Patriots 53 Man Roster Projection 1.0 OTA, Mini-camp Edition
 Bill Belichick will have to make some interesting decisions in 2015 with the Super Bowl Champions roster. (USA TODAY Images) |
Spring has sprung…kind of, and the Patriots are back on the field for the first time in 2015. With a ton of movement on the roster since the Super Bowl victory just four months ago, there will be plenty more before the roster is finalized after training camp.
So right now it is time to take an early stab at an early Patriots roster for 2015.
Keep in mind that it is only the first week in June and the roster can be pretty volatile until the first week in September.
First up the Offense…
 The Patriots offense will look to replace Shane Vereen out of the backfield, but should have plenty of firepower in 2015. (USA TODAY Images) |
Offense (24)
Quarterback (2) –*Tom Brady* Jimmy Garappolo, Garrett Gilbert
Brady is currently under suspension and we won’t get into the entire appeal thing but if the season began today, he’d be watching from home. Garappolo is looking like he’s ready to make the second year leap and his backup (let that sink in for a second), for now is 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.
Running Backs (5) – *LaGarrette Blount*, Brandon Bolden, James Develin, Jonas Gray, Travaris Cadet, Tyler Gaffney
Blount is suspended for Week 1, but there is a log-jam here with five running backs for the first weeks of the season. Blount and Bolden aren’t going anywhere; Gray gets out of the Belichick doghouse with a solid spring/summer. Develin is a solid blocker who can fill in at H-back. Cadet is an experienced pass catcher out of the backfield in the Saints system that noses out James White, who lands on the practice squad.
The wildcard here is Gaffney, he’s big enough to handle running duty between the tackles and I believe will factor into the passing game…he’s a guy to watch this summer.
Tight End (4) – Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Tim Wright, Michael Hoomanawanui
A healthy Gronkowski to start the season along with the addition of Chandler gives the Patriots a Twin-Towers scenario at tight end. How Josh McDaniels decides to utilize these two should be an interesting development to watch. Unlike the days of Aaron Hernandez, Chandler is a big target (6’7) that can play in-line, out in the slot or split wide.
With a year in the system, Tim Wright beats out Fred Davis for the 3rd tight end position and Hooman, the forgotten man in many circles, holds off rookie A.J. Derby who lands on the practice squad.
Wide Receiver (5) – Aaron Dobson, Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola, Brian Tyms
The top three (Edelman, LaFell and Amendola), return and were very good in 2014. The Patriots aren’t ready to give up on Dobson, who spent the off-season in Arizona recommitting himself to the system and coming in great shape. He’ll add the extra dynamic outside the numbers of being a big WR that can stretch the field vertically as well as horizontally. Tyms beats out Brandon Gibson and Josh Boyce as the final piece of the puzzle.
Offensive Line (8) – Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Cameron Fleming, Marcus Cannon, Ryan Wendell, Bryan Stork, Tre Jackson, Shaq Mason
Lots of possibilities here as the two starting guard positions are wide open. The team worked out Fleming in the off-season in an attempt to switch from tackle to guard and with the additions of Jackson and Mason have the makings of a new look inside. We thought Dan Connolly might return for a final go-round but with the team giving away his number…it is starting to look more remote.
Solder and Vollmer, healthy to start the season in 2015 are healthy, solid and have Cannon as their backup as well as Fleming if they decide to keep him at tackle. There is still room for one more big body here. Someone can either step up(Hughes, Hauptmann, Kline), or be brought in.
Next up the Defense…
 The Patriots defense, led by Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones should have a very strong front seven in 2015. (USA TODAY Images) |
Defense (25)
Defensive Line (9) – Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Dominique Easley, Sealver Siliga, Malcom Brown, Jabaal Sheard, Alan Branch, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom
Lots of versatility here, Ninkovich and Jones will finally have a rotation with guys like Sheard, Flowers and Grissom who can also play linebacker. The big bodied run-stuffers are Siliga and Branch but the big story is the two youngsters on the inside.
Easley, (last season’s top pick), and this season’s 1st round selection Brown, are the guys who should make this line go. Both are the type of disruptors and penetrators who can push the pocket and force quarterbacks into the edge rushers with nowhere to step up in the pocket. Their development forces out Chris Jones, Joe Vellano and Antonio Johnson. Zach Moore is still a developmental prospect and could break thru in Year 2 or find his way onto the practice squad.
Linebacker (6) - Jerod Mayo, Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Brandon Spikes, Dane Fletcher, Matthew Wells
Mayo is returning from another season-ending injury and his rehab with that of Hightower will be closed watched this summer. If both are ready for the season to begin, then the unit will be one of the more solid units in the NFL.
Spikes returns and brings the down-hill physicality in the run game and Fletcher with his knowledge of the system nudges out Dekoda Watson and James Morris who lands on the practice squad along with intriguing rookie Xzavier Dickson.
I’m intrigued with Wells and what his athleticism at the position can bring. I believe the team finds a role for him in sub-packages. He sticks….for now.
Cornerback (5) – Logan Ryan, Malcolm Butler, Bradley Fletcher, Darryl Roberts, Robert McClain
No position suffered more turnover than the cornerback position this off-season. Gone are starters Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington. Also gone is Alfonzo Dennard who played quite a bit in 2013 before injuries derailed him last season.
Malcolm Butler tries to take on a full-time role in 2015 and he and Fletcher I believe will be the starters with Ryan or McClain in the slot. Don’t go to sleep on Roberts, who is my sleeper to play a lot of reps this season. Jimmy Jean shows enough promise to land on the practice squad.
Safety (5) – Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Patrick Chung, Jordan Richards, Nate Ebner
McCourty just got a big contract and is locked….and invaluable as the QB of the secondary. Chung was last year’s starter but will be pushed with a possible change in philosophy by Harmon. Richards, the Pats 2nd round draft pick will push Tavon Wilson off the roster. He’ll be an immediate core special teams player and he’ll be a key guy to watch to see if he pushes Chung and Harmon for starting reps. He was thought to be a coach on the field and can play either position. Ebner is strictly a STs presence.
Next Special Teams…
 Stephen Gostkowski returns and bolsters a very strong Patriots STs unit. (SBalestrieri Images) |
Specialists (4) – Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen, Joe Cardona, Matthew Slater
Gostkowski and Allen will remain an excellent tandem in 2015, neither will be pushed by camp competition. The Navy released LS Joe Cardona for the 2015 season and the Pats 5th round draft pick has the job locked for now. Matthew Slater is a Pro-Bowl STs standout and isn’t going anywhere. He’s a WR in name only.
Total Roster (53)
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
Listen to our Patriots 4th and 2 podcast on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from PatsFans.com discuss the latest Patriots news Wednesdays at 12 noon.
