Looking @ the current roster by position...

Brady6 · May 6, 2016

I know it is very early but I have never struggled so much at projecting a 53 man roster before. This roster is literally stacked at almost every position. The players in bold have all played at least a backup role on an NFL roster before but most have started or played a primary role.

QB-Brady-Garoppolo-Brissett (3)
RB-Blount-Bolden-Brown-Gaffney (4)
3DRB-Lewis-White-Foster (3)
FB-Develin-Iosefa (2)
WR-Edelman-Hogan-Amendola-Martin-Washington-Dobson-Mittchell-Lucien-Harper-Carter (10)
TE-Gronkowski-Bennett-Harbor-Williams-Derby-Wilson-Scheu-Williams (8)
OT-Solder-Vollmer-Cannon-Waddle-Fleming-Milton (6)
OG/C-Stork-Cooper-Mason-Jackson-Thuney-Kline-Andrews-Karras-Barker (9)

DL-Brown-Branch-Knighton-Valentine-Kuhn-Kearse-Johnson-Hamilton (8)
EDGE-Sheard-Ninkovich-Long-Grissom-Johnson-Flowers (6)
LB-Collins-Hightower-McCliellin-Freeney-Grugler-Hill-Bostic-Humber-E Roberts-Snyder-Steward (10)
CB-Butler-Ryan-D Roberts-C Jones-Coleman-Biggers-J Jones-LeBlanc-Bentley-Burns (10)
SAF-McCourty-Chung-Harmon-Richards-Ebner-King-Vereen-Thompson (8)

K-Gostkowski (1)
P-Allen (1)
LS-Cardona-Yount (2)

Belichick did a really good job constructing this roster, there is a lot of talent, and a lot of young players who could turn into top tier players.

Kudos to anyone who can settle on 53 players.

New England Pride · May 6, 2016

Picking 6 wideouts with Slater being one of them is going to be extremely difficult. A camp battle to watch for sure.

jah · May 6, 2016

So much uncertainty at just about every position. RB, WR, OL, DE, CB especially. Which is about half the positions.

Brady_Moss · May 6, 2016

A possible Arian Foster signing?

50-yard-line · May 6, 2016

Brady6 said:
I know it is very early but I have never struggled so much at projecting a 53 man roster before. This roster is literally stacked at almost every position. The players in bold have all played at least a backup role on an NFL roster before but most have started or played a primary role.

QB-Brady-Garoppolo-Brissett (3)
RB-Blount-Bolden-Brown-Gaffney (4)
3DRB-Lewis-White-Foster (3)
FB-Develin-Iosefa (2)
WR-Edelman-Hogan-Amendola-Martin-Washington-Dobson-Mittchell-Lucien-Harper-Carter (10)
TE-Gronkowski-Bennett-Harbor-Williams-Derby-Wilson-Scheu-Williams (8)
OT-Solder-Vollmer-Cannon-Waddle-Fleming-Milton (6)
OG/C-Stork-Cooper-Mason-Jackson-Thuney-Kline-Andrews-Karras-Barker (9)

DL-Brown-Branch-Knighton-Valentine-Kuhn-Kearse-Johnson-Hamilton (8)
EDGE-Sheard-Ninkovich-Long-Grissom-Johnson-Flowers (6)
LB-Collins-Hightower-McCliellin-Freeney-Grugler-Hill-Bostic-Humber-E Roberts-Snyder-Steward (10)
CB-Butler-Ryan-D Roberts-C Jones-Coleman-Biggers-J Jones-LeBlanc-Bentley-Burns (10)
SAF-McCourty-Chung-Harmon-Richards-Ebner-King-Vereen-Thompson (8)

K-Gostkowski (1)
P-Allen (1)
LS-Cardona-Yount (2)

Belichick did a really good job constructing this roster, there is a lot of talent, and a lot of young players who could turn into top tier players.

Kudos to anyone who can settle on 53 players.

