Alex Barth's post-OTAs "way too early" roster projection

[ctpatsfan77]

I won't post the whole thing here, but three things worth noting:

1. WR is the projection I expect most people will have issues/comments on.
2. He has thirteen rookies, including four UDFAs, making the roster. [Only OT Marcus Bryant and Mr. Irrelevant Kobee Minor don't make the grade, and Bryant was the last cut.]
3. As someone on Reddit noted, he has more UDFAs making the roster than he does 2024 draft picks.

A way-too-early Patriots roster projection

Projecting the New England Patriots' initial 53-man roster after spring practices wrapped up earlier this week.

985thesportshub.com

 

[BobDigital]

Here it is... I took the liberty of moving guys just a little.

QB (2) Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
RB (4) TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Lan Larison
TE (3) Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Brock Lampe
WR (7) Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne
C (2) Garrett Bradbury, Jared Wilson
G (4) Mike Onwenu, Cole Strange, Sidy Sow, Jack Conley
T (3) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caedan Wallace
DE (3) Milton Williams, Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
DT (2) Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga
ILB (4) Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Robert Spillane
OLB (5) Harold Landry, Keion White, K’Lavon Chaisson, Bradyn Swinson, Anfernee Jennings
CB (6) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Marcellas Dial Jr., Isaiah Bolden
SS (2) Kyle Dugger, Craig Woodson
FS (2) Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins
ST (4) Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby, Andres Borregales, Brenden Schooler

Things that stick out...

Mapu and Ponder weren't even on the bubble for him. Ponder didn't even get a mention. Ponder as a speedy guy you'd think would show up in OTAs, but i haven't heard his named called much.

Dipree not being on the roster right now is understandable. If he makes it he makes it as a blocker, and he hasn't gotten the chance to show a thing yet. But if we cut him and someone scoops him up... I won't be too upset. I'd like to keep him here. But his ceiling is a very good blocking TE who can catch just a little. You could get about the same from a backup OT. Not trying to take the piss out of him, but he guys like that aren't overly hard to find.

Again his obsession with Bourne annoys me. I just hate his contract so much on principle. And i just don't see how he is every worth that contract, particularly compared to the very cheap Boutte. Polk needs to play to make the team. It's that simple.

At Safety Epps is a guy i had some hopes for... i hope he can get healthy in training camp. If not, i like our depth anyway. But i thought it was a potentially sneaky good signing if he comes back from his injury well.

As for the OL... it's still way too early, but you need to put someone on the roster for now. Take it with a grain of salt. But i don't mind carrying only 9 or even only 8. Does anyone really think we can't stash Sow or Conley? Just food for thought.

 

[n1997y]

Would not be surprised if Marcus Bryant shows enough to bump Conley for the last OL slot. Believe Bryant is considered a legit candidate to play LT in the NFL. That might be worth keeping on the roster, if he’s not too raw at the end of camp. Will depend on how he develops this summer.

 

[signbabybrady]

Here it is... I took the liberty of moving guys just a little.

QB (2) Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
RB (4) TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Lan Larison
TE (3) Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Brock Lampe
WR (7) Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III, Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne
C (2) Garrett Bradbury, Jared Wilson
G (4) Mike Onwenu, Cole Strange, Sidy Sow, Jack Conley
T (3) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caedan Wallace
DE (3) Milton Williams, Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
DT (2) Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga
ILB (4) Jahlani Tavai, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Robert Spillane
OLB (5) Harold Landry, Keion White, K’Lavon Chaisson, Bradyn Swinson, Anfernee Jennings
CB (6) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Marcellas Dial Jr., Isaiah Bolden
SS (2) Kyle Dugger, Craig Woodson
FS (2) Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins
ST (4) Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby, Andres Borregales, Brenden Schooler

Things that stick out...

Mapu and Ponder weren't even on the bubble for him. Ponder didn't even get a mention. Ponder as a speedy guy you'd think would show up in OTAs, but i haven't heard his named called much.

Dipree not being on the roster right now is understandable. If he makes it he makes it as a blocker, and he hasn't gotten the chance to show a thing yet. But if we cut him and someone scoops him up... I won't be too upset. I'd like to keep him here. But his ceiling is a very good blocking TE who can catch just a little. You could get about the same from a backup OT. Not trying to take the piss out of him, but he guys like that aren't overly hard to find.

Again his obsession with Bourne annoys me. I just hate his contract so much on principle. And i just don't see how he is every worth that contract, particularly compared to the very cheap Boutte. Polk needs to play to make the team. It's that simple.

At Safety Epps is a guy i had some hopes for... i hope he can get healthy in training camp. If not, i like our depth anyway. But i thought it was a potentially sneaky good signing if he comes back from his injury well.

As for the OL... it's still way too early, but you need to put someone on the roster for now. Take it with a grain of salt. But i don't mind carrying only 9 or even only 8. Does anyone really think we can't stash Sow or Conley? Just food for thought.

7 WRs is too many and 9 OL is not enough.

No need for all 4 Boutte, Bourne, Chism, and Hollins. That's what camp is for figure out who the best of this group is and move on from the others. So be it.

On the OL it's not like the depth is very good so you can go with 9 short term and get guys to the PS and poach from other rosters but you'll need more than for the season.

