Patriots Early 53-Man Roster Projection 1.0

[TheFlyingWedge]

David Jones make it over Richards

David Jones looks to be better suited as a deep safety while Jordan Richards is more in-the-box. It might happen as you say (probably Richards last rodeo and, by some accounts, Jones has impressed), but the two are probably not competing for the same spot.

 

[Love The Drake]

It will come down to special teams and upside.

 

[varjao]

RB (6) M.Gillislee, J.White, J.Develin, R.Burkhead, D.Lewis, D.Foster

There is absolutely no way they carry 6 RB's, specially with 3 QBs.

Not with the investments they made at WR and the O-line looking improved over an already good one from last year, they just need a RBBC system and 4 is more than enough, I will consider 5 considering Burkhead as a joker between ST and taking a few snaps in the offense as well.

Foster only makes the team if one of the other guys don't.

 

[Love The Drake]

Belichick will take the best players.
He could very well take 6 backs but I'm saying 5 Lewis and Foster fight it out unless there a injury.
Foster could also make the club as a receiver pending injuries.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

I am not expecting Cyrus Jones to look as bad as O'Connell did, but there is a precedent. If he doesn't show improvement, it would not be surprising if he is history when roster cuts are made at the end of training camp.

Thats a great comparison. O'Connell looked amazing in his college highlight reel. Then the reports from training camp started coming in... His complete inability to throw the ball to guys right in front of him among other things.

 

[supafly]

Elandon Roberts will not get cut.

Pretty good leadership here for a rookie:


BTW - High was on the field..

I agree that Roberts should make it, but there's not much doubt that Harris is a total lock. He's at least going to be around for the 2017 season.

I think we're looking at a battle between Van Noy, Freeny, McClellin, and Langi--with 2 making it and 2 getting cut. I think Freeny and Van Noy could be in the most danger. That would leave the following at LB:

HT
Harris
McClellin
Roberts
Langi

I think that's the best combo of run stopping + coverage ability, along with the fact that the last 3 will see a fair amount of STs reps.

This makes Van Noy expendable, and as far as I can remember, he was primarily a 3rd down rusher anyway (Edit: this was not true. Van Noy played a bigger LB role than I remembered). With the addition of the 2 DE draft picks who will almost certainly be rotated and seeing the high majority of their time as 3rd down rushing specialists, I think his role is easier to replace than McClellin, who wears many hats and offers more versatility.

I think Van Noy did a fine enough job here, but I think he's a guy who falls into the "tough cut" category due to the additions of Harris + Langi, who I don't think they'll want to expose by cutting him. All of this is obviously under the impression that there aren't any major injuries, which means that we'll probably have to re-do our depth chart in about 3-4 weeks. (Hope not).

 

[supafly]

Absolutely. Figure 15-20 ST snaps a game and 15-35 snaps on O and he will contribute offensively.

That's a good chunk of playing time and for $3m seems reasonable

I'd have to guess that Burkhead will be falling much closer to the low end of your 15-35 offensive reps per game, but we'll all find out in due time.

 

[supafly]

His salary and dead cap guarantee he is on the 2017 roster.

Eh, I think he definitely makes it due to his ironman like career, experience, and ability to not only back up Hightower, but also to allow him to rush the passer more, but his dead cap hit is only around 1.2m dollars. They'd actually save 1.5m dollars in cap space by letting him go.

I think he'd have to have a terrible TC/preseason to be cut, though.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I'd have to guess that Burkhead will be falling much closer to the low end of your 15-35 offensive reps per game, but we'll all find out in due time.

I tend to agree. If there are injuries in the backfield they might limit his ST snaps but on average he should be at ~20 snaps give or take

 

[RobertWeathers]

Eh, I think he definitely makes it due to his ironman like career, experience, and ability to not only back up Hightower, but also to allow him to rush the passer more, but his dead cap hit is only around 1.2m dollars. They'd actually save 1.5m dollars in cap space by letting him go.

I think he'd have to have a terrible TC/preseason to be cut, though.

...or he'd have to quit like Wayne

 

[Ring 6]

I agree that Roberts should make it, but there's not much doubt that Harris is a total lock. He's at least going to be around for the 2017 season.

I think we're looking at a battle between Van Noy, Freeny, McClellin, and Langi--with 2 making it and 2 getting cut. I think Freeny and Van Noy could be in the most danger. That would leave the following at LB:

HT
Harris
McClellin
Roberts
Langi

I think that's the best combo of run stopping + coverage ability, along with the fact that the last 3 will see a fair amount of STs reps.

This makes Van Noy expendable, and as far as I can remember, he was primarily a 3rd down rusher anyway. With the addition of the 2 DE draft picks who will almost certainly be rotated and seeing the high majority of their time as 3rd down rushing specialists, I think his role is easier to replace than McClellin, who wears many hats and offers more versatility.

I think Van Noy did a fine enough job here, but I think he's a guy who falls into the "tough cut" category due to the additions of Harris + Langi, who I don't think they'll want to expose by cutting him. All of this is obviously under the impression that there aren't any major injuries, which means that we'll probably have to re-do our depth chart in about 3-4 weeks. (Hope not).

Totally do not understand how we would keep langi over van noy other than rooting for the underdog.

 

[Ring 6]

I tend to agree. If there are injuries in the backfield they might limit his ST snaps but on average he should be at ~20 snaps give or take

I think bulkhead is going to have a hard time getting on the field, unless there are injuries.
There aren't many snaps available behind gillislee, Lewis and white. I have an extremely hard time seeing burkheaf ahead of any of those players for their roles and I don't see a 4th role.
I think special teams and a guy who steps in for any of those 3 in the event of injury his his role here.

