Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection 1.0

[PatsFans.com Article]

Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection 1.0
By: Derek Havens

With nearly a month and a half until camp begins and the NFL Draft in the past, the New England Patriots are now deep into off-season mode. Team workouts, rookie mini-camps and minor roster shuffling will keep the team occupied until training camp begins....

CLICK HERE TO READ THIS STORY​

 

[50-yard-line]

Nice analysis. Couple of quibbles: A Wilson will not only make the team, he's going to be a stalwart on the Pats D for the next couple of years. He got moved out for reasons other than his play last year (dead team, youth movement, salary issues - Arizona knew they wouldn't keep him). He adds a tremendous amount to that D backfield.

Daniel Fells was hurt last year - his shin was not good, from what I've read. Fells is a legitimate, good TE, so I could only see him getting tossed aside if it's for salary reasons. If he gets cut, he'll be picked up very quickly.

Not sure if Beauharnis (sp?) and Buchanon make the cut this year and I still think there's a couple of moves to be made. Idonjae? Abraham?

You don't think Hawkins has a chance to make the squad?

 

[Se7eN]

Nice analysis. Couple of quibbles: A Wilson will not only make the team, he's going to be a stalwart on the Pats D for the next couple of years. He got moved out for reasons other than his play last year (dead team, youth movement, salary issues - Arizona knew they wouldn't keep him). He adds a tremendous amount to that D backfield.

Daniel Fells was hurt last year - his shin was not good, from what I've read. Fells is a legitimate, good TE, so I could only see him getting tossed aside if it's for salary reasons. If he gets cut, he'll be picked up very quickly.

Not sure if Beauharnis (sp?) and Buchanon make the cut this year and I still think there's a couple of moves to be made. Idonjae? Abraham?

You don't think Hawkins has a chance to make the squad?

I agree, Wilson will definitely be a lock. Even if he isn't playing a whole lot he will be there in a mentoring role

2013:

Base salary: $1 million

Cap hit: $1,333,333

Cash value: $2 million

2014:

Base salary: $1.5 million

Cap hit: $1,833,333

Cash value: $1.5 million

2015:

Base salary: $1.5 million

Cap hit: $1,833,333

Cash value: $1.5 million

 

[JR4]

projection looks pretty good at this point but unexpected players
may emerge.

My tweaks:
With Cannon able to play Tackle they may only go with 8 on Oline.

I would add Michael Jenkins to WR list.

Unless he get injured I think Ras-I is a lock for this roster.

 

[Luxusdk]

I would chance:

DB: Cole with Ras-I and Gregory with Ebner. Saves $ and Ebner is ST lock anyway.

DE: Cunningham with Bequette. Not red shirting a player for a year and then cut him. BUT! This Spot could be found with Forston to PS.

TE: Gronk with Fells - PUP INC for Gronk.

WR: Edelman with Harrison. Yes im insane, but Edelman cant stay healthy, plus we got Washington for returns.

 

[patriot lifer]

projection looks pretty good at this point but unexpected players
may emerge.

My tweaks:
With Cannon able to play Tackle they may only go with 8 on Oline.

I would add Michael Jenkins to WR list.

Unless he get injured I think Ras-I is a lock for this roster.

I still think they do 9, unless someone starts on PUP. O-line is just too important especially with Vollmer's back issues. And it was only in 2011 when they reached very deep in their O-line depth. I think it'd be worth maintaining the 9 O-linemen convention. And it's not like they don't have the talent to fill out the 9 spots. I think it's there, barring injuries.

Will be very curious how the WR position plays out. They will certainly give Jenkins and Jones the chance to make the team. He'll get plenty of starting reps with the 1's. He'll either be released early or will be without pads in week 4 of the preseason talking with the other roster locks on the sideline. I'm still not sure if we take 4 or 5 WR's (excluding Slater).

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Given the emphasis BB puts on STs, I'd put a high likelihood of Ebner making the roster. I also expect Dowling to make it if healthy.

