ralmat55
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2005
- Messages
- 1,973
- Reaction score
- 3,793
It’s never too early for a 53 guesstimate. Reportedly, last year’s liberalized IR and PS rules will continue this year. Vested veterans with 4+ years of experience are not subject to waivers until after the trade deadline. And, two practice squad members can be activated to the 48 player game roster without waivers.
QBs (2) Jones, Stidham - No one can offer any good reason not to start Jones if he gives you as good of a chance to win as Newton which will be clear he does by the end of training camp. Also, there’s no good reason for Newton to hang around as a backup. His $3.5 million is already in his pocket, and he cannot earn his incentives on the sidelines. Hoyer starts the season on the PS, but will be added to the 53 in-season as injuries and as IR moves at other positions opens a spot. He has $100,000 of guaranteed salary coming his way plus his PS salary to keep the Hoyer family solvent until his promotion.
RBs (5) Harris, Michel, White, Taylor, Stephenson - Bolden is waived to get down to 53 but will be resigned when one of the other backs gets placed on IR after the cutdown allowing them to return later. It’s a perilous strategy that the Pats tried in 2018 only to have Bolden escape to Miami. For the IR police out there, because of the physicality of the position, RBs are hurt most of the time but play through it. Sony Michel’s knee would qualify him for the IR at anytime.
WRs (5) Agholor, Meyers, Bourne, Olszewski, Zuber - Harry is traded. It will be one of those Harry and a 6 rounder for a 5th rounder type trades. Nixon and Wilkerson make it to the IR. Zuber gets the 5th spot because of his speed and versatility. He can legitimately back up each of the top 3 receivers and return kicks and punts backing up Olszewski.
TEs/FB (4) Smith, Henry, Asiasi, Johnson - Dalton Keene has been invisible this offseason which does not bode well for him. Plus, I heard somewhere that Keene suffered a pretty serious neck injury last season which is not exactly conducive to a long NFL career.
OL (8) - Wynn, Onwenu, Andrews, Mason, Brown, Karras, Herron, Cajuste - This is a position like QB that will add another roster spot or two as the season progresses. Until then, probably 4 spots on the PS will be filled by OLineman. Ferentz will have a spot, and his $130,000 salary guarantee will help him make ends meet until he’s inevitably promoted to the 53. Marcus Martin or Alex Redmond are other possibilities along with General Sherman.
STs (6) - Bailey, Cardona, Folk, Slater, Bethel, Davis - Nordin will have to clearly beat Folk to win the PK spot because of Bill’s affinity for veteran kickers and Folk’s $1.1 million salary is guaranteed.
DLs (5) - Guy, Godchaux, Anderson, Wise, Barmore - My definition of DLineman are players who primarily will be used in a 3- point stance. I believe we’ll see 3 DLs on the field more on early downs than we have the last couple of seasons. I also see this as another position that could add another roster spot as the year progresses. If 4 “veterans” are allowed on the PS again this year, Adams, Spence and Davis would be candidates for the PS and a future promotion to the 53.
LBs (8) - Hightower, Judon, Van Noy, Uche, Jennings, McMillan, Langi, Perkins - I just don’t see a role for Winovich prompting another trade for a 2022 pick. McMillan and Langi add speed and ST value. Bentley, after a promising start, is someone like Jordan Richards who actually hurts me to watch play. McGrone starts the season on the PUP list.
CBs (6) - Gilmore, Jackson, Jones, Mills, Jackson, Williams - Gilmore’s situation gets resolved either with a ST extension or just a sweetening of his 2021 compensation. I initially left JoeJuan Williams off the list but talked myself out of it. Outside corner depth might be my biggest concern with this D.
S (4) McCourty, Phillips, Dugger, Bryant - Bledsoe starts on the PUP after his wrist surgery.
QBs (2) Jones, Stidham - No one can offer any good reason not to start Jones if he gives you as good of a chance to win as Newton which will be clear he does by the end of training camp. Also, there’s no good reason for Newton to hang around as a backup. His $3.5 million is already in his pocket, and he cannot earn his incentives on the sidelines. Hoyer starts the season on the PS, but will be added to the 53 in-season as injuries and as IR moves at other positions opens a spot. He has $100,000 of guaranteed salary coming his way plus his PS salary to keep the Hoyer family solvent until his promotion.
RBs (5) Harris, Michel, White, Taylor, Stephenson - Bolden is waived to get down to 53 but will be resigned when one of the other backs gets placed on IR after the cutdown allowing them to return later. It’s a perilous strategy that the Pats tried in 2018 only to have Bolden escape to Miami. For the IR police out there, because of the physicality of the position, RBs are hurt most of the time but play through it. Sony Michel’s knee would qualify him for the IR at anytime.
WRs (5) Agholor, Meyers, Bourne, Olszewski, Zuber - Harry is traded. It will be one of those Harry and a 6 rounder for a 5th rounder type trades. Nixon and Wilkerson make it to the IR. Zuber gets the 5th spot because of his speed and versatility. He can legitimately back up each of the top 3 receivers and return kicks and punts backing up Olszewski.
TEs/FB (4) Smith, Henry, Asiasi, Johnson - Dalton Keene has been invisible this offseason which does not bode well for him. Plus, I heard somewhere that Keene suffered a pretty serious neck injury last season which is not exactly conducive to a long NFL career.
OL (8) - Wynn, Onwenu, Andrews, Mason, Brown, Karras, Herron, Cajuste - This is a position like QB that will add another roster spot or two as the season progresses. Until then, probably 4 spots on the PS will be filled by OLineman. Ferentz will have a spot, and his $130,000 salary guarantee will help him make ends meet until he’s inevitably promoted to the 53. Marcus Martin or Alex Redmond are other possibilities along with General Sherman.
STs (6) - Bailey, Cardona, Folk, Slater, Bethel, Davis - Nordin will have to clearly beat Folk to win the PK spot because of Bill’s affinity for veteran kickers and Folk’s $1.1 million salary is guaranteed.
DLs (5) - Guy, Godchaux, Anderson, Wise, Barmore - My definition of DLineman are players who primarily will be used in a 3- point stance. I believe we’ll see 3 DLs on the field more on early downs than we have the last couple of seasons. I also see this as another position that could add another roster spot as the year progresses. If 4 “veterans” are allowed on the PS again this year, Adams, Spence and Davis would be candidates for the PS and a future promotion to the 53.
LBs (8) - Hightower, Judon, Van Noy, Uche, Jennings, McMillan, Langi, Perkins - I just don’t see a role for Winovich prompting another trade for a 2022 pick. McMillan and Langi add speed and ST value. Bentley, after a promising start, is someone like Jordan Richards who actually hurts me to watch play. McGrone starts the season on the PUP list.
CBs (6) - Gilmore, Jackson, Jones, Mills, Jackson, Williams - Gilmore’s situation gets resolved either with a ST extension or just a sweetening of his 2021 compensation. I initially left JoeJuan Williams off the list but talked myself out of it. Outside corner depth might be my biggest concern with this D.
S (4) McCourty, Phillips, Dugger, Bryant - Bledsoe starts on the PUP after his wrist surgery.