The way too early 53 man roster projection

[BobDigital]

Offense 25

QB - 2 - Brady Garo
RB - 5 - Blount Cadet Gaffney White Bolden
TE - 4 - Gronk Chandler Hooman Derby*
WR - 5 - Edelman Lafell Amendola Dobson Slater
OL - 9 - Solder Jackson* Stork Wendell Vollmer Flemming Mason* Cannon Kline

Defense 25

DE - Jones Nink Sheard Flowers* Moore
DT - Easley Brown* Branch Siliga Jones
LB - Mayo Hightower Collins Grissom* White (positions not always clear cut but these are the names IMO)
CB - Fletcher Butler Arrington Ryan Dennard
S - McCourty Chung Richards* Wilson Harmon

STs 3

Cardona* - LS
Gost - K
Allen - P

Toughest cuts/PS

Grey - RB Wright - TE Ebner - S McClain - CB Wells* - LB Roberts* - CB ****son* - DE

 

[mgteich]

The list is pretty good for now.

1) Cardona doen't count since he's not eligible.

2) I think that Belichick prefers the extra WR instead of the extra TE.

3) We need a 4th positional linebacker. Moore is likely to be beaten out by Wells.

 

[patsinthesnow]

1. Forgetting Develin

2. An UDFA always makes the team. Got to out on a limb and pick one .

3. I want Roberts to make the team but it looks tough.

Great job at the first go at it.

 

[JayNM]

My thoughts
Even though he is a great STer, Bolden is expandable, with another RB taking his roles in both offense and Special Team. Love Develin. I will be sad if he is not there (there's good chance he's not there)

Even if we lose some blocking power, i don't see Homan staying. He is too much of a JAG. I don't know if we are carrying both Derby and Wright, too

One of the Safeties will leave, in favor of Nate Ebner (Slater 2.0)

That front 7 is SCARY. Jesus.

I won't even try to guess the secondary.

CAN'T WAIT FOR TRAINING CAMPS

 

[PatsFanInVa]

It's early As we all know... there's June 1 cuts, training camp battles, blah blah blah between now and opening day. (starting with the UDFAs of course) That said, do you have every draft pick making the 53?

 

[jah]

Right now, I've got:

QB (2): Brady, Garoppolo
RB (5): Gray, Bolden, Cadet, White, Develin
WR (6): Edelman, LaFell, Amendola, Dobson, Gibson, Slater
TE (3): Gronkowski, Chandler, Wright
T (4): Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
G/C (5): Wendell, Stork, Kline, Jackson, Mason
DL (5): Siliga, Branch, Chris Jones, Easley, Brown
DL/LB (5): Chandler Jones, Ninkovich, Sheard, Flowers, Grissom
LB (5): Collins, Hightower, Mayo, Fleming, White
CB (5): Butler, Ryan, Arrington, Fletcher, McClain
S (5): McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Wilson, Richards
ST (3): Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona
Susp./NFI/PUP (1): Blount

Some thoughts:
-I guess we're rolling with Gray during Blount's suspension. Not sure how I feel about that. Not sure how I feel about the RB stable even with Blount.
-Wright might lose his job, Hoomanawanui might keep his. I don't see the the 6th rd pick making the team right now.
-Lots of competition in the front 7. Vellano, Moore, Johnson, Buchanan, and ****son are tough cuts.
-The pure LB corps isn't looking so great, especially with Hightower injured to start the season. It'll be Mayo (at this point, his post-injury performance is a wild card) and Collins with absolutely nobody of value besides on special teams behind them. Hopefully Wells can show something. He's got Casillas-like size.
-I cut Dennard because I think the Patriots are done with him, not because I think he doesn't deserve to make the team. I'm sure one of McClain/Fletcher will get cut in July when no one expects it and make this decision easier. Always happens.
-Sad to see Ebner go, but it's either him or Wilson and Wilson offers more on defense.
-What is the team's contingency plan if/when Cardona has to go do Navy stuff? Ott? Sign Aiken, whom they've left unsigned for months?
-Of course, NFI/PUP will make this a little bit easier to forecast by means of narrowing the choices (and unfortunately also meaning our players are injured, but we already know of Hightower as a likely PUP), as well as actual observations of the players doing things.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Liking the front 7 too, Jay NM... but let's keep in mind, we're judging all our draftees based on how they played against college level competition. Still pretty sweet group, even considering the contributions of the new guys to be a question mark.

 

[mgteich]

That said, do you have every draft pick making the 53?

FIRST SIX - PENCIL THEM IN
We always keep our 4th rounders or higher. They were all at positions of need, with the possible exception of Richards.

CORDONA
He'll make the 53 when the Navy lets him go.