I know, right? I go through that list with a scalpel and say d%#*!@t! at almost every position! Sooooo deep.

patriot1136 · May 6, 2016

Regardless of who is on the 53, we have some good young talent to make a stacked practice squad too.

BlueThunder · May 6, 2016

I already voiced my opinion on the strength of this year's potential starting team...not even including the drafted players....

IMHO they would have been a playoff team with the veteran players already signed in the off season. Any drafted or UDFA that contributes substantially during this year will just be a bonus.....

Jones probably is one rookie that helps the D the most....and Mitchell is one I would hope shines on the Offense....

Time to sit back and enjoy how all BB's moves shake out this season.....

The Gr8est · May 6, 2016

New England Pride said:
Picking 6 wideouts with Slater being one of them is going to be extremely difficult. A camp battle to watch for sure.

Agreed. I was thinking that unless he just makes himself uncuttable by his play in TC, Lucien is not going to be picked up by another team after final cuts.

He lasted until the 7th after all, but I like him and look forward to having him on the practice squad, where he will likely be eventually on the active roster once normal attrition sets in.

The Gr8est · May 6, 2016

Brady_Moss said:
A possible Arian Foster signing?

If healthy, but that is a huge if.

Fencer · May 6, 2016

It's really hard to find positions for them to skimp at.

K/P/LS -- 3. That's pretty set in stone, Cardona's military obligation notwithstanding.

QB -- 3. That's pretty set in stone, although one of the QBs may be suspended opening day.

WR -- 5+1, where the 1 is Slater. It's hard to see them keeping fewer, given that 4+1 seem set in stone and there's huge competition beyond them.

RB -- 4 or more. Lewis, White, Blount and Bolden seem solidly in place. Brown & Gaffney are in the mix as well.

FB -- 1. They seem to really want to have one.

TE -- 3 or more. Notwithstanding the WR investment, they seem to want to play a lot of 2-TE sets.

G/C -- 5 or more. Stork, Andrews, Mason, Jackson, Thuney, Cooper and Kline all have strong arguments for staying.

OT -- 3 or more. Obviously.

That's 25 on offense, and I'm already skimping.

CB -- 4 or more. Given the number of returnees and UDFA CBs, 4 would be light. But maybe they'll just put a bunch on the PS.

S -- 4 + 2, where the 2 are Ebner and King. The 4 are of course McCourty, Harmon, Chung and Richards.

Edge rusher -- 5 or more. 6 guys all seem like they deserve slots. And there isn't much left in the way of pass rushing DT, so edge rushers seem likely to be tried inside at times.

DT -- 4 or more. Brown, Branch, Knighton and Valentine are near-locks.

LB -- 5 or more. Some may be ST-mainly.

That's 24 on defense, for 52 overall, with a LOT of skimping.

The Gr8est · May 6, 2016

Fencer said:
It's really hard to find positions for them to skimp at.

K/P/LS -- 3. That's pretty set in stone, Cardona's military obligation notwithstanding.

QB -- 3. That's pretty set in stone, although one of the QBs may be suspended opening day.

WR -- 5+1, where the 1 is Slater. It's hard to see them keeping fewer, given that 4+1 seem set in stone and there's huge competition beyond them.

RB -- 4 or more. Lewis, White, Blount and Bolden seem solidly in place. Brown & Gaffney are in the mix as well.

FB -- 1. They seem to really want to have one.

TE -- 3 or more. Notwithstanding the WR investment, they seem to want to play a lot of 2-TE sets.

G/C -- 5 or more. Stork, Andrews, Mason, Jackson, Thuney, Cooper and Kline all have strong arguments for staying.

OT -- 3 or more. Obviously.

That's 25 on offense, and I'm already skimping.

CB -- 4 or more. Given the number of returnees and UDFA CBs, 4 would be light. But maybe they'll just put a bunch on the PS.

S -- 4 + 2, where the 2 are Ebner and King. The 4 are of course McCourty, Harmon, Chung and Richards.

Edge rusher -- 5 or more. 6 guys all seem like they deserve slots. And there isn't much left in the way of pass rushing DT, so edge rushers seem likely to be tried inside at times.

DT -- 4 or more. Brown, Branch, Knighton and Valentine are near-locks.

LB -- 5 or more. Some may be ST-mainly.

That's 24 on defense, for 52 overall, with a LOT of skimping.

Slater has been a gr8 ST ace for quite a while, and people looking to cut him always seem to undervalue ST contributions, but I am starting to wonder how much longer Slater will have a guaranteed roster spot.

We've had recent additions like Brandon King, we have Ebner, and we added a couple of more draftees who look to be possible core STers.

I guess the answer is that Slater is still safe for now, but I can now imagine a time in the next 2-3 years where the Pats will move on from Slater, once his skills start to erode.

mgteich · May 6, 2016

The Gr8est said:
Slater has been a gr8 ST ace for quite a while, and people looking to cut him always seem to undervalue ST contributions, but I am starting to wonder how much longer Slater will have a guaranteed roster spot.

We've had recent additions like Brandon King, we have Ebner, and we added a couple of more draftees who look to be possible core STers.

I guess the answer is that Slater is still safe for now, but I can now imagine a time in the next 2-3 years where the Pats will move on from Slater, once his skills start to erode.

We have seven ST positions, sometimes more. Now, we have the specialists plus Bolden, Slater, Ebner and King. In the future, someone will beat these players out for these roster spots.

mgteich · May 6, 2016

Brady6 said:
I know it is very early but I have never struggled so much at projecting a 53 man roster before. This roster is literally stacked at almost every position. The players in bold have all played at least a backup role on an NFL roster before but most have started or played a primary role.

QB-Brady-Garoppolo-Brissett (3)
RB-Blount-Bolden-Brown-Gaffney (4)
3DRB-Lewis-White-Foster (3)
FB-Develin-Iosefa (2)
WR-Edelman-Hogan-Amendola-Martin-Washington-Dobson-Mittchell-Lucien-Harper-Carter (10)
TE-Gronkowski-Bennett-Harbor-Williams-Derby-Wilson-Scheu-Williams (8)
OT-Solder-Vollmer-Cannon-Waddle-Fleming-Milton (6)
OG/C-Stork-Cooper-Mason-Jackson-Thuney-Kline-Andrews-Karras-Barker (9)

DL-Brown-Branch-Knighton-Valentine-Kuhn-Kearse-Johnson-Hamilton (8)
EDGE-Sheard-Ninkovich-Long-Grissom-Johnson-Flowers (6)
LB-Collins-Hightower-McCliellin-Freeney-Grugler-Hill-Bostic-Humber-E Roberts-Snyder-Steward (10)
CB-Butler-Ryan-D Roberts-C Jones-Coleman-Biggers-J Jones-LeBlanc-Bentley-Burns (10)
SAF-McCourty-Chung-Harmon-Richards-Ebner-King-Vereen-Thompson (8)

K-Gostkowski (1)
P-Allen (1)
LS-Cardona-Yount (2)

Belichick did a really good job constructing this roster, there is a lot of talent, and a lot of young players who could turn into top tier players.

Kudos to anyone who can settle on 53 players.

You might start with a 60 man roster. There is no way at this point to predict the final 53, or even the positions of the final 53. We will try, of course.

mgteich · May 6, 2016

Fencer said:
It's really hard to find positions for them to skimp at.

K/P/LS -- 3. That's pretty set in stone, Cardona's military obligation notwithstanding.

QB -- 3. That's pretty set in stone, although one of the QBs may be suspended opening day.

WR -- 5+1, where the 1 is Slater. It's hard to see them keeping fewer, given that 4+1 seem set in stone and there's huge competition beyond them.

RB -- 4 or more. Lewis, White, Blount and Bolden seem solidly in place. Brown & Gaffney are in the mix as well.

FB -- 1. They seem to really want to have one.

TE -- 3 or more. Notwithstanding the WR investment, they seem to want to play a lot of 2-TE sets.

G/C -- 5 or more. Stork, Andrews, Mason, Jackson, Thuney, Cooper and Kline all have strong arguments for staying.

OT -- 3 or more. Obviously.

That's 25 on offense, and I'm already skimping.

Yup, you had to sacrifice the 4th OT.

mgteich · May 6, 2016

Fencer said:
CB -- 4 or more. Given the number of returnees and UDFA CBs, 4 would be light. But maybe they'll just put a bunch on the PS.

S -- 4 + 2, where the 2 are Ebner and King. The 4 are of course McCourty, Harmon, Chung and Richards.

Edge rusher -- 5 or more. 6 guys all seem like they deserve slots. And there isn't much left in the way of pass rushing DT, so edge rushers seem likely to be tried inside at times.

DT -- 4 or more. Brown, Branch, Knighton and Valentine are near-locks.

LB -- 5 or more. Some may be ST-mainly.

That's 24 on defense.

Agreed.

I would have

4 DT
10 EDGE and LB (at least one of the LB's is primarily a ST player as always)
9 DB
2 ST (Ebner and King)

I have (EDGE and LB)
5 DE locks: Ninkovich, Sheard, Long, Flowers, and Grissom
3 LB locks: Collins, Hightower, McClellan
1 LB/ST to be named

I don't think that I'm skimping with these 24 positions. For my 25th (if there is one) I would have an additional DT or an additional LB/ST. As you imply by listing on 52, the offense may need this last position more than the defense. I suspect that we both would like to have 9 OL's if we can.

Brady6 · May 6, 2016

The Gr8est said:
Agreed. I was thinking that unless he just makes himself uncuttable by his play in TC, Lucien is not going to be picked up by another team after final cuts.

He lasted until the 7th after all, but I like him and look forward to having him on the practice squad, where he will likely be eventually on the active roster once normal attrition sets in.

I think with the extra PS spots and better rules a lot teams are drafting to fill their 10 man squad in the 6th and 7th rounds of the draft.

jimnance · May 6, 2016

This team is more equipped to handle starters injuries than any Pats team i can recall. A lot of battles at a lot of positions. This is one summer i wished i was still living in Mass.- would love to be at TC to watch the competition. I am curious to see Dobson-this is the 1st time his job is really on the line-hes never faced this much serious competition. Mitchell and/or washington could both kick him to the curb. Like one poster here always says,dobson is "soft as charmin". That wont cut it in preseason this year. He bettter show some toughness especially fighting for balls. Im not completely writing him off-because his upside is bigger than any of the newcomers, except hogan-but im skeptical he can do it. He just might not be tough enough to play in the nfl, despite his athletic talents.

Brady6 · May 6, 2016

50-yard-line said:
I know, right? I go through that list with a scalpel and say d%#*!@t! at almost every position! Sooooo deep.

Especially OG/C. I really struggle there now that Thuney is in the mix.

I think we are going to see a lot of this line indicated below:

TE -Solder
LT - Thuney
LG - Mason
OC - Stork
RG - Cooper
RT - Vollmer

The Gr8est · May 6, 2016

50-yard-line said:
I know, right? I go through that list with a scalpel and say d%#*!@t! at almost every position! Sooooo deep.

And yet every year, once we have attrition, we have guys on the active roster who are not even on our radars now.

jimnance · May 6, 2016

Brady6 said:
Especially OG/C. I really struggle there now that Thuney is in the mix.

I think we are going to see a lot of this line indicated below:

TE -Solder
LT - Thuney
LG - Mason
OC - Stork
RG - Cooper
RT - Vollmer

Find it hard to believe BB is going to allow a rookie,whose strengths are at g/c, to protect Bradys blind side. Dont think we'll be seeing much of thuney at lt. Solder is an above-average lt. Dont think youll see much of him at te-you got the greatest blocking te in history with gronk plus bennet whose one of the best blocking tes in the league. and oh yeah, they can both catch the ball now and then. Otherwise, i agree with rest. i think cooper has a shot at taking jacksons job.

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