New England Patriots Roster Projection 4.0

[Family]

This is what I've got.

QB (2) J.Garoppolo, J.Brissett
RB (5) L.Blount, B.Bolden, J.White, D.Foster, J.Develin
WR (6) J.Edelman, C.Hogan, M.Slater, M.Mitchell, A.Dobson, K.Martin
TE (3) R.Gronkowski, M.Bennett, A.Derby
C (1) D.Andrews
G (5) J.Thuney, S.Mason, J.Kline, J.Cooper, T.Karras
T (3) N.Solder, M.Cannon, L.Waddle
DE (4) R.Ninkovich, J.Sheard, C.Long, T.Flowers
DT (4) M.Brown, A.Branch, V.Valentine, A.Johnson
ILB(1) D.Hightower
OLB(5) J.Collins, S.McClellin, J.Freeny, K.Grugier-Hill, B.Mingo
CB (5) M.Butler, L.Ryan, C.Jones, J.Coleman, J.Jones
SS (4) P.Chung, J.Richards, N.Ebner, B.King
FS (2) D.McCourty, D.Harmon
ST (3) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona

Reserve: T.Brady, D.Lewis, D.Amendola, S.Vollmer, T.Jackson

Total players: 53

This is what I got too except I'm concerned about Nate Solder which might force Fleming over one of the guards. Also Grissom is a tough cut.

 

[FoxWhiskey]

Develin and Gaffney are not ahead of Boldin
Gaffney to PS
Dobson makes it if Amendola is on PUP
Develin is competing with Harbor for the last TE spot

I disagree!
Develin is not on the bubble. He´s one of the most underrated player.
Without Develin, our running game is ****ed up, especially in redzone situations.

 

[jah]

True. I think we tend to overrate fringe skill position players and underrate front seven players because they're less flashy. It's likely every team has a UDFA running back they see some promise in, so Foster's probably not going to be a hot commodity, while Grissom was a third-round pick and plays on special teams.

While this is true in general, I don't see Grissom as a waiver claim risk. 3rd round picks the previous year clear waivers plenty.

 

[BobDigital]

QB (2) J.Garoppolo, J.Brissett
RB (5) L.Blount, B.Bolden, J.Develin, D.Foster, J.White
WR (6) J.Edelman, C.Hogan, M.Mitchell, K.Martin, D.Amendola, M.Slater
TE (3) R.Gronkowski, M.Bennett, A.Derby
C (2) D.Andrews, J.Kline
G (4) J.Thuney, J.Cooper, S.Mason, T.Karras
T (3) N.Solder, M. Cannon, L.Waddle
DE (4) R.Ninkovich, J.Sheard, C.Long, T.Flowers
DT (4) M.Brown, V.Valentine, A.Branch, A.Johnson
ILB(2) D.Hightower, J.Freeny
OLB(4) J.Collins, S.McClellin, B.Mingo, K.Grugier-Hill
CB (5) M.Butler, L.Ryan, C.Jones, J.Coleman, C.LeBlanc
SS (3) P.Chung, J.Richards, N.Ebner
FS (3) D.McCourty, D.Harmon, B.King
ST (3) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona

Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: http://patsfans.com/patspicker

Thoughts.

At RB Foster has forced his way on and Gaffney has shown just enough to slip through to the PS. He is okay but nothing specail. Until Lewis gets back you need to keep both White and Foster. Bolden makes it due to Gaffney not being good enough to push him off. Develin is needed for short yardage as this area on the Pats is weak without him.

At WR we don't feel the need to do anything as Martin, Amendola and Mitchell will all be back soon probably in week 1 or 2 They can simply wait it out and they really only need to put 2 WRs on the field at a time. Dobson still doesn't make it.

At TE Harbor is a good player but a cut. Derby in my mind is just overall better and I can not find one thing on this team you need Harbor to bring no one else can do. He will catch on else where.

