Patriots 53 Man Roster Projection 1.0 OTA, Mini-camp Edition

Patriots 53 Man Roster Projection 1.0 OTA, Mini-camp Edition

Steve Balestrieri

The Patriots are already into roster competition with OTAs on-going and the mandatory mini-camp upcoming. Lots of area for players to move up and down.

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Agree with just about everything. On the defense first, since Easley can play DE and DT. He has 3 dt's and 5 de's, plus Easley. Dom isn't the biggest guy in the world. I'd have Chris Jones on the squad. Or, Antonio Johnson. I also like Tavon Wilson over Ebner.

Need to save a roster spot from the offense. If we're gonna carry 5 wr's and Develin. I don't think we'll carry four te's. HooMan might be a candidate for the shadow roster.

For week 1, I'd like to have 9 OL coming out of camp. Drop a rb from the projected 53, knowing Blount is back after Week 1. Go into week 1 with Gaffney, Bolden and a 3rd down back. Cadet for now. Hope to upgrade. Gray doesn't make the cut.

When Blount comes back after Week 1, then you take a guy off. I'm sure someone gets hurt in opener anyway. Prob a moot point.

Well other than CB the roster looks very loaded. If the CB position shows up this is a killer roster, hopefully the injury takes a vacation and leaves Foxboro this year.

Offense (24)

Quarterback (2) –Tom Brady, Jimmy Garappolo, Garrett Gilbert

If Brady’s suspension isn’t suspension isn’t reduced, (ignore the line above), then the team could opt to sign a veteran backup for Garappolo to give him the shoulder to lean on as he faces some obstacles for the first time.

I disagree with that. Only 4 games. QB are expensive even for backup. They will not learn our off in 1 month ..

Running Backs (5) – *LaGarrette Blount*, Brandon Bolden, James Develin, Jonas Gray, Travaris Cadet, Tyler Gaffney

Dont know if Gray sticks after week 1


Tight End (4) – Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Tim Wright, Fred Davis

A.J. Derby lands on the practice squad. Hooman has a bigger cap. Thats the reason his gone IMO.

Wide Receiver (5) – Aaron Dobson, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson

Gibson or Tyms...

Offensive Line (8) – Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Cameron Fleming, Marcus Cannon, Ryan Wendell, Bryan Stork, Tre Jackson, Shaq Mason

Locked. IMO.

Defense (25)

Defensive Line (9) – Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Dominique Easley, Sealver Siliga, Malcom Brown, Jabaal Sheard, Alan Branch, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom

I like Chris Jones. But this DL is too good. Locked, IMO.

Linebacker (6) – Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher, Matthew Wells

Agree.

Cornerback (5) – Logan Ryan, Malcolm Butler, Bradley Fletcher, Darryl Roberts, Robert McClain

Agree.

Safety (5) – Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Patrick Chung, Jordan Richards, Nate Ebner

Agree. Ebner is cheaper and hes a good Ster. Wilson improved but not as much as we wanted.

Specialists (4) – Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen, Joe Cardona, Matthew Slater

Locked, IMO.

Total Roster (53)

He has ALMOST every draft pick making the team, that may not happen. And UDFA may beat out a draft pick, seems to happen every year.

Agreeing on a solid 49-50 squad this early is pretty goo

OFFFENSE - Kline (or a fa) and Gibson over Wright and Tyms
Steve give Brady 10 receiving targets (not counting Hooman). I'd rather have 9 OL and 9 receivers.
I think that Gibson will beat our Wright and Tyms.

I am at all sure whether Gray or Gaffney or White is the 4th running back. For now I'd guess Gaffney.

DEFENSE - Chris Jones over Wells
Chris Jones is valuable protection in case of injuries. Wells is a fine Practice Squad project.

FREE AGENTS
I see possibilities at OL (LG), RB and CB.
These would upgrade Gray and Roberts (and replace Wright) from Steve's roster.

I'm hoping for a resurgence of Gray, having choked down a heaping helping of humble pie. Will never get a better opportunity than week one.

patsbrasilpatriotas said:

Offense (24)

Quarterback (2) –Tom Brady, Jimmy Garappolo, Garrett Gilbert

If Brady’s suspension isn’t suspension isn’t reduced, (ignore the line above), then the team could opt to sign a veteran backup for Garappolo to give him the shoulder to lean on as he faces some obstacles for the first time.

