OFFENSE (22)
QB (2) M.Jones, B.Zappe
Cut McSorley, M. Cunningham (PS)
No surprises here, but Cunningham has said that he is willing to learn a new position for himself. That may take a year on the Practice Squad.
RB (4) R.Stevenson, J.Robinson, K.Harris, P.Strong
Cut JJ Taylor, Ty Montgomery
Robinson is just 24 years old and had a terrific rookie season in 2020 with 1007 yards rushing and 304 yds on 49 receptions. Can Robinson regain that form? Montgomery is 30 and on the back nine of his career with injuries cutting short the last two seasons.
WR (5) J.Smith-Schuster, K.Bourne, K.Boutte, D.Douglas, T.Thornton
Cut D. Parker, T. Nixon, L. Bowden
I don’t like Parker because he cannot separate from defenders. Everything thrown to him is a 50/50 ball. He is the worst in the league at getting separation for three years running. Parker is also 30. I am cheering for Boutte and Douglas to make an impact. If they do keep Parker and I have to choose between Douglas and Boutte, I am going with Douglas because he is likely to become the Kick-Off Return Specialist.
TE (2) H.Henry, M.Gesicki
Cut M. Sokol, J. Lumpkin (PS)
No Surprises here. May look for a 3rd TE via waivers or trade. Neither Henry nor Gesicki is signed for next year. Henry might be a candidate for an extension.
C (2) J.Andrews, D.Andrews
Cut Ferentz, Russey (PS)
They have to find someone better than Ferentz, especially since he is 33 yo.
G (3) M.Onwenu, C.Strange, S.Sow
Cut Mafi (PS), Hines (PS)
Not happy with the depth of just Sow. If Sow can play Tackle then I see Cajuste or McDermott cut and Mafi making the team.
T (4) R.Reiff, C.McDermott, Y.Cajuste, C.Anderson
Cut Steuber (PS)
Traded T. Brown
The big change here is that Trent Brown is traded or cut. This all depends on the ability of Sow to play LT. I didn’t like the lackadaisical play of Brown last year.
DEFENSE (22)
DE (2) D.Wise, K.White
This position is a DT in 3-4.
DT (4) C.Barmore, D.Godchaux, C.Davis, D.Ekuale,
Cuts L.Guy, S. Roberts (PS), J. Pharms
33 yo Guy is the victim of the aging bug again. His play has dropped off and better to cut ties a year early than a year late. Roberts is a tough cut but there just isn’t enough room on the roster.
ILB(3) J.Bentley, J.Tavai, M.Mapu,
Cut Fatukasi, T. Hall (PS), C. Munson (PS), R. McMillan
Mapu is strictly a linebacker
OLB(3) M.Judon, J.Uche, A.Jennings
Cut M. Wilson. R Perkins (PS)
No surprise here.
CB (4) C.Gonzalez, Ja.Jones, Ma.Jones, M. Bryant
Cut Bolden (PS) Q. Mosely (PS), R. Randle (PS), T. Hayes (PS)
Lots of position versatility here with J. Jones and Mills at FS with the ability to play CB.
SS (4) K.Dugger, A.Phillips, J.Bledsoe, J.Peppers
Bledsoe earns a spot on the team
FS (2), J.Mills Jon.Jones
I don’t think Mills can play FS because of his lack of recovery speed. Jon. Jones can make a mistake and has the makeup speed to recover.
SPECIAL TEAMS (9)
K (1) C.Ryland,
Cut Folk (PS) B.Baringer,
P (1)
Cut Waitman
LS (1) J.Cardona
Cut T. Arrington
ST (6) M.Slater, B.Schooler, C.Board, D.Mitchell, C. Davis, A.Speed,
Cuts Bolden (PS)
Lots of wild guesses, especially on players that are 30 or older.
Total players: 53 Practice Squad: 16
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Morse’s Morsels
First Rookies Signed
Kayshon Boutte and Antonio Mafi have signed their rookie contracts with the Patriots
Mafi had high praise from his O-line coach when he compared him to Michael Owenu. UCLA O-line coach Tim Drevno knows what he is talking about because he recruited and coached Michael Owenu at Michigan. Drevno noted that both players have a heavy initial punch that disables D-lineman.
Patriots re-sign Tae Hayes
Per Patriots.com, the New England Patriots announced that they have re-signed DB Tae Hayes. Hayes was released by New England on Feb. 15, 2023.
Hayes, 25, was signed by New England to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Dec. 31, 2022, after originally being signed to the practice squad on Dec. 27. The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder played in the final two games of the year for New England and had 3 total tackles. He started the final game of the year against the Buffalo Bills.
Red Zone Efficiency
Warren Sharp comes up with some great stats. The Patriots had the 4th worst (32%) 3rd Down Efficiency when in Field Goal range (35-yard line and in). Further, they were very unlikely to go for it on 4th down (15%), again the 4th worst.
Schedule is to be released Thursday Night
Once the schedule is released, I will have a quick Analysis and Win projection. I am anxious to see when and where the Pats will be playing in Germany. I think I am going to try and attend that game.
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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.