At OL the question is Cooper or no Cooper. I think he is in for now I just get the feeling the Pats really like him and considering him a starter when healthy. Also Karras makes it and we go 3 OTs but Flemming can make the PS and Thuney can be an emergency back up within a single game.

At DE Grissom is cut but could perhaps makes the PS. I just see no need to keep him. His ceiling from my point of view doesn't seem particularly high at this point and we have no need to wait for him to hit it. Also we have LBs that can double as DEs which give us depth.

At DT I see no choice but to go light with 4 (really 3 big ones). Kuhn simply has not done enough to impress though he has been okay. Finding a DT for the PS that can step in in case of injury is a priority IMO.

At LB there are no surprises. We have 6 IMO that are locks and Roberts though good is so redundant at this point. Try to get him on the PS but you need to say good bye the someone.

At CB... IDK. I just picked LeBlanc and hope for the best on the other 2. There is no way anyone can know for sure who will be kept as it is so close. I do think we keep Coleman for now though cause it occurred to me our 3rd CB spot is not ready without him. Going through growing pains there early in the year could cost us a game and drag the other 10 spots of the D that are solid down.

At S I went back and forth but in the end keep King and Ebner. I never felt Richards was in any danger TBH.

PS: Flemming, Gaffney, J Jones, D Robert, Grissom, E. Roberts, Baker.. you try to add a big DT then best pick ups you can.

 

[realtime]

I've seen a lot of projections that have either Grissom or Grugier-Hill being cut. Personally, I can't see Shea McClellin beating out either of them. Other than having once been a first-round pick, what has he done to earn a roster spot?

 

[jah]

I've seen a lot of projections that have either Grissom or Grugier-Hill being cut. Personally, I can't see Shea McClellin beating out either of them. Other than having once been a first-round pick, what has he done to earn a roster spot?

$3,500,000 guaranteed. Also, when healthy, he looked like a solid if not good DE.

 

[conway]

What's the maximum number of spots available for non-specialist special teams only guys? Slater's a lock. Then Ebner, King, and Bolden appear to be near-locks. (Bolden adds some value as a RB). Then Grisssom? That's 5 spots for non-specialist special teamers. That seems excessive to me. I'd rather keep an extra developmental defensive back (Jones, Roberts, LeBlanc) offensive lineman (Karras) or defensive lineman (Johnson) than Grissom and maybe either King or Ebner.

 

[BobDigital]

I've seen a lot of projections that have either Grissom or Grugier-Hill being cut. Personally, I can't see Shea McClellin beating out either of them. Other than having once been a first-round pick, what has he done to earn a roster spot?

I did consider this and here is my reasoning..

McCellin is a true OLB. Unlike Mingo who is a pass rush guy mostly and Freeney who is a run stuff guy and KGH who is a pass defense and outside rusher McCellin is the only all rounder and is something happens to Collins/Hightower I think he steps up to fill the starting snaps and you keep the other guys are rotation. Also I don't see why Grissom should earn a spot over him. He did okay last game but has under whelmed and can pass through to the PS IMO. I kept KGH.

 

[JackBauer]

T (4) N.Solder, C.Fleming, L.Waddle, M.Cannon

Good lord. Somebody buy Solder some plot armor.

 

[jah]

QB (2): Garoppolo, Brissett
RB (5): Blount, White, Bolden, Foster, Develin
WR (6): Edelman, Hogan, Martin, Dobson, Mitchell, Slater
TE (3): Gronkowski, Bennett, Derby
OL (9): Solder, Thuney, Andrews, Kline, Cannon, Mason, Waddle, Cooper, Karras
DL (4): Brown, Branch, Valentine, Johnson
DL/LB (5): Sheard, Ninkovich, Long, McClellin, Flowers
LB (4): Hightower, Collins, Freeny, Mingo
CB (6): Butler, Ryan, Coleman, C. Jones, Roberts, J. Jones
S (6): McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards, Ebner, King
ST (3): Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona
PS (10): RB Gaffney, TE B. Williams, WR Carter, WR Harper, CB LeBlanc, LB Grugier-Hill, LB Roberts, DL/LB Johnson, T Fleming, DL/LB Grissom

Not very different from my last 53. Only changes I can think of are Foster over Gaffney and a 6th CB over KGH.

