This projection was originally done on July 27th but has been updated with some early camp news and roster changes.
2021 Pre-Training Camp 53 Man Roster Projection
Roster Total 53 8/2/2021
Offense 24
QUARTERBACK (2) Cam Newton, Mac Jones
Newton will start and play until his performance forces BB to go to Jones, or Jones demonstrates a phenomenal grasp of the playbook in Pre-Season. Belichick stated this week that Cam Newton is his starting QB. Newton has consistently been running with the 1st team offense and throwing against the 1st team defense. Jones has been facing the 2nd teamers but has been throwing to players that won’t be on the team. Let’s see what happens when the pads are on.
Stidham IR, Hoyer PS
RUNNING BACK (5) JJ Taylor, Sony Michel, Damien Harris, James White, Rhamondre Stevenson
Despite being 31 years old, Brandon Bolden will get cut, stick around, and then added back to the roster because of his Special Teams play. Someone will go on IR and Bolden will be re-signed. White can play WR if needed. Watch how that develops. I originally had Michel being traded, but that would depend upon the play of Stevenson, who has just recently come off the Non-Football Injury list. Watch to see if Stevenson plays on special teams. That may make Bolden expendable.
PS – Gaffney if he shows he can play
FULLBACK (0) None
When the Patriots signed the double-headed monster of Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry it made the fullback position obsolete. Johnson will be cut and signed to the PS. They will not keep his International Player exemption so that he could be activated if needed.
Jakub Johnson PS
WIDE RECEIVER (5) Jakobi Myers, Gunner Olszewski, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne, TBD (Wilkerson, Zuber, Nixon). Learning towards Wilkerson.
Harry is saying all the right things and working hard in training camp. By doing this he improves his chances of being traded. I still think he gets traded. Tre Nixon, Kristian Wilkerson, and Isaiah Zuber fight for one remaining spot. Can any of these players play Special Teams which could separate them from the others and make the difference? I am interested to see if Olszewski can play in the slot. The first four are locks. I’m leaning towards Wilkerson because early reports have said he is catching everything thrown at him. Those were the same reports coming out of Titans camp last year’s pre-season.
Marvin Hall is just a camp body and will be cut.
TIGHT END (4) Jonnu Smith, Devin Asiasi, Hunter Henry, Dalton Keene
Troy Fumagalli, David Wells, and Matt LaCrosse are cut. With so much emphasis on 2 TE sets, I think they carry 4. Asiasi could be the fullback if needed. Asiasi hasn’t practiced yet and is on PUP.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8), Michael Owenu, Shaq Mason, Justin Herron, Isaiah Wynn, Trent Brown, Ted Karras, David Andrews, Alex Redmond
I just don’t think Sherman is big enough for Tackle. I go with a guy that has NFL experience in Redmond. Will Sherman, Marcus Martin, Korey Cunningham Najee Toran, Jodny Cajuste, Jerald Hawkins are cut and Cajuste and Sherman are brought back via PS. We haven’t seen anything from Cajuste, and don’t know if he can play? Marcus Martin has been getting Karras’ snaps since he was injured. Need to watch that situation.
Defense 25
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (5), Davon Godchaux, Henry Anderson, Montavious Adams, Lawrence Guy, Christian Barmore
I gave Montavious Adams the nod because he is more of an NT. Byron Cowart, Akeem Spence, Bill Murray, Nick Thurman Carl Davis are cut with Cowart, Murray, Thurman, and Spence coming back via the PS. Davis has a history of concussions.
DEFENSIVE END (3) Chase Winowich, Detrick Wise, Ronnie Perkins
Cut Rashod Berry and Tashon Bowers, with both eligible for the PS. Wise can slip into DT on passing downs.
LINEBACKER (6) Josh Uche, Donta Hightower, Matt Judon, Afernee Jennings, Kyle Van Noy, Raekwon McMillan,
I keep McMillan over Bentley. Harvey Langi is just a camp body. Bentley is a tough cut as a team captain but is just too slow. Hall was another tough choice but is eligible for PS. McMillan is kept for his Special Teams ability.
IR Cameron McGrone
CORNERBACK (7) Stephon Gilmore, JC Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Jojuan Williams, Myles Bryant, Justin Bethel, Jalen Mills
Cut Dee Virgin, Michael Jackson, and DeAngelo Ross. All are eligible for PS
SAFETY (4) Devin McCourty, Adrian Phillips, Kyle Dugger, Cody Davis
Cut Joshua Bledsoe, Adrian Colbert. Both are eligible for PS
Special Teams (4)
K Nick Folk (1), P Jake Bailey(1), LS Joe Cardona (1), Matthew Slater, (1)
Morse’s Morsels
A little outdated but a follow-up to my last article and the pressure on Carmen Bricillo. That has been relieved somewhat with the signing of an assistant Offensive Line coach, Billy Yates. The former Patriot played parts of 8 seasons in the NFL. The Patriots also announced three additional coaches. Bo Hardegree as the QB/QC coach. He comes with 7 years of coaching experience, most recently with the Jets. Vinnie Sunseri moves from assistant Special Teams to assistant RB coach. Russ Douglas joins the staff under the NFL Coaching Fellowship. He will be an assistant defensive coach.
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Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.