I disagree with that. Only 4 games. QB are expensive even for backup. They will not learn our off in 1 month ..

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The problem with signing a veteran for 2 or 4 weeks (if it's reduced) is that if he's a vested veteran and is on the roster week one, isn't his contract guaranteed for the year, essentially eating cap space? Do you wait for
after week one and sign one (if it's a 4 game suspension) or do you not sign one and gamble if it's reduced to 2 or 1 game??

I agree that this roster looks very solid with the only exception being corner.

I am interested in seeing the battle at safety between Tavon and Ebner to see who makes it. I would think Wilson has the advantage but it should be interesting.
Also, at tight end, I have a feeling that Hooman makes the team, leaving Wight and Davis to battle it out.
I also think that Connolly will be back leaving us with a starting line of Sea Bass, Tre, Stork, Connolly and Solder. Hoping Shaq looks good and can really push Connolly.

ashley1992 said:

I am interested in seeing the battle at safety between Tavon and Ebner to see who makes it. I would think Wilson has the advantage but it should be interesting.
Also, at tight end, I have a feeling that Hooman makes the team, leaving Wight and Davis to battle it out.

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Tavon played CB in college and might end up back there again. I like Ebner but I think Tavon clearly makes the team if it comes down to only one of those two.

Don't see any way Hooman makes the team, or any way Wright doesn't. I think Davis is a likely cut also.

LJRomanoff said:

Tavon played CB in college and might end up back there again. I like Ebner but I think Tavon clearly makes the team if it comes down to only one of those two.

Don't see any way Hooman makes the team, or any way Wright doesn't. I think Davis is a likely cut also.

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I disagree with both of your conclusions.

The fifth safety has one function: special teams. If Tavon Wilson is a better special teamer than Ebner, he'll make the 53. I don't think that he is. BTW, I would certainly like to see Wilson win a roster spot over Ebner.

Hooman is our backup for Gronkowski. He is a blocking TE is 2-TE formations with Gronk. Wright would be our #9 receiving threat (after 5 WR's, Gronk, Chandler and Cadet). If Wright is to make the 53, he will need to beat out both Tyms and Gibson for the 5th WR, ( and also Davis and Derby). Wright showed next to nothing for the last half of the season. I would rather have Chandler in on red zones play than Wright.

mgteich said:

Hooman is our backup for Gronkowski. He is a blocking TE is 2-TE formations with Gronk. Wright would be our #9 receiving threat (after 5 WR's, Gronk, Chandler and Cadet). If Wright is to make the 53, he will need to beat out both Tyms and Gibson for the 5th WR, ( and also Davis and Derby). Wright showed next to nothing for the last half of the season. I would rather have Chandler in on red zones play than Wright.

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Huh? Why would he be below all the WRs?

mgteich said:

I disagree with both of your conclusions.

The fifth safety has one function: special teams. If Tavon Wilson is a better special teamer than Ebner, he'll make the 53. I don't think that he is. BTW, I would certainly like to see Wilson win a roster spot over Ebner.

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Statistically, Wilson was better than Ebner last year (twice as many tackles, nearly three times as many solo tackles, etc.) And he can play cornerback (I have no idea if he will be tried at CB, but he has experience there.)

ctpatsfan77 said:

Huh? Why would he be below all the WRs?

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I believe that 8 receiving targets will make the 53, plus ST Slater and a blocking TE. I have the top 7 receiver targets as listed below. I would note that the top 5 targets get almost all the reps. Last year that was 1 TE, 3 WR and 1 RB.

RECEIVER TARGETS (7)
Gronkowski
Edelman
LaFell
Amendola
Chandler
Dobson
Cadet (or whoever is the 3rd down back)

CANDIDATES FOR THE LAST RECEIVER ROSTER SPOT
Wright, Gibson, Tyms, Boyce, Davis, Derby, Krause, Davis

Wright might be considered to have an advantage over the others since he was one of our top 6 receivers last year. The issue is that he disappeared for the last half of the year and for the playoffs.