mgteich

We have brought in a few UDFA's for rookie camp. We have seven late draft choices (mid fifth or later). Last year, four from these two groups made the 53 man roster: Smith (6), Andrews (7), Woods (UDFA), and Mays (UDFA). All contributed on special teams.

I'm not sure that any will make the team this year. These are my list of the most likely to make the team.

Oldenberg OT if one of the tackles is still injured
Lua ILB if we can't find better in the free agent market
Hairsten RB if we can't find better in the free agent market
Warren ILB if we can't find better in the free agent market
Gutirrez QB if we decide to carry a #3 developmental QB, and
if we can't find better in the free agent market

Other than Oldenberg, I'd rather have a veteran jag free agent, although I do hope that we have found something in Hairsten.

stinkypete

I like Lua's potential in as a rotation ILB if given a year or two to absorb the playbook. I think he will make the team as a special teamer in 2007.

Jimke

I think more rookies will make the team than you may expect. The

low salaries of rookie players are used to offset relatively high veteran

salaries. This is why the Pats are so adamant about players completing

their rookie contract. Don't get fooled by the fact you don't know the

names of any of these rookies. The Pats have had their eyes on them

throughout their college careers. I think Meriweather and Brown (For Hill)

are locks to make the team. Hairston, Guitierrez, Oldenburg, Rodgers, and

Lua/Warren have a shot at making the team. Some spots are open at

these positions. The odds are very long for Hilliard, Elgin, Richardson

and the other UDFAs.

PatsFanInVa

About that 4th rounder out of Marshall...

There is no way Randy Moss makes this team.

Ahhhh I slay me.

PFnV

patsgo

merriweather, brown, make the club, the rest battle it out for the practice squad

Jimke

If Bill Belichick had felt that no players were available on the

second day of the draft that could make his team, he would have

traded away all the picks except the compensatory picks.

rookBoston

No, I disagree. BB always takes a few hard working youngsters onto the roster as an investment into the future.

Meriweather and Brown, certainly, but Lua, Rogers, Hairston, Richardson, and the UDFAs all have a very real shot at the 53-man playing ST. Pierre Woods, Mike Wright, Randall Gay... there's always someone who breaks through based on merit.

None are likely to contribute in the regular O or D, but we have positions to fill that were played by guys like Don Davis and Patrick Pass in previous years. In fact, a rookie like Richardson might beat out a player like Tory James, if his ST play is superior.

__________________
"We want to build a big, strong, tough, smart, fast, disciplined football team that will consistently compete for a championship."
-- Scott Pioli, from the Patriots scouting manual

patsgo

and what vets are you going to cut for these nonames?

patsgo

i understand what your saying but this roster is stacked tell me who the olineman will replace/ they have kaczur, hockstien, yates, britt as the backups, who gets replaced? wheres the room for richardson? no way hairston makes the 53, maybe rogers or lau squeeze on due to injury, most are practice sqaud material, or they will get a mysterious injury and be put on ir

psychoPat

Aye, there's the rub!

It's not that BB wants rooks or doesn't want rooks.
It is, who are my 53 best players?

This year's roster of veterans seems stronger than we have ever seen.
Any rookie who makes the team will have to send one of them packing.