Final Roster Projection

[BobDigital]

I'll a post week 1

QB 2 - duh
RB 5 - lewis white blount grey bolden
TE 3 - gronk chandler hooman
WR 5 - edelman amendola dobson wayne haper (lafell pup)
OT 4 - solder vollmer cannon flemming
G/C 5 - jackson stork wendell mason kline

DE 6 - jones nink sheard white grissom johnson
DT 4 - easley brown siliga branch
LB 4 - mayo hightower collins morris (with nink and shread and grissom able to play LB this is fine)
CB 5 - butler brown fletcher ??? ????
S 6 - mccourty richards chung harmon ebner wilsonn

STs 4 (you know em)

 

[JackBauer]

I got to 55, since I think LaFell starts on PUP and Blount is suspended week 1.

QB (2) T.Brady, J.Garoppolo
RB (5) L.Blount, J.Gray, B.Bolden, J.White, D.Lewis
WR (6) J.Edelman, B.LaFell, D.Amendola, R.Wayne, A.Dobson, C.Harper
TE (3) R.Gronkowski, S.Chandler, M.Williams
C (2) B.Stork, D.Andrews
G (4) T.Jackson, R.Wendell, S.Mason, J.Kline
T (4) M.Cannon, N.Solder, S.Vollmer, C.Fleming
DE (6) R.Ninkovich, C.Jones, J.Sheard, T.Flowers, G.Grissom, R.Johnson
DT (4) D.Easley, S.Siliga, M.Brown, C.Walker
ILB(2) D.Hightower, J.Morris
OLB(2) J.Mayo, J.Collins
CB (5) M.Butler, T.Brown, L.Ryan, B.Fletcher, D.Swanson
SS (4) P.Chung, T.Wilson, J.Richards, N.Ebner
FS (2) D.McCourty, D.Harmon
ST (4) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona, M. Slater

Total players: 55
Created with Pats Picker: http://patsfans.com/patspicker


Notable cuts: Hoomanawanui and Branch. I think they're both gone for cap reasons. Branch is decent, but if you can save a couple million against the cap to have Casey Walker be your 9th best defensive lineman instead, I think that's a no-brainer. I realize that Belichick gave Branch a $700K signing bonus just this past year, but that was when he was the primary option to fill Wilfork's role. Malcom Brown falling to #32 changes things.

No idea who TE3 will be; could be Williams or Cleveland, but I think either of them + $1.4M (the cap savings from cutting Hoomanawanui) is preferable to Hoomanawanui. This team is too close to the cap to pay TE2 money to a TE3.

When Blount comes back, I'm not sure who's gone. Probably none of the RBs, I don't see it being a direct positional swap. Maybe the tenth lineman (on either side, Johnson or Andrews).

When LaFell comes back, I'm betting Harper's gone.

Agree with all of this, except Branch > Walker, and I think there's a chance that Blount might not make it. Like you, I'd definitely keep Williams over Hooman.

 

[nabwong]

Hooman can play TE and FB so I think he stays.

Rufus will not make it to practice squad. I hope he makes the roster.

 

[strngplyr]

Roster predictions for this team are awesome, I'm very excited for the front 7, even more so than when I thought bringing in Haynesworth would motivate his fat lazy ass to play like he did for the Titans, and I was VERY high on that DL.

Very one from a potential standpoint dwarfs it as it is FAR more complete. We could be near league leaders in disruption in the form of sacks, hits, and hurries, and I feel bad for the Steelers who will have a backup center trying to pickup stunts and double A-Gap blitzes in week 1 before an OL can settle into form.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Really like your list. To get down to 53, I'll cut Walker (hoping he's on the PS) and James White. Also, I want to keep Hooman over Williams. If they really need the cap space, I'd cut (*gulp*) Wayne.

I don't think the Pats sign Wayne in the first place if they think he's near the roster fringe. They'd be risking paying $450k against the cap for 2 preseason games. I think Belichick sees Wayne as a significant contributor in this offense, and if he saw that with enough conviction to give Wayne the deal that he got, there's no way he say anything in the last 2 preseason games to change his mind, IMO.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Hooman can play TE and FB so I think he stays.

Rufus will not make it to practice squad. I hope he makes the roster.

Who do you think gets cut instead? In a vacuum I would like to keep guys like Hoomawanui, but the Pats are going to be pressed up against the cap and will have to make cap-based cuts. IMO when you're put in that position, the first place to look is at veteran backups who have been supplanted by new signings and are now overpaid for their place on the depth chart. That's what led me to Branch and Hooman.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Agree with all of this, except Branch > Walker, and I think there's a chance that Blount might not make it. Like you, I'd definitely keep Williams over Hooman.

