Why not 7 WR's on the opening day roster?

[Hugepatsfan]

"Why not 7 WRs"

Simple answer would be that depth might be more needed at another spot than a 7th or even a 6th WR. You can't just look at any one position in a vacuum.

Feels like Brown/Doubs/Boutte are far and away their top 3. If no one pays a real price worth moving Boutte for then they should keep him even if he's not in their long term plans. To keep all of KWilliams/Douglas/Hollins/Chism behind that trio feels like overkill. Chism seems like someone who can be brought back on the practice squad anyway. And if he gets claimed I wouldn't lose sleep over it, but that's just my opinion - I don't think he's a serious NFL receiver.

I think it's easier to keep 6 WRs if they run with just Henry and Raridon at TE. Hollins could be your pseudo third TE with a guy like Dippre and/or Arkin on the practice squad and getting gameday elevations sometimes.

IMO the cost-benefit analysis of potential trade returns will mean Boutte stays. Chism won't make the 53-man roster and will be signed to the practice squad. KWilliams, Hollins, Douglas will be 3 guys fighting for 2 spots and KWilliams would have to be a mind-numbing failure to not earn one of them. So really it will be Hollins/Douglas fighting for 1 spot with the potential both stay if a 3rd TE doesn't make the team.

 

[Ring 6]

This has been the way of the NFL for a few years. Last year practice squad players backed up for teams in about 80% of the games across the NFL. Meanwhile developmental players holding the last roster spot like Caedan Wallace barely dress.

In fact I can only remember losing one player off our practice squad in 2025.

Adjust those rabbit ears and maybe what's going on in the league will come in clearer.

That is simply not true. You are just making it up.
Teams do not put players they want active on the practice squad and elevate them.
They elevate for injuries.

Explain this. Why would you put a player you want on the practice squad, which makes him a free agent? You can only elevate a few times (3 I think).
It make absolutely no sense to do what you are talking about.

 

[mgteich]

Folks seem to be focusing on the last roster spot. That seems wrong since the likelihood is that only 50 of today's roster will on the Game One roster. And besides, the end of the roster players play very little.

But let's play. There's plenty of room for 6 WR's AND a FB AND 3 TE's. I think that there is even room for another player on Offense, perhaps a 10th OL or a 3rd QB.

2 QB
3 RB
1 FB
6 WR
3 TE
5 IOL
4 OT
24 total

There is competition at RB3, WR5, WR6, TE3, IOL5, and OT4. I think that this pretty good for the 2nd year of Vrabel.

 

[Ring 6]

Folks seem to be focusing on the last roster spot. That seems wrong since the likelihood is that only 50 of today's roster will on the Game One roster. And besides, the end of the roster players play very little.

But let's play. There's plenty of room for 6 WR's AND a FB AND 3 TE's. I think that there is even room for another player on Offense, perhaps a 10th OL or a 3rd QB.

2 QB
3 RB
1 FB
6 WR
3 TE
5 IOL
4 OT
24 total

There is competition at RB3, WR5, WR6, TE3, IOL5, and OT4. I think that this pretty good for the 2nd year of Vrabel.

Why would we only keep 50 players

 

[Family]

They elevate for injuries.

Of course it's almost always only for injuries.

Explain this. Why would you put a player you want on the practice squad, which makes him a free agent?

Because you want to keep as many developmental players as possible, and practice squad thefts are rare (one the entire last year). Again you do realize we are talking about the absolute bottom 2-3 of the roster who will not dress anyway the first few weeks?

You can only elevate a few times (3 I think).

Not true. Last year D'Ernest Johnson was elevated three times, signed to the 53, and then waived which left him eligible for 3 more call ups. Johnson stayed longer on the 53, but the rules only require a ONE DAY stay.

You don't even know the rules and you are arguing the rule changes mean nothing.

It make absolutely no sense to do what you are talking about.

Not surprised.

These rules were made during Covid TO DISCOURAGE PLAYER MOVEMENT, yet you're using the same thought process as before they were changed.

Again you're not even aware of the rules, and what they 'were designed to do, but continue to carry this on.

That does make sense after reading your posts over time.

 

[Ring 6]

Of course it's almost always only for injuries.