9 LBs is a lot too but there's some overlap with Edge/DE and there's only 3 listed. But then also only 2 listed as DT. Probably need a little more beef.

 

[mgteich]

THESE STANDOUT TO ME
----------------------------

7 WR ROFL
obsession with relacing Lowe as the backup LT with someone who shouldn't make an NFL roster.

 

[mgteich]

Would not be surprised if Marcus Bryant shows enough to bump Conley for the last OL slot.

last OL spot on the Practice Squad
======
If Vrabel cuts Lowe, either Wallace has shown enough to be the backup or LT
OR we will sign or trade for a veteran back.
=======
I am an unconvinced that Vrabel's management team is soooo bad that it can't find a better OL than Bryant or Conley to be our backup LT.

 

[mgteich]

7 WRs is too many and 9 OL is not enough.

No need for all 4 Boutte, Bourne, Chism, and Hollins. That's what camp is for figure out who the best of this group is and move on from the others. So be it.

On the OL it's not like the depth is very good so you can go with 9 short term and get guys to the PS and poach from other rosters but you'll need more than for the season.

9 LBs is a lot too but there's some overlap with Edge/DE and there's only 3 listed. But then also only 2 listed as DT. Probably need a little more beef.

9 LB's isn't too many if White is categorized as a DE. But, yes, I would like to see another fattie make the team. As of now, many have Roy.

 

[signbabybrady]

9 LB's isn't too many if White is categorized as a DE. But, yes, I would like to see another fattie make the team. As of now, many have Roy.

True

 

[WinstonSmith]

THESE STANDOUT TO ME
----------------------------

7 WR ROFL
obsession with relacing Lowe as the backup LT with someone who shouldn't make an NFL roster.

While I don't think the initial 53 will have 7 WRs, he did qualify that his heavy WR initial roster projection was influenced by the current WR injury situation. With Diggs, Hollins, and Polk limited or worse, it may necessitate keeping more WRs initially.

I'm not sure why that's ROFL worthy.

 

[Brotherblues]

Scratch the 7th WR. That's just bonkers.

Add another potential backup LT. Bonkers to go so thin there.

 

[DC Patriots]

Not enough talent in that WR room to hold onto 7. I think the key piece will be Hollins. He’s looks to me like a Josh hire. He easily had his best year with Josh and the raiders. Question will be if that guarantees him a roster slot.

I think Baker is almost certainly toast. Polk to PUP. For better or worse I think they trade Bourne

 

[DC Patriots]

Sorry lemme add to that. I think they are waiting to get a better sense of where Diggs is in his recovery. If he’s good to go, I think they try to move Bourne

 

[signbabybrady]

Sorry lemme add to that. I think they are waiting to get a better sense of where Diggs is in his recovery. If he’s good to go, I think they try to move Bourne

“That’s why I look forward to training camp. You know, training camp is when you put the pedal to the metal. But I’m going to do a lot, a lot of homework prior to getting there.” - Diggs

He's talking like he'll be ready for TC

 

[TheRainMaker]

It seems like almost everyone makes the team. Barth not taking chances here.

 

[mgteich]

While I don't think the initial 53 will have 7 WRs, he did qualify that his heavy WR initial roster projection was influenced by the current WR injury situation. With Diggs, Hollins, and Polk limited or worse, it may necessitate keeping more WRs initially.

I'm not sure why that's ROFL worthy.

I feel the projecting 7 WR's on the 53 is RFL worthy. If he listed 4 with 1-2 possibly on PUP that would have been different.
======
Why is this different than listing 11 OL's and then saying that one or two might be on pUP or IR, or LB?
========
He has a reasonable 52 if he would remove one or two of the WR's and add Lowe.

 

[mgteich]

Not enough talent in that WR room to hold onto 7.

Let's be clear.

No roster in the NFL has room in the WR room for 7 WR's.

 

[WinstonSmith]

I feel the projecting 7 WR's on the 53 is RFL worthy. If he listed 4 with 1-2 possibly on PUP that would have been different.
======
Why is this different than listing 11 OL's and then saying that one or two might be on pUP or IR, or LB?
========
He has a reasonable 52 if he would remove one or two of the WR's and add Lowe.

"Why is this different than listing 11 OL's and then saying that one or two might be on pUP or IR, or LB?"

A) The difference is that the WR group has significantly more injury specific doubt than the OL. Hence the potential need to have more hands on deck week 1.
B) He made it clear that it was a short term solution until it worked itself out, he wasn't proposing carrying 7 WRs all year. Teams often factor in injury status and availability when making final cuts, especially for the backend of the roster .
C) So if he had listed 6 WRs you wouldn't have been rolling on the floor laughing like a mad man?

 

[Grogan14]

Its not like the WR talent is so incredible that losing any of them would be devastating.
They have 2 quality WRs- Diggs and Williams.
All others are mediocre and easily replaceable.
6 WRs is plenty

 

[signbabybrady]

Let's be clear.

No roster in the NFL has room in the WR room for 7 WR's.

I'd go with 5 and just make the tough decisions.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I think at LEAST 5 WR, with Polk and Stef starting the year on PUP.

I'm usually wrong, so what do I know.