ONE OF THE LAST FOUR
One is likely to make. My guess is that Wells makes it.

 

[RayClay]

Offense 25

QB - 2 - Brady Garo
RB - 5 - Blount Cadet Gaffney White Bolden
TE - 4 - Gronk Chandler Hooman Derby*
WR - 5 - Edelman Lafell Amendola Dobson Slater
OL - 9 - Solder Jackson* Stork Wendell Vollmer Flemming Mason* Cannon Kline

Defense 25

DE - Jones Nink Sheard Flowers* Moore
DT - Easley Brown* Branch Siliga Jones
LB - Mayo Hightower Collins Grissom* White (positions not always clear cut but these are the names IMO)
CB - Fletcher Butler Arrington Ryan Dennard
S - McCourty Chung Richards* Wilson Harmon

STs 3

Cardona* - LS
Gost - K
Allen - P

Toughest cuts/PS

Grey - RB Wright - TE Ebner - S McClain - CB Wells* - LB Roberts* - CB ****son* - DE

Cadet or White
Edelman Lafell Amendola Gibson Dobson Slater

Gibson, then the winner of competition. If Slater's a receiver, then I'm an astronaut, because he's only caught a pass one more time than I've walked on the moon, during his career.

Gronk, Chandler, maybe Wright or Hooman. I like Derby, but 1 years experience means practice squad, or maybe special teams.

OL looks good if we keep 9.

D

DE I like Buchanan if healthy. Lotsa DE/OLB on the practice squad, special teams.

LB - I could see some of these DE/OLB or Safety/LB replacing soem vets as backups and special teams players. who? I have no idea, there are a few who play LB, or cover type LB.

CB -I think I saved some spots by cutting, so I add cornerbacks. We have two other vets, that wild 7th round pick and i'm sure they're on the lookout. Weak position, get extra variety and scheme.

S - I probably agree. if these new guys and or the hybrid tiny linebacker are hungry, that might be it for Ebner. of course, it's healthy competition, so may the best men win!

I don't know the navy's rules, but if i have to watch Aiken's knuckleballs another 2-5 years, I just might burst.

Good list, thanks BD.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Roberts will find a way on the roster, even if it's STs at first with that athleticism.

Training camp binky found.

 

[hornetfb85]

Just my opinion....but:

Remove one of Derby or Hoomanawanui and add Develin.

Also thinking there will be a 5th WR other than M. Slater instead of a 5th DE, so Z. Moore May be in trouble.

 

[BTTA]

If history is a predictor, at least one player, and probably two, on the final roster are names we haven't even mentioned yet.

 

[mgteich]

ANOTHER APPROACH

CAUTIONS
1) The number of roster spots at various positions may be different when the 53 is picked.
2) I have Bolden as being safe. That seems likely at the moment.
3) I don't list 7th rounders and UDFA's as likely competitors for the 53, although 1-2 will likely make it.
4) We seem to have lost of camp competition for the open rosters spots.
5) Obviously injuries will open roster spots that are not now open.
6) Additional signings may fill spots now open, or provide more competition.

SAFE ON OFFENSE (19)
QB - Brady, Garappolo
WR - Edelman, LaFell, Amendola
TE - Gronkowski, Chandler
RB - Blount
FB - Develin
OL - Solder, Stork, Wendell, Vollmer, Flemming, Cannon, Jackson, Mason
ST - Slater, Bolden

SAFE ON DEFENSE (18)
DE - Ninkovich, Jones, Sheard, Flowers, Grissom
DT - Brown, Easley, Siliga, Branch
LB - Mayo, Hightower, Collins
CB - Butler, Arrington
S - McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards

SAFE SPECIALISTS (2)
P - Allen
K - Gostkowski
LS
====================
OPEN ROSTER SPOTS (41 players for 14 openings)
2 WR - Dobson, Boyce, Tyms, Dorsey, Gibson, Krause
2 RB - Cadet, White, Gaffney, Gray, Lewis
1 TE - Hooman, Wright, Derby
1 OL - Kline, Barker, Davey, Hauptmann
1 DT - Jones, Johnson, Vellano
2 DE/LB/ST - Moore, Buchanan, Bequette, White, Skinner, Fleming, Gordon, Wells, Freeney
3 CB - Fletcher, Dennard, Ryan, McClain, Green, Chekwa
1 S - Ebner, Wilson, Swanson
1 LS - Ott, Cordona

 

[BobDigital]

Just my opinion....but:

Remove one of Derby or Hoomanawanui and add Develin.

Also thinking there will be a 5th WR other than M. Slater instead of a 5th DE, so Z. Moore May be in trouble.