 

[DocHoliday]

Here are my notables:

RB Ridley, Stevan
RB Vereen, Shane
RB2 Bolden, Brandon - No pass protection ability means no Blount.
KR/RB Washington, Leon

WR Amendola, Danny
WR Dobson, Aaron
WR Edelman, Julian - Really no good reason other than injury Moe will beat him out.
WR Boyce, Josh
WR Jenkins, Michael - Just too reliable and classic Belichick vet.
ST/WR Slater, Matthew

TE1 Gronkowski, Rob
TE2/WR/HB Hernandez, Aaron
TE3 Ballard, Jake
TE Harrison, Mark - Converts to TE from WR and beats out the unremarkable Hooman.

DT Wilfork, Vince
DT Kelly, Tommy
DT Armstead, Armond
DT Vellano, Joe -I don't see Francis or Forston making it. Both have better duplicates on roster.
DE Jones, Chandler
DE Bequette, Jake - I think he'll break out.
DT Cunningham, Jermaine - The ever underrated Cunningham doesn't open eyes but still better than the unproven alternatives.

LB/DE Ninkovich, Rob
OLB/DE Collins, Jamie
ILB Spikes, Brandon
LB Hightower, Dont'a
LB Mayo, Jerod
LB Fletcher, Dane - Cover LB. Very much needed.
OLB/DE Buchanan, Michael - Brings the heat.
LB/DE Benard, Marcus - The next Mark Anderson.

CB Talib, Aqib
CB Dowling, Ras-I - I think this is his year.
CB Arrington, Kyle
CB Dennard, Alfonzo
CB Ryan, Logan
FS McCourty, Devin
SS/LB Wilson, Adrian - Stalwart of this D I think.
SS2 Wilson, Tavon
ST/SS3 Ebner, Nate - ST phenom.
FS3 Harmon, Duron - Takes Gregory's place. The team will gladly take the cap hit that comes with cutting Gregory to get someone with more upside.

I left out OT/OL cause I know next to nothing about OT/OL play. ST will remain the same. QB will remain the same (2).

 

[Bruins29]

Isn't Harrison a WR?

Fells should make it.

I agree that RID will be on the team. I can't believe anyone would leave him off the roster. He may be starting.

 

[DocHoliday]

Isn't Harrison a WR?

Fells should make it.

I agree that RID will be on the team. I can't believe anyone would leave him off the roster. He may be starting.

He's a big, heavy WR who could gain 10 lbs and play the Delanie Walker role. I don't agree about Fells. It's really a numbers game. We'll carry 4 TEs, and it comes down to Harrison (who has virtually no shot of making it as a WR if everyone is healthy), Fells, and Hooman.

Gronk has his backup in Ballard.
Hernandez has his backup in _____?

Harrison is the best candidate for the job. Also you have intriguing talent the 6'7 Zach Sudfield. Just too much competition for him to have a shot I think.

 

[Patsbacker]

I am making my bold prediction now...Zach Sudfeld will be the 4th TE. He is taller than Gronk and has some decent production. Reiss saying they've thrown to him a lot in OTA's. I know that doesn't mean much but I really like his film and I think he's a sleeper.

 

[Bruins29]

I am making my bold prediction now...Zach Sudfeld will be the 4th TE. He is taller than Gronk and has some decent production. Reiss saying they've thrown to him a lot in OTA's. I know that doesn't mean much but I really like his film and I think he's a sleeper.

11 reps on the bench press is really low. That could be an upper body strength issue.

 

[jmt57]

Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection, 6/14, NESN

Luke Hughes and Doug Kyed of NESN with some very early roster projections.
Players underlined are ones that they do not agree on; the link below will give you their thoughts on each position.

Tim Tebow, Julian Edelman Among Tough Cuts in Patriots’ 53-Man Roster Projection | New England Patriots | NESN.com

QB
Kyed: Tom Brady, Ryan Mallett (2)
Hughes: Brady, Mallett, Tim Tebow (3)

RB
Kyed: Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Leon Washington, Brandon Bolden (4)
Hughes: Ridley, Vereen, Washington, LeGarrette Blount (4)

WR
Kyed: Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Julian Edelman, Josh Boyce, Michael Jenkins, Matthew Slater (6)
Hughes: Amendola, Dobson, Boyce, Jenkins, Slater, Lavelle Hawkins, Donald Jones (7)

