The More Likely than Not Incorrect Roster Breakdown

[hornetfb85]

As many have said, trying to come up with a 53 man at this point is pretty much impossible. With that said I am going to give it a shot. Now I know that some of the ones that see as locks will inevitably be cut, it happens every year. Anyway, when I look at our roster I see 43 positions pretty much locked in:

QB (3): T. Brady, J. Garoppolo, J. Brissett
RB(3): D. Lewis, L. Blount, B. Bolden (Sp. Teams)
WR(5): J. Edelman, D. Amendola, C. Hogan, M. Mitchell, M. Slater (Sp. Teams)
TE/FB(3): R. Gronkowski, M. Bennett, J. Develin
C/G(4): S. Mason, B. Stork, J. Cooper, J. Thuney
T(2): N. Solder, S. Vollmer
DT(4): M. Brown, A. Branch, T. Knighton, V. Valentine
DE(5): J. Sheard, R. Ninkovich, C. Long, T. Flowers, G. Grissom
LB(3): J. Collins, D. Hightower, S. McClellin
CB(3): M. Butler, L. Ryan, C. Jones
S(5): D. McCourty, P. Chung, D. Harmon, J. Richards, N. Ebner
ST(3): S. Gostkowski, R. Allen, Long Snapper

That leaves 10 spots to be filled by camp competition.
One spot will definitely go to each of the following positions:
RB, WR, TE, C/G, T, LB, CB, CB

That takes out 8 of the remaining spots which leaves two spots for the following:
5th RB
4th OT
5th DT
5th LB
6th S

I think I would prefer the 4th OT for one of the spots but not real sure on that last spot on the 53 man.
Just my opinion on how the overall numbers could work out.

 

[luuked]

Generally I would agree with most of your "locks".

I don't think Cooper is a lock though. At this point it is completely irrelevant if he is a former 1st, 2nd or 7th rounder it is all about what he can bring to the table in the near future.

Similarly, I would not put Terrence Knighton into the lock category. If I read his contract correctly he only has 250k in dead money and who knows how he will respond to the demanding Patriots environment.

A lot of the exact positions on the initial 53 roster will depend on which players BB & co. think they can smuggle onto the PS. This in turn depends on TC/preseason performances of those fringe players. Some of them will standout and might need to be put on the 53 others will not and so we won't have to use a roster spot on their position initially.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

As many have said, trying to come up with a 53 man at this point is pretty much impossible. With that said I am going to give it a shot. Now I know that some of the ones that see as locks will inevitably be cut, it happens every year. Anyway, when I look at our roster I see 43 positions pretty much locked in:

QB (3): T. Brady, J. Garoppolo, J. Brissett
RB(3): D. Lewis, L. Blount, B. Bolden (Sp. Teams)
WR(5): J. Edelman, D. Amendola, C. Hogan, M. Mitchell, M. Slater (Sp. Teams)
TE/FB(3): R. Gronkowski, M. Bennett, J. Develin
C/G(4): S. Mason, B. Stork, J. Cooper, J. Thuney
T(2): N. Solder, S. Vollmer
DT(4): M. Brown, A. Branch, T. Knighton, V. Valentine
DE(5): J. Sheard, R. Ninkovich, C. Long, T. Flowers, G. Grissom
LB(3): J. Collins, D. Hightower, S. McClellin
CB(3): M. Butler, L. Ryan, C. Jones
S(5): D. McCourty, P. Chung, D. Harmon, J. Richards, N. Ebner
ST(3): S. Gostkowski, R. Allen, Long Snapper

That leaves 10 spots to be filled by camp competition.
One spot will definitely go to each of the following positions:
RB, WR, TE, C/G, T, LB, CB, CB

That takes out 8 of the remaining spots which leaves two spots for the following:
5th RB
4th OT
5th DT
5th LB
6th S

I think I would prefer the 4th OT for one of the spots but not real sure on that last spot on the 53 man.
Just my opinion on how the overall numbers could work out.

The Pats usually play it cautiously so I doubt Dion Lewis is back for the first game. And I am too not sure about Cooper. I would say there are 10 remaining spots.

 

[hornetfb85]

The main reason for Cooper as a lock, which in the past did not always matter (D.Easley), is that he has a 2.3 million dollar cap hit. Just my rationale, kind of

 

[realtime]

I have a feeling that Chris Long will not be on the opening day roster. I hope I'm wrong about that, though.

 

[hornetfb85]

I have a feeling that Chris Long will not be on the opening day roster. I hope I'm wrong about that, though.

I could see Rufus Johnson forcing his way onto the roster, possibly in place of Long. If Long is healthy, I think he will be a good veteran presence and motivated now that he's no longer on the career killer Los Angeles/St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.