Forgot about Develin. If I had to do it again I'd find a way to add him. But Derby takes his place if they decide to keep him as a move TE I think. The question is do they keep Derby?

As someone here said. They will keep all 6 from the first 4 rounds and the LS if he can player here.

Probably 1 of the other guys. I jut picked Derby.

 

[Fencer]

1) Cardona doen't count since he's not eligible.

But that doesn't save a slot, as another LS will be needed in his place.

 

[mgteich]

As someone here said. They will keep all 6 from the first 4 rounds and the LS if he can player here.

Probably 1 of the other guys. I jut picked Derby.

Yup. And keeping Derby likely means that we will cut Hooman and Wright. I wouldn't be shocked if Derby beats both out, or that Belichick decides that Derby has better upside potential.

 

[Fencer]

I agree with all the safes, season-ending injury or major surprises of course excepted. Beyond that:

====================
OPEN ROSTER SPOTS (40 players for 14 openings)
2 WR - Dobson, Boyce, Tyms, Dorsey, Gibson, Krause Could sacrifice a slot to make room for another TE.
2 RB - Cadet, White, Gaffney, Gray, Lewis Could sacrifice a slot, go with a single passing-down guy, and figure Bolden is his backup.
1 TE - Hooman, Wright, Derby
1 OL - Kline, Barker, Davey, Hauptmann Or Connolly.
1 DT - Jones, Johnson, Vellano One of the easier spots to sacrifice, IF they're willing to slide DEs inside on a regular basis. The sandypants role is covered by 3 of your 4 safe DTs.
2 DE/LB/ST - Moore, Buchanan, Bequette, White, Skinner, Fleming, Gordon, Wells At least one cover/ST LB is needed.
3 CB - Fletcher, Dennard, Ryan, McClain, Green, Chekwa
1 S - Ebner, Wilson, Swanson
1 LS - Ott, Cordona Or the return of Aiken -- who, by the way, seems to be getting married in July. At least, a Danny Aiken from Foxboro has a wedding registry I bumped into online ...

 

[mgteich]

I agree with all the safes, season-ending injury or major surprises of course excepted. Beyond that:

Outside of the 12 safe players on the front seven, who do you see competing for the position of cover LBer?

Wells seems to be one that fits the bill.

As of now, I have Chris Jones, White (STer) and Wells as the three additional front seven players. Of course, a safety could also be used in that role.

 

[Fencer]

Outside of the 12 safe players on the front seven, who do you see competing for the position of cover LBer?

Wells seems to be one that fits the bill.

As of now, I have Chris Jones, White (STer) and Wells as the three additional front seven players. Of course, a safety could also be used in that role.

White is the obvious one.

If I'm wrong about that spot needing filling, it's probably because safeties take care of it. And we do have a lot of those right now.

 

[RayClay]

ANOTHER APPROACH

CAUTIONS
1) The number of roster spots at various positions may be different when the 53 is picked.
2) I have Bolden as being safe. That seems likely at the moment.
3) I don't list 7th rounders and UDFA's as likely competitors for the 53, although 1-2 will likely make it.
4) We seem to have lost of camp competition for the open rosters spots.
5) Obviously injuries will open roster spots that are not now open.
6) Additional signings may fill spots now open, or provide more competition.

SAFE ON OFFENSE (19)
QB - Brady, Garappolo
WR - Edelman, LaFell, Amendola
TE - Gronkowski, Chandler
RB - Blount
FB - Develin
OL - Solder, Stork, Wendell, Vollmer, Flemming, Cannon, Jackson, Mason
ST - Slater, Bolden

SAFE ON DEFENSE (18)
DE - Ninkovich, Jones, Sheard, Flowers, Grissom
DT - Brown, Easley, Siliga, Branch
LB - Mayo, Hightower, Collins
CB - Butler, Arrington
S - McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards

SAFE SPECIALISTS (2)
P - Allen
K - Gostkowski
LS
====================
OPEN ROSTER SPOTS (41 players for 14 openings)
2 WR - Dobson, Boyce, Tyms, Dorsey, Gibson, Krause
2 RB - Cadet, White, Gaffney, Gray, Lewis
1 TE - Hooman, Wright, Derby
1 OL - Kline, Barker, Davey, Hauptmann
1 DT - Jones, Johnson, Vellano
2 DE/LB/ST - Moore, Buchanan, Bequette, White, Skinner, Fleming, Gordon, Wells, Freeney
3 CB - Fletcher, Dennard, Ryan, McClain, Green, Chekwa
1 S - Ebner, Wilson, Swanson
1 LS - Ott, Cordona

Hate to be a wise guy, but that's a big shift from having no need for pass rushers in the draft to having two of them as safe, sight unseen, isn't it?