Because you want to keep as many developmental players as possible, and practice squad thefts are rare (one the entire last year). Again you do realize we are talking about the absolute bottom 2-3 of the roster who will not dress anyway the first few weeks?



Not true. Last year D'Ernest Johnson was elevated three times, signed to the 53, and then waived which left him eligible for 3 more call ups. Johnson stayed longer on the 53, but the rules only require a ONE DAY stay.

You don't even know the rules and you are arguing the rule changes mean nothing.



Not surprised.

These rules were made during Covid TO DISCOURAGE PLAYER MOVEMENT, yet you're using the same thought process as before they were changed.

Again you're not even aware of the rules, and what they 'were designed to do, but continue to carry this on.

That does make sense after reading your posts over time.

You don’t manage a roster by protecting guys you don’t want on the field and exposing guys you do. It’s as simple as that.

Your argument says that as long as you can put a guy on the practice squad, not have him signed by another team (you are lying about the frequency) elevate him 3 times, sign him to the roster, cut him, elevate him 3 more times that’s better than just having him on the roster. Of course your example has nothing to do with your argument because it happened later in the season after injuries.

Elevations are a stop gap last resort, not roster management.

The rules were not made to discourage player movement they were made to avoid releasing players when you had too many injuries. Your hare brained scheme has been practiced by zero teams and never will be.

 

[Wozzy]

Elevations are a stop gap last resort, not roster management.

Terrell Jennings was the clear backup to Rhamondre last season as the “big” grinding RB. He was on the practice squad from the 53 man cutdown up until Rhamondre got hurt.

The practice squad is clearly part of roster management. It’s a place to store developmental types and backups until they’re needed.

They get pay checks and a Super Bowl ring if the team wins it all. All 32 teams have practice squad players they like or want to get a better look at.

Each week, teams can designate up to four players on their practice squad as "protected." These players are ineligible to be signed by other teams for that specific week.

Teams often use their weekly standard elevations (up to two players per game) to give players active roster experience without exposing them to poaching, as elevated players revert to the practice squad immediately after the game.

A team cannot sign a player directly from another team's practice squad to their own practice squad. They must sign the player to their 53-man active roster.

Once signed, the player must remain on the new team's active roster for a minimum of three weeks. This rule prevents teams from "borrowing" players for a single game and ensures the original team loses the player for a meaningful duration.

 

[Family]

The rules were not made to discourage player movement they were made to avoid releasing players when you had too many injuries. Your hare brained scheme has been practiced by zero teams and never will be.

The rules were made for Covid, and were designed to discourage movement between teams. Look it up. So yes they wanted to avoid releasing injured players because that encouraged movement between teams. but that was only one intended outcome.

Another rule change that I haven't mentioned: before Covid you could only have players with less than XXX years experience on the practice squad. Today Hunter Henry could be on the practice squad if he wasn't claimed. The idea is for teams to build there own backups so when there is an injury they don't have to poach other teams players. Every team has their own backups on the PS who know their team's system. In other words it discourages player movement.

Your argument says that as long as you can put a guy on the practice squad, not have him signed by another team (you are lying about the frequency)

This is my last post. You don't grasp was what the rules were meant to accomplish or even know what they are. I didn't lie about anything. It's only a lie because you don't know them. And even if you knew them you wouldn't be capable of understanding the implications.

 

[Wozzy]

This is my last post. You don't grasp was what the rules were meant to accomplish or even know what they are. I didn't lie about anything. It's only a lie because you don't know them. And even if you knew them you wouldn't be capable of understanding the implications.

Admitting he’s wrong seems to be a struggle for him as well.

I’ve always thought this strange behavior on a nameless, faceless anonymous forum… but it is what it is.

 

[Family]

Each week, teams can designate up to four players on their practice squad as "protected." These players are ineligible to be signed by other teams for that specific week.

Yes I forgot about this rule change as well. Actually makes the best case for my point.

This discussion is absurd.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

We should be able to get Chism on our PS. No NFL Team values him as much as us...he's our new Bam Childress.

C J Dippre, a blocking tight end, and Efton Chism III have a 40 yard foot race. Who wins?

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I don't get the talk of cutting Mack Hollins at all - that's subtraction by subtraction in the locker room and leadership departments, and 46 catches is nothing to sneeze at, especially if he can be called upon to backup at a thin TE position.

Cutting Hollins talk is @Ring6. He originally said Hollins was a JAG, and after Hollins proved him wrong, Ring6 can't admit he was wrong. Ring will keep saying Hollins is a JAG for another couple of years so when Hollins leaves Ring will say I told you so.

 

[Ring 6]

The rules were made for Covid, and were designed to discourage movement between teams. Look it up. So yes they wanted to avoid releasing injured players because that encouraged movement between teams. but that was only one intended outcome.

Another rule change that I haven't mentioned: before Covid you could only have players with less than XXX years experience on the practice squad. Today Hunter Henry could be on the practice squad if he wasn't claimed. The idea is for teams to build there own backups so when there is an injury they don't have to poach other teams players. Every team has their own backups on the PS who know their team's system. In other words it discourages player movement.



This is my last post. You don't grasp was what the rules were meant to accomplish or even know what they are. I didn't lie about anything. It's only a lie because you don't know them. And even if you knew them you wouldn't be capable of understanding the implications.

That is not what the rules were designed for you are wrong.
It was designed to not have to release players when you have too many injuries. The NFLPA is not going to agree to rules to restrict players.

However, you distract from the point. An NFL team is not going to keep players they don’t want to put in the field in order to have them exposed on the practice squad so they can call them up 3 times. It’s just not what is done. You put your 54th, 55th etc etc player on the practice squad. Then when you inevitably have more injuries than you 53 man roster can handle you call up the guy from the practice either temporarily or permanently.

 

[rkarp1]

C J Dippre, a blocking tight end, and Efton Chism III have a 40 yard foot race. Who wins?

no one knows
it took both so long to finish everyone lost interest

 

[Salsalife]

The Playbook, the playbook, the playbook. Whomever WR who has the greatest knowledge of the playbook stays on the field other than Brown. Jules said it took him years to figure it out. We need synchronization not Willie Nilly. Drake is improving and does not need dead wood in the reciever room. Boutte's in for me. I'm most worried about my bottom 4. Doubs, Williams, Pop and Hollins. Chism is special teams. Need a slot receiver with 10 catches per game avg. Still would bring Diggs back and he'd be our best slot receiver right now!

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

The Playbook, the playbook, the playbook. Whomever WR who has the greatest knowledge of the playbook stays on the field other than Brown. Jules said it took him years to figure it out. We need synchronization not Willie Nilly. Drake is improving and does not need dead wood in the reciever room. Boutte's in for me. I'm most worried about my bottom 4. Doubs, Williams, Pop and Hollins. Chism is special teams. Need a slot receiver with 10 catches per game avg. Still would bring Diggs back and he'd be our best slot receiver right now!

10 catches per game avg!!!
So all we need is someone who will have the most receptions in a season in the history of the NFL.
Should be easy to find.

 

[moosekill]

Only so many roster spots. Is it easier to find a wr similar to Chism, or a center similar to Brown during the season? Is it more likely you will need a 7th wr or a second center? Those are the questions you have to answer. My guess is Chism can go on the practice squad and no one will touch him. So if he is your #7 wr, why bother?

 

[rkarp1]

Only so many roster spots. Is it easier to find a wr similar to Chism, or a center similar to Brown during the season? Is it more likely you will need a 7th wr or a second center? Those are the questions you have to answer. My guess is Chism can go on the practice squad and no one will touch him. So if he is your #7 wr, why bother?

Givens
PK Sam
JE
Embert
Gallon
Lucien
Berrios
Nixon
Pop
Jeff Thomas
Riley
Hastings

the Pats seem to find these WR's late in the draft or as udfa's yearly, that might have a chance.
Chism is simply the next one, until someone else comes along

 

[Salsalife]

A

10 catches per game avg!!!
So all we need is someone who will have the most receptions in a season in the history of the NFL.
Should be easy to find.

From that position per game...sorry details

 

[TommyD4207]

Chism is simply the next one, until someone else comes along

He's already here. And he doesn't run like he's in cement.