• Picking Foster over Gaffney isn't the no-brainer many here seem to think it is. While Foster is clearly the better talent, we need actual runners on this team. As in, guys who carry the ball. I still give the edge to Foster because even if Gaffney fills a need better, he's still a dime a dozen talent who will get exactly what the OL gives him.
• Welcome to the team by default again, Dobson.
• I hated the OL at the beginning of camp, came around a bit, and now I'm back to hating it.
• I'm so glad that someone (Johnson and Valentine) stepped up to make 30+ year old guys like Knighton and Kuhn expendable. Excited about this defensive line.
• Even starting to get excited about the LBs, which I've mostly just been scared about all summer because of no depth. I need to start to trust in Freeny, though; and of course, Mingo killed it last night.
• You may notice KGH is now on the practice squad. It was really tough, but the acquisition and emergence of Mingo means there's one less spot as a LB. Therefore, in my head, it was framed as KGH vs King, and I gave it to King.
• Roberts and J. Jones are going to be hard to cut. I think they go 6 CB. Coleman has been up and down all preseason but he's clearly got a role on the team.

 

[realtime]

I did consider this and here is my reasoning..

McCellin is a true OLB. Unlike Mingo who is a pass rush guy mostly and Freeney who is a run stuff guy and KGH who is a pass defense and outside rusher McCellin is the only all rounder and is something happens to Collins/Hightower I think he steps up to fill the starting snaps and you keep the other guys are rotation. Also I don't see why Grissom should earn a spot over him. He did okay last game but has under whelmed and can pass through to the PS IMO. I kept KGH.

Good analysis. If Grissom does effectively take Shea's roster spot, I think the main reason will be that Geneo is a multiple-unit ST player and Shea is not. As Elijah pointed out, however, the $3.5 million gty may ultimately help keep Shea safe.

 

[The Gr8est]

QB (2): Garoppolo, Brissett
RB (5): Blount, White, Bolden, Foster, Develin
WR (6): Edelman, Hogan, Martin, Dobson, Mitchell, Slater
TE (3): Gronkowski, Bennett, Derby
OL (9): Solder, Thuney, Andrews, Kline, Cannon, Mason, Waddle, Cooper, Karras
DL (4): Brown, Branch, Valentine, Johnson
DL/LB (5): Sheard, Ninkovich, Long, McClellin, Flowers
LB (4): Hightower, Collins, Freeny, Mingo
CB (6): Butler, Ryan, Coleman, C. Jones, Roberts, J. Jones
S (6): McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards, Ebner, King
ST (3): Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona
PS (10): RB Gaffney, TE B. Williams, WR Carter, WR Harper, CB LeBlanc, LB Grugier-Hill, LB Roberts, DL/LB Johnson, T Fleming, DL/LB Grissom

Not very different from my last 53. Only changes I can think of are Foster over Gaffney and a 6th CB over KGH.

• Picking Foster over Gaffney isn't the no-brainer many here seem to think it is. While Foster is clearly the better talent, we need actual runners on this team. As in, guys who carry the ball. I still give the edge to Foster because even if Gaffney fills a need better, he's still a dime a dozen talent who will get exactly what the OL gives him.
• Welcome to the team by default again, Dobson.
• I hated the OL at the beginning of camp, came around a bit, and now I'm back to hating it.
• I'm so glad that someone (Johnson and Valentine) stepped up to make 30+ year old guys like Knighton and Kuhn expendable. Excited about this defensive line.
• Even starting to get excited about the LBs, which I've mostly just been scared about all summer because of no depth. I need to start to trust in Freeny, though; and of course, Mingo killed it last night.
• You may notice KGH is now on the practice squad. It was really tough, but the acquisition and emergence of Mingo means there's one less spot as a LB. Therefore, in my head, it was framed as KGH vs King, and I gave it to King.
• Roberts and J. Jones are going to be hard to cut. I think they go 6 CB. Coleman has been up and down all preseason but he's clearly got a role on the team.

