MORSE: Pre-Training Camp Patriots Roster Projection
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Patriots 2024 53-man Roster Projection – Pre-Training Camp
Quarterback (3): Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Joe Milton
Cut/Trade (1): Bailey Zappe (PS)
Two or three QBs is the question. In order for 6th Round pick Joe Milton to make the team he will have to show something in camp and during scrimmages and pre-season games. We all know he can throw a football through a brick wall, but does he have the touch to feather a pass when needed. Can he consistently make the short and intermediate throws accurately?
If they need a roster spot for another position, they might go into the season with just two QBs and third on the PS.
I hope that Drake Maye is not rushed into the lineup. The questions regarding the offensive line make me leery to allow Maye to get into the lineup. Keep Brissett at QB and let the veteran absorb the pash rush while the Offensive line gels. Brissett will not panic like a rookie would.
Im not sure Milton would make it through to the Practice Squad (PC). Zappe was cut last year and passed through waivers. I think this will be done again and have him available as a backup should Brissett get hurt.
Running Back (4): Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty
Cuts (2): DeShaun Fenwick (PS), Terrell Jennings
Rhamondre Stevenson received his contract extension
The running back position is tough to evaluate until live tackling begins, so the guys on the roster bubble will need to showcase their skills in the preseason. Gibson and Harris are locks. Both project to be heavily involved in the run game, with Stevenson as hopefully a more efficient lead-back now that he’s paired with a perfect complement in Gibson. That might mean less volume for Rhamondre, which is good for his health but bad for your fantasy teams.
Hasty is a veteran and either Fenwick or Jennings would have to show something in Training Camp to push him off that spot. I wouldn’t be surprised if they claimed another Running back off waivers.
Wide Receiver (5): DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, KJ Osborn, Jalen Reagor
PUP/IR (1) Kendrick Bourne
Cut/Trade (6): JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton (PS), Kayshon Boutte, Kawaan Baker, David Wallis, JaQuae Jackson
Bourne may not be ready to start Training Camp and I could see him put on PUP until he is ready to start working out.
Unless he has a tremendous camp, I just don’t see a spot for JuJu Smith-Shuster. I would have cut him June 1st so they could spread out the $12.3M dead money cap hit over 2 seasons.
KJ Osborn can take that role Smith-Schuster had. He is a proven veteran. Jalen Reagor is an exciting Kickoff returner. Who knows what the new kickoff rules will generate. Reagor has a history of dropped passes, so I wouldn’t consider him a threat in the passing game. It’s the end of the line for the wasted pick of Tyquan Thornton. He is too slender and got hurt on the first play of his brief career. Thornton also doesn’t run good pass routes. I cannot believe that Kayshon Boutte wasn’t cut the day the allegation of illegal betting came out. Too much risk with this guy.
Rookies Ja’lynn Polk and Javon Baker will have a bigger role than normal rookies. Both are potentially exciting players. According to rookie Wide Receiver coach Trent Hughes, “He has a really great work ethic and a process that he sticks to every single day. He’s been good about that. I think his improvement has come from learning our system and playbook and how his skill set fits into that”. Baker made some bold statements when drafted and in training camp we will see if he can back up what he professed.
Tight End (3): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jaheim Bell
Cuts (3): La’Michael Pettway, Mitