I see Matthews as the Slot with Hogan and Dorsett as Wide. Berrios and McCarron will fight it out to see which can handle the PR duties. Whoever can will get the last spot. Patterson may stick over Britt if BB and Judge see value in his KR ability. However. the de-emphasis on KR may make Patterson vulnerable. Britt is a far better receiver. The only way I see both Barrios and McCarron make the team is that cutting either one when Edelman come back doesn't cost them anything against the cap. Cutting a veteran who is on the 53 man roster at the 1st game would cost the team their complete salary (guaranteed) against the cap. Mitchell I don't even consider until he shows me he is capable of playing again.
This can go many ways but that was a well thought out analysis so I’ll give mine.
Mitchell is the wild card because if he is healthy he makes the team and probably sees a lot of action.
Hogan is set in his role.
Matthews basically takes Edelman’s spot in the first 4 games. He could be the leading receiver if he plays 16 games to Edelman’s 12.
Patterson is going nowhere and while he may not play 50% of the snaps he will be a weapon. There will be “Patterson plays” designed to get him in space with the ball, which could include reverses, Wr screens, shallow crossing routes, jet sweeps etc. He also had the outside speed to pull coverage on deep routes.
I see Patterson as a replacement and expansion of what Dorset did last year. I see 800+ yards from scrimmage coming from him in many varied ways.
Britt will depend on Mitchell. With Edelman, hogan, Matthews and Patterson there is only room for one of Mitchell, Britt, Dorsett, and that role could be very small.
We have 7 capable receivers to fill what really is just 4 roles and depending upon how the TE position shakes out it could be 3 roles plus a guy who barely plays.