Very good effort. I like it a lot. The names I am struggling with are KGH and LeBlanc. I don't like losing either but we have a severe numbers crunch.

Thinking a bit outside the box, maybe we can call KGH a safety and have him take Richards' spot. KGH will get claimed, while Richards may make it to the PS.

We are going to lose a young CB like it or not. Hopefully we can trade one for something.

I want to keep Gaffney around as insurance for Blount, but believe he makes it to the PS.

Such a shame to have to spend a roster spot on Dobson. He didn't earn it, but the health concerns of the others kind of dictates we keep another WR body. I'd like to see Carter on the PS, and I think he probably can get there.

Harbor, and/or possibly Williams may get claimed, particularly by the Rats who are devoid of talent at TE. Hopefully Williams' injury and reduced practice time allows him to slide to the PS.

 

[realtime]

Two receivers to keep a eye out for on the waiver wire.
Jordan Taylor Broncos looks like a Hogan clone
Robby Anderson Jets looks polished.

Anderson went 13-264-3 for the Jets this preseason. I would be shocked if he didn't make their roster.

 

[willard]

There is so much athletic talent on the team that I think King's spot may be in jeopardy.

 

[Love The Drake]

Anderson went 13-264-3 for the Jets this preseason. I would be shocked if he didn't make their roster.

Its the Jets they cut Danny Woodhead and Victor Cruz
Sure a different regime but same Jets

 

[RobertWeathers]

There is so much athletic talent on the team that I think King's spot may be in jeopardy.

Maybe. If Slater gets hurt and if King is gone who is the gunner?

 

[Ivan]

Can't see Anthony Johnson getting cut. He's a lot more disruptive than Kuhn.

I can't see them cutting Johnson either. He makes the team.

 

[meatface]

Sakey has been cut by the Titans, think there's a chance the Pats grab him?

 

[BradyFTW!]

QB (2) J.Garoppolo, J.Brissett
RB (5) L.Blount, T.Gaffney, J.White, D.Foster, J.Develin
WR (5) J.Edelman, C.Hogan, M.Mitchell, A.Dobson, K.Martin
TE (3) R.Gronkowski, M.Bennett, A.Derby
C (1) D.Andrews
G (4) J.Thuney, J.Cooper, S.Mason, J.Kline
T (4) N.Solder, M.Cannon, L.Waddle, S.Vollmer
DE (5) R.Ninkovich, J.Sheard, C.Long, T.Flowers, G.Grissom
DT (4) M.Brown, A.Branch, V.Valentine, A.Johnson
ILB(2) D.Hightower, J.Freeny
OLB(3) J.Collins, S.McClellin, B.Mingo
CB (6) M.Butler, L.Ryan, C.Jones, J.Coleman, D.Roberts, J.Jones
SS (3) P.Chung, J.Richards, N.Ebner
FS (2) D.McCourty, D.Harmon
ST (4) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona, Slater

Total players: 53
Created with Pats Picker: http://patsfans.com/patspicker

My main changes from last time are that I think Dobson makes it purely based on injuries to so many other WRs, I dropped Bolden (though if Gaffney's injury will keep him out more than a week or so I expect to see Bolden in his spot instead), and I dropped Karras and kept Fleming in light of Solder getting hurt last night. Hopefully Karras makes it through to the PS, because I like him.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Sakey has been cut by the Titans, think there's a chance the Pats grab him?

Interesting proposition. I doubt he'd make it far enough on waivers for us to get him, and he's been pretty bad in TN, but I think he might be okay. He was decently versatile, at least.