patriots roster projection! The rosters must be down to 53 by Tuesday at 4:00 EST.
Offense (22)
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. 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, Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism III, Kendrick Bourne
Cut Javon Baker* John Jiles*, Jeremiah Webb*
IR Ja’Lynn Polk
Bourne has an ankle issue and has been held out. If the Pats cannot trade him he will likely be put on recall IR, after making the initial 53-man roster. 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 in Minnesota last 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 had similar problem with QB Ben Woolridge. I don’t think Baker’s Special Teams work will keep him on the roster. Polk is having surgery and he will be put on IR. It was rumored that Pittsburgh was interested in a deal for Polk, but with the season ending surgery that trade is moot now. Coach Vrabel was really pissed that the news of Polk’s surgery leaked to the media.
C (2) Garrett Bradbury, Ben Brown
Cut Alec Lindstrom*
Strange played a god chunk of the Giants game exclusively at Center. He was horrible and proved that he couldn’t play the position. Bradbury had a bad game versus Vikings backups. Brown could start at Left Guard or at Center.
G (3) Mike Onwenu, Jared Wilson, Caedan Wallace
Cut Layden Robinson, Tyrese Robinson, Sidy Sow, Mekhi Butler*, Cole Strange
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. Strange, the former 1st round draft pick of Bill Belichick was widely criticized as a reach in the 2022 Draft. Strange only played Center in the Giants game and played very badly. He is now officially a bust. Caedan Wallace didn’t cover himself in glory in the final Pre-Season game and if the Patriots can find a better player on the waiver wire, Wallace could be gone. Mike Reiss has already reported that Tyrese Robinson has been cut.
T (3) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Marcus Bryant
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 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 make Run Blocking worse. Add Vederian Lowe to the list of cuts. He had a rough game versus Giants backups.
Defense (27)
EDGE (4) Keion White, Milton Williams, Truman Jones, Elijah Ponder,
Ponder was highly praised by LB Coach Mike Smith as one of best UDFAs he has seen. If waived, he would most likely be claimed. Jennings will be traded. Jones was an off-season award winner. However, Ponder and Jones did not play well against the Giants.
Trade Anfernee Jennings
DT (5) Christian Barmore, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Joshua Farmer, Khyiris Tonga, Kyle Peko,
Cut Jahvaree Ritzee, David Olajiga**, Philip Bildi
With Iton being waived injured (goes to IR if he clears waivers), I have Peko making the team now.
OLB (3) Harold Landry, Bradyn Swinson, K’Lavon Chaisson
I was not impressed by Bradyn Swinson. I have not seen any pass rush moves from him. He had one good year at LSU and the other 4 were duds.
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 (4) Robert Spillane, Jack Gibbens, Christian Elliss, Jahlani Tavai
Tavai is kept only to be put on IR. The Pats are thin at the inside LB spot with only Gibbens as a backup
CB (5) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Alex Austin, Marcus Jones, D.J. James
Cut Isaiah Bolden, Tre Avery*, Miles Battle*, Kobee Minor*, Brandon Crossley*
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. Minor and Battle were picked on during the Giants game. Did Bolden even play in the Giants game?
SS (3) Jabrill Peppers, Kyle Dugger, Dell Pettus
I have to give Kyle Dugger credit. He played hard against the Giants. As a veteran having to play in this games is a little demeaning. He didn’t sulk and had three big open field tackles and a pass breakup in the end zone. However, he also took a wrong angle on a screen pass and allowed a big TD. 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 retain a big chunk of his contract in order to get anything back. I don’t think they will keep him just because they have to pay him. Pettus is younger and still developing. Pettus also had a much higher rating (28th) amongst all Safeties(171) by PFF. Pettus lead the team in tackles (7).
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) John Parker-Romo
Cut Andres Borregales
Romo didn’t play against the Giants. I think he has beat out Borregales. The missed Field Goal against the Giants may have been the final decision. If Borregales is kept, it’s strictly because he was a draft picks because the team doesn’t want to look bad in drafting Borregales.
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, Marcellus Dial, Ja’Lynn Polk (pending), Isaiah Iton (not listed on Patriots Official Roster)
The confusion with Iton is that the Patriots have two transactions for Iton. The first is Waived Injured and the 2nd is just waived. Both are on the 18th. If waived injured, Iton would go directly to IR if he cleared waivers. However, if the team reached an injury settlement it will just be a release.
Pending Moves
Tavai makes initial 53 and is put on IR
Pettus makes the team but could be cut for a claim
Kendrick Bourne makes the team and is put on IR
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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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