Only problem there is if you don't cut Branch you have to find $2M in cap room somewhere else. They have to free up that space to get under the cap, unfortunately. Miguel summed it up in this thread, and he had to presume cutting Branch just to get the Pats to the manageable situation that he has them in: http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...big-move-cap-wise.1123001/page-4#post-4315840

 

[Nunchucks]

I know Rufus is a long shot to make the team....but if Kraft is letting this 1st round draft pick go, then the least he can do is ensure that we hold onto rising talent like Rufus. Rufus could be the future of this team. Rather him than Hooman

Not sure what Kraft has to do with personnel decisions. Hooman can play the H-back or pseudo fullback position, he would stay over Cleveland. I am not sure about Rufus and whether the team plans to resign Jones or not...

 

[BlueThunder]

With the LB position flexibility that Patricia has I think trying to get Morris onto the PS might fly. Would open up another position to keep an extra player. Could also assure Johnson sticks on roster.

 

[Mike the Brit]

I don't think the Pats sign Wayne in the first place if they think he's near the roster fringe. They'd be risking paying $450k against the cap for 2 preseason games. I think Belichick sees Wayne as a significant contributor in this offense, and if he saw that with enough conviction to give Wayne the deal that he got, there's no way he say anything in the last 2 preseason games to change his mind, IMO.

You're probably right. But this is a "what I'd do" rather than a "what Bill will do" exercise.

I can't help looking at Wayne and seeing the ageing Deion Branch, minus the understanding with Brady. And, on the other hand, I thought Harper was, once again, electric last night -- brave in concentrating on the catch under pressure and showing great body control in adjusting to a badly-thrown pass. Is there anything Wayne will bring that Harper won't at this stage, I ask myself?

 

[nabwong]

Who do you think gets cut instead? In a vacuum I would like to keep guys like Hoomawanui, but the Pats are going to be pressed up against the cap and will have to make cap-based cuts. IMO when you're put in that position, the first place to look is at veteran backups who have been supplanted by new signings and are now overpaid for their place on the depth chart. That's what led me to Branch and Hooman.

Maybe Solder gets an extension. That frees up some cap space. I'd cut Cleveland. I think Branch stays as he's the only Siliga run blocking type. Although Branch might be cut when chris jones returns. Wendell might be a cut too. And cut McClain.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Maybe Solder gets an extension. That frees up some cap space. I'd cut Cleveland. I think Branch stays as he's the only Siliga run blocking type. Although Branch might be cut when chris jones returns. Wendell might be a cut too. And cut McClain.

There's also Malcom Brown. Between him and Siliga you still have two enormous space eaters even without Branch.

 

[nabwong]

There's also Malcom Brown. Between him and Siliga you still have two enormous space eaters even without Branch.

I'm not sure I'm ready to trust Brown and Easley (both essentially rookies) at the start of the season. I think that they will be easleyed in. If you cut Branch, you only have 3 DTs at the start of the year. Is that enough? I don't think I can rely on Walker.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I'm not sure I'm ready to trust Brown and Easley (both essentially rookies) at the start of the season. I think that they will be easleyed in. If you cut Branch, you only have 3 DTs at the start of the year. Is that enough? I don't think I can rely on Walker.

Both look pro-ready to me. I have no problem at all with relying on them at the start of the year. easley is not effectively a rookie - he got time on the field last year, and proved capable at a minimum in that time. We know he can get the job done, and Brown was billed as a pro-ready prospect prior to the draft, a billing that he's lived up to so far. Even if Brown's a disappointment, I think his floor as a rookie is to basically give us what Branch does now. It's not like Branch is particularly good to begin with.

Also, even if you cut everyone from your previous post, the only one who offers appreciable cap savings is Wendell. He's the main alternative to cutting Branch. In which case you're stuck in the same dilemma. Leaves you with two actual rookies starting at guard, which gives you the same problem but at a position where you can less afford inexperience.

Not to say that that won't happen. I could easily see Branch and Wendell both getting cut, since the Pats need to free up at least some room even after they get under the cap.

 

[doesntmatter1]

I like Brady6's for the most part. I cant bring myself to cut Tavon or Rufus. To make room for them Id contemplate cutting Chung and/or Ninko if I had to. Mclain is an easy cut for me.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Not sure what Kraft has to do with personnel decisions. Hooman can play the H-back or pseudo fullback position, he would stay over Cleveland. I am not sure about Rufus and whether the team plans to resign Jones or not...