TE
Kyed: Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Jake Ballard, Zach Sudfeld (4)
Hughes: Gronkowski, Hernandez, Ballard, Sudfeld (4)

OL
Kyed: Nate Solder, Logan Mankins, Ryan Wendell, Dan Connolly, Sebastian Vollmer, Will Svitek, Marcus Cannon, Markus Zusevics, Nick McDonald (9)
Hughes: Solder, Vollmer, Mankins, Connolly, Wendell, Zusevics, Cannon, Kevin Haslam (8)


DE
Kyed: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Justin Francis, Michael Buchanan, Jermaine Cunningham (5)
Hughes: Jones, Ninkovich, Buchanan, Cunningham, Francis, Jake Bequette (6)

DT
Kyed: Vince Wilfork, Tommy Kelly, Armond Armstead, Marcus Forston (4)
Hughes: Wilfork, Kelly, Armstead (3)

LB
Kyed: Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Dane Fletcher, Steve Beauharnais (6)
Hughes: Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Collins, Fletcher (5)

CB
Kyed: Aqib Talib, Alfonzo Dennard, Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Ras-I Dowling (5)
Hughes: Talib, Arrington, Dowling, Dennard, Ryan (5)

SAFETY
Kyed: Devin McCourty, Tavon Wilson, Adrian Wilson, Steve Gregory, Duron Harmon (5)
Hughes: McCourty, Adrian Wilson, Tavon Wilson, Gregory, Harmon (5)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kyed: Steve Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken (3)
Hughes: Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken (3)


FINAL SELECTIONS
LAST THREE IN
Kyed: Jermaine Cunningham, Nick McDonald, Steve Beauharnais
Hughes: Donald Jones, Jake Bequette, Kevin Haslam

LAST THREE OUT
Kyed: Jake Bequette, Tim Tebow, Michael Hoomanawanui
Hughes: Julian Edelman, Marquise Cole, Marcus Forston​

 

[jah]

I'll give it another shot...nothing to do nowadays.

QB: Brady, Mallett, Tebow
RB: Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Washington
WR: Amendola, Jenkins, Edelman, Dobson, Boyce, Slater
TE: Gronkowski, Hernandez, Ballard, Hoomanawanui
OL: Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Connolly, Vollmer, Svitek, Cannon, Zusevics, N. McDonald
DT: Wilfork, Kelly, Armstead, Grissom
DE: Jones, Ninkovich, Francis, Bequette, Buchanan
LB: Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Fletcher, Collins, Beauharnais
CB: Talib, Dennard, Arrington, Dowling, Ryan
S: McCourty, A. Wilson, T. Wilson, Harmon
ST: Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken

-Wish I could have found a place for Thompkins, but I think all the other WRs are too hard to cut and 3 rookies at one position is a bit excessive.
-Also wish I could have put Sudfeld in but a reserve TE who excels at blocking is essential, so Hoomanawanui gets in.
-Not satisfied with the OL. Too many tackles, not enough guards. If there were a solid backup guard, I would pick him over Svitek.
-Grissom is the surprise UDFA to make the team because he's the only NT-type player on the roster besides Wilfork after Love was cut.
-Cunningham's time is up. Can't do **** without PEDs. Bequette gets one more year based on his pure talent but he needs to step up.
-Both Gregory and Ebner are gone. Ebner lost his spot on my 53 when Tebow was signed.

 

[dannydyn]

No Ras-I at corner?

 

[Jimke]

I'll give it another shot...nothing to do nowadays.

QB: Brady, Mallett, Tebow
RB: Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Washington
WR: Amendola, Jenkins, Edelman, Dobson, Boyce, Slater
TE: Gronkowski, Hernandez, Ballard, Hoomanawanui
OL: Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Connolly, Vollmer, Svitek, Cannon, Zusevics, N. McDonald
DT: Wilfork, Kelly, Armstead, Grissom
DE: Jones, Ninkovich, Francis, Bequette, Buchanan
LB: Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Fletcher, Collins, Beauharnais
CB: Talib, Dennard, Arrington, Dowling, Ryan
S: McCourty, A. Wilson, T. Wilson, Harmon
ST: Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken

-Wish I could have found a place for Thompkins, but I think all the other WRs are too hard to cut and 3 rookies at one position is a bit excessive.
-Also wish I could have put Sudfeld in but a reserve TE who excels at blocking is essential, so Hoomanawanui gets in.
-Not satisfied with the OL. Too many tackles, not enough guards. If there were a solid backup guard, I would pick him over Svitek.
-Grissom is the surprise UDFA to make the team because he's the only NT-type player on the roster besides Wilfork after Love was cut.
-Cunningham's time is up. Can't do **** without PEDs. Bequette gets one more year based on his pure talent but he needs to step up.
-Both Gregory and Ebner are gone. Ebner lost his spot on my 53 when Tebow was signed.