 

[Family]

I think bulkhead is going to have a hard time getting on the field, unless there are injuries.
There aren't many snaps available behind gillislee, Lewis and white. I have an extremely hard time seeing burkheaf ahead of any of those players for their roles and I don't see a 4th role.
I think special teams and a guy who steps in for any of those 3 in the event of injury his his role here.

I disagree. Even if he's 2015 Lewis, I think the team will limit Dion's snaps to save him and most games last year White had 6 touches or less. On the entire season White had 39 total carries.

There's plenty of snaps if Burkhead's good.

 

[supafly]

Totally do not understand how we would keep langi over van noy other than rooting for the underdog.

Belichick made Langi the highest paid UDFA in the entire NFL this year. Obviously, he has plans for him, and the idea is that he wouldn't expose him by cutting him in hopes to make the PS. He is also more athletic and offers more on STs.

McClellin isn't in the mix as much since he is so versatile, despite my thinking that his cap hit is too high.

This is hardly about "rooting for the underdog." To me, the additions of Langi, Harris, Rivers, and Wise put a guy who's predominantly a 3rd down rushing specialist squarely on the bubble...and that's not even bringing up the point that HT will likely be rushing more, as well.

Of course, this is under the assumption that they'd keep Roberts, and that there won't be any injuries. Like I said in my post, there's always injuries at the position, so we will likely be re-assessing our LB depth charts again in 3-4 weeks, anyway.

 

[Ring 6]

Belichick made Langi the highest paid UDFA in the entire NFL this year. Obviously, he has plans for him, and the idea is that he wouldn't expose him by cutting him in hopes to make the PS. He is also more athletic and offers more on STs.

McClellin isn't in the mix as much since he is so versatile, despite my thinking that his cap hit is too high.

This is hardly about "rooting for the underdog." To me, the additions of Langi, Harris, Rivers, and Wise put a guy who's predominantly a 3rd down rushing specialist squarely on the bubble...and that's not even bringing up the point that HT will likely be rushing more, as well.

Of course, this is under the assumption that they'd keep Roberts, and that there won't be any injuries. Like I said in my post, there's always injuries at the position, so we will likely be re-assessing our LB depth charts again in 3-4 weeks, anyway.

Well he traded a draft pick to get van noy which is more investment than a non guaranteed udfa contract.
And van noy played the 2nd most snaps of all lbs after arriving here including 30 of 49 in the SB.

I don't see understand your reference to langi and Harris affecting a 3rd down rushing specialist or why that would have anything to do with van noy who isn't that.

I'm not saying langi doesn't have any chance to make the team but I don't see how you figure giving a larger contract to an UDFA would mean the #2 lb on the team last year will be cut.

 

[Ring 6]

I disagree. Even if he's 2015 Lewis, I think the team will limit Dion's snaps to save him and most games last year White had 6 touches or less. On the entire season White had 39 total carries.

There's plenty of snaps if Burkhead's good.

I see gillislee as the first down back Lewis as the "passing formation back" and white as the 3rd down, no huddle back.

I can't see why you would "save" Lewis. I don't understand the point of that.

 

[RobertWeathers]

I think bulkhead is going to have a hard time getting on the field, unless there are injuries.
There aren't many snaps available behind gillislee, Lewis and white. I have an extremely hard time seeing burkheaf ahead of any of those players for their roles and I don't see a 4th role.
I think special teams and a guy who steps in for any of those 3 in the event of injury his his role here.

Well....We hear it every year but I really think they want to run more this year. I'm thinking they want to give their RBs ~450 carries.

225 for Gillislee
75 James Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite!
75 DLew
75 Burkhead

 

[Ring 6]

Well....We hear it every year but I really think they want to run more this year. I'm thinking they want to give their RBs ~450 carries.

225 for Gillislee
75 James Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiite!
75 DLew
75 Burkhead

They ran 482 times last year.
But Lewis had 64 in 7 games so I think he gets more like 15o if healthy. White had 39.
I think burkheads come in blowouts or due to injuries. Just see no room for him behind 3 players who will all deserve to be in the field more than they are.
Unless you think burkhead is beating out gillislee which I just don't see.

 

[supafly]

Well he traded a draft pick to get van noy which is more investment than a non guaranteed udfa contract.
And van noy played the 2nd most snaps of all lbs after arriving here including 30 of 49 in the SB.

I don't see understand your reference to langi and Harris affecting a 3rd down rushing specialist or why that would have anything to do with van noy who isn't that.

I'm not saying langi doesn't have any chance to make the team but I don't see how you figure giving a larger contract to an UDFA would mean the #2 lb on the team last year will be cut.

The depth chart of the LB corp in 2016 is totally irrelevant and will obviously be different than 2017, especially factoring in the mid-season loss of Jamie Collins and some missed time for Hightower.

This year we've seen a pretty big addition from David Harris, and time will tell whether or not they have the kind of plans for Langi that they've hinted at. Also, Roberts has another year under his belt.

McClellin is the one who moves around more and offers more versatility, so I don't know if they can afford to lose him or not (he is on my short list of potentially cap casualties), but I highly doubt they'd keep both he + Van Noy.

 

[RobertWeathers]

They ran 482 times last year.
But Lewis had 64 in 7 games so I think he gets more like 15o if healthy. White had 39.
I think burkheads come in blowouts or due to injuries. Just see no room for him behind 3 players who will all deserve to be in the field more than they are.
Unless you think burkhead is beating out gillislee which I just don't see.

No I project exactly what I posted.

I don't think they want DLew anywhere close to 15o carries. Too frail.