Just trying to make a point about Kraft's decisions and how they impact the future of the team. IMO, losing the draft pick leaves a considerable "talent gap" that Belichick somehow has to fill.

 

[jah]

Here's what I've got:

QB (2): Brady, Garoppolo
RB (4): Gray, Bolden, Lewis, White
WR (6): Edelman, Amendola, Wayne, Dobson, Harper, Slater
TE (3): Gronkowski, Chandler, Hoomanawanui
T (4): Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming
G/C (5): Stork, Wendell, Jackson, Mason, Kline
DL (4) : Siliga, Brown, Branch, Easley
DL/LB (6): Cha. Jones, Ninkovich, Sheard, Flowers, Grissom, Johnson
LB (5): Hightower, Collins, Mayo, Freeny, Fleming
CB (5): Butler, Brown, Fletcher, Ryan, McClain
S (6): McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Richards, Wilson, Ebner
ST (3): Gostkowski, Allen, Cardona
PUP/Susp (4): Blount, LaFell, Chr. Jones, D. Fletcher

-Feels so good to finally put Brady back on the 53. Possibly even better to bump Lindley off.
-No fullback sucks, but we rolled with Hooman (or even nobody) before Develin came along.
-I think both Dobson and Harper have spots on the roster as long as LaFell is out. Hopefully they don't put LaFell on Reserve/PUP, but I'm not going to predict that he's taken off.
-Hooman isn't very good, and I honestly kinda prefer Cleveland at TE, but he seems to have value in the locker room and at FB which is why I think he stays.
-Offensive line seems pretty set. Maybe Kline is a surprise cut, maybe even Wendell although I think we really need him.
-Rufus Johnson seems to be everything Zach Moore was built up to be but better. I'm keeping him at Moore's expense, although it seems that Johnson's role is more of an edge rusher while Moore seems to be converting/converted to defensive tackle. They look physically similar, and Johnson has moved to the inside before, so I feel justified doing a 1-for-1 swap.
-It just really really sucks how the best we could do for backup LB was Freeny. Fleming has ST value and as recently as last year was "tearing it up" at TC/preseason as a linebacker as well.
-Ryan, McClain, Swanson: pick 2. As much as I really want to see Swanson on the team over one of those other guys, I think BB will cite "versatility" as the reason Ryan and McClain stay, even if that versatility is just to be mediocre/bad at multiple positions.
-6 safeties. I just can't cut any of them. Maybe Ebner. But I just can't justify cutting him for the sole purpose of having balanced positional ratios.

 

[Brit patriot]

I worry about cutting Harper as I think may get picked up...seems a lot to work with. However, i agree I don't think Wayne was brought in to get cut, so it will be a toss between him and Dobson...I think Dobson wins that and gets a year to prove himself.

 

[nabwong]

Both look pro-ready to me. I have no problem at all with relying on them at the start of the year. easley is not effectively a rookie - he got time on the field last year, and proved capable at a minimum in that time. We know he can get the job done, and Brown was billed as a pro-ready prospect prior to the draft, a billing that he's lived up to so far.

Even if Brown's a disappointment, I think his floor as a rookie is to basically give us what Branch does now. It's not like Branch is particularly good to begin with.

You may be right. What it comes down to me is, I know what to expect from Branch and I don't know what to expect from Easley and Brown. I'm not leaning one way or the other on this. I'm just trying to say, this is what I'd do from what I know. Either option, if they coaching staff is comfortable with, i'm ok. But between C. Walker and Branch, I'd keep Branch and extend Solder. Who knows, maybe they trade Vollmer since we have a bunch of tackles on the team.

 

[BradyFTW!]

You may be right. What it comes down to me is, I know what to expect from Branch and I don't know what to expect from Easley and Brown. I'm not leaning one way or the other on this. I'm just trying to say, this is what I'd do from what I know. Either option, if they coaching staff is comfortable with, i'm ok. But between C. Walker and Branch, I'd keep Branch and extend Solder. Who knows, maybe they trade Vollmer since we have a bunch of tackles on the team.

Right on, I would rather have Branch than Walker too. It's strictly a cap-related move for me. Unfortunately, I just don't see any way around sacrificing veteran depth at a position where I would sure rather have it. If not DT, then at C/G.

Extending Solder would be awesome too, and definitely the preferred outcome. But I think that if it was going to happen we would have heard something to that effect by now. Would love to be wrong about that, though. Could easily free up a few million and lock up the LT position long-term in one move.