Sudfeld is a good blocker. Had a blocking efficiency of 94.6% plus
blocked on 24 touchdown scoring plays.

 

[jah]

Sudfeld is a good blocker. Had a blocking efficiency of 94.6% plus
blocked on 24 touchdown scoring plays.

Oh, nice! I didn't know whether he was a good or bad blocker so I just went with the proven good blocker, but I think I'll put Sudfeld on my 53 now.

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

I would chance:

DB: Cole with Ras-I and Gregory with Ebner. Saves $ and Ebner is ST lock anyway.

DE: Cunningham with Bequette. Not red shirting a player for a year and then cut him. BUT! This Spot could be found with Forston to PS.

TE: Gronk with Fells - PUP INC for Gronk.

WR: Edelman with Harrison. Yes im insane, but Edelman cant stay healthy, plus we got Washington for returns.

Come on man, this is insane, actually kind of stupid. Everybody acts like if someone gets injured .. oh boy lets cut them? Jeez, ITS FOOTBALL, so it happens. If that were the case then every roster in the NFL would be thin, but thank God its up to the coaches. Washington over Edelman? Have you watched this guy contribute in the many different ways that he does, as hard as he does, for 60 minutes. He is a true patriot and Bill Belichick type of player all the way, on and off the field. One of the faces of the franchise in my opinion and a very capable slot receiver who was on a hot streak before his injury last season. Remember, when he filled in for the injured Wes Welker a few years ago, did really well. He is our own jackknife that does screens, reverses, slot, and even shown capability to catch long balls (vs Jets last year). Not only that, his elusiveness makes him fun to watch with the ball in his hands and one of the better punt returners in this league.. and young. Experienced in the system and caught passes from Brady, extremely valuable with star quality and you want Washington over him......

 

[NEPettyOfficer72]

No Ras-I at corner?

Exactly, this guys has shutdown potential and is extremely talented in every sense, and he is long.

 

[primetime]

I'll give it another shot...nothing to do nowadays.

QB: Brady, Mallett, Tebow
RB: Ridley, Vereen, Bolden, Washington
WR: Amendola, Jenkins, Edelman, Dobson, Boyce, Slater
TE: Gronkowski, Hernandez, Ballard, Hoomanawanui
OL: Solder, Mankins, Wendell, Connolly, Vollmer, Svitek, Cannon, Zusevics, N. McDonald
DT: Wilfork, Kelly, Armstead, Grissom
DE: Jones, Ninkovich, Francis, Bequette, Buchanan
LB: Mayo, Spikes, Hightower, Fletcher, Collins, Beauharnais
CB: Talib, Dennard, Arrington, Dowling, Ryan
S: McCourty, A. Wilson, T. Wilson, Harmon
ST: Gostkowski, Mesko, Aiken

-Wish I could have found a place for Thompkins, but I think all the other WRs are too hard to cut and 3 rookies at one position is a bit excessive.
-Also wish I could have put Sudfeld in but a reserve TE who excels at blocking is essential, so Hoomanawanui gets in.
-Not satisfied with the OL. Too many tackles, not enough guards. If there were a solid backup guard, I would pick him over Svitek.
-Grissom is the surprise UDFA to make the team because he's the only NT-type player on the roster besides Wilfork after Love was cut.
-Cunningham's time is up. Can't do **** without PEDs. Bequette gets one more year based on his pure talent but he needs to step up.
-Both Gregory and Ebner are gone. Ebner lost his spot on my 53 when Tebow was signed.

Additions to the roster between now and opening day notwithstanding, this looks like the most reasonable projection I've seen.