 

[mgteich]

I have no problems with you 43 locks. Obviously, injuries can affect this list. Also, a free agent could look awful in the camp and preseason.
=======
EXERCISE
Look carefully at the 43 man squad and discuss which additional positions ABSOLUTELY NEED TO FILLED. After that, almost anything can happen.

FOR ME, WE NEED (for a total of 47, the usual 46 plus our 3rd QB)
OFFENSE (23)
A 3rd OT
A 4th RB
A 5th C/OG

DEFENSE (21)
A 4th CB

SPECIALISTS (3)
=============
THE FINAL 6 ROSTER SPOTS
These can be almost anywhere. Personally, my first priorities would be a 3rd TE and an additional STer (King)

As many have said, trying to come up with a 53 man at this point is pretty much impossible. With that said I am going to give it a shot. Now I know that some of the ones that see as locks will inevitably be cut, it happens every year. Anyway, when I look at our roster I see 43 positions pretty much locked in:

QB (3): T. Brady, J. Garoppolo, J. Brissett
RB(3): D. Lewis, L. Blount, B. Bolden (Sp. Teams)
WR(5): J. Edelman, D. Amendola, C. Hogan, M. Mitchell, M. Slater (Sp. Teams)
TE/FB(3): R. Gronkowski, M. Bennett, J. Develin
C/G(4): S. Mason, B. Stork, J. Cooper, J. Thunk
T(2): N. Solder, S. Vollmer

DT(4): M. Brown, A. Branch, T. Knighton, V. Valentine
DE(5): J. Sheard, R. Ninkovich, C. Long, T. Flowers, G. Grissom
LB(3): J. Collins, D. Hightower, S. McClellin
CB(3): M. Butler, L. Ryan, C. Jones
S(5): D. McCourty, P. Chung, D. Harmon, J. Richards, N. Ebner

ST(3): S. Gostkowski, R. Allen, Long Snapper

That leaves 10 spots to be filled by camp competition.
One spot will definitely go to each of the following positions:
RB, WR, TE, C/G, T, LB, CB, CB

That takes out 8 of the remaining spots which leaves two spots for the following:
5th RB
4th OT
5th DT
5th LB
6th S

I think I would prefer the 4th OT for one of the spots but not real sure on that last spot on the 53 man.
Just my opinion on how the overall numbers could work out.

 

[BobDigital]

Generally I would agree with most of your "locks".

I don't think Cooper is a lock though. At this point it is completely irrelevant if he is a former 1st, 2nd or 7th rounder it is all about what he can bring to the table in the near future.

Similarly, I would not put Terrence Knighton into the lock category. If I read his contract correctly he only has 250k in dead money and who knows how he will respond to the demanding Patriots environment.

A lot of the exact positions on the initial 53 roster will depend on which players BB & co. think they can smuggle onto the PS. This in turn depends on TC/preseason performances of those fringe players. Some of them will standout and might need to be put on the 53 others will not and so we won't have to use a roster spot on their position initially.

I would say Cooper is a lock based on his cap situation. There is no reason not to keep him as I don't think we can even dump a single dollar of his salary. Since he is already paid for it would be highly unusual not to keep him. The only way he is not kept is if everyone else is clearly better than him. I doubt that.

Also i have no issue calling Chris Long as lock unless he simply has nothing left. He is far more proven than any other option we have to put behind Nink/Sheard.

 

[Fencer]

... my first priorities would be a 3rd TE and an additional STer (King)

Exactly what stood out to me as missing from the list.

 

[luuked]

Also i have no issue calling Chris Long as lock unless he simply has nothing left. He is far more proven than any other option we have to put behind Nink/Sheard.

Agree about Long. At the very least he will give it his all which is something I am not entirely confident to say about Knighton.

 

[DarrylS]

Not a big Cannon fan, but if he is not on the roster that is a big cap hit.. $4.7 million.

Need another TE and Tackle on this roster..

 

[jmt57]

Not a big Cannon fan, but if he is not on the roster that is a big cap hit.. $4.7 million.

Need another TE and Tackle on this roster..

To clarify, the $4.7 million is his total cap figure if he stays - not the cap hit if he is cut.

If Cannon is cut or traded before June 2, the cap hit is just under $1.1 million.

If Cannon is cut or traded after June 2 then the cap hit is less than $1.2 million.

Miguel's UNOFFICIAL 2016 Patriots Salary Cap Information Page
Miguel's UNOFFICIAL Patriots Salary Cap Footnotes and Documentation Page - Marcus Cannon

 

[signbabybrady]

I have a feeling that Chris Long will not be on the opening day roster. I hope I'm wrong about that, though.

If you heard Matt Patricia talk about him at the draft party I think you would feel better.

Patricia talked about how excited Long was to be here. Patricia said that he had to temper his excitement a bit because NFL rules still only allowed for class room work and not on field with coaches.

Obviously Patricia wasn't going to say anything negative but he came off as genuinely excited about Long.

So needless to say but I think we will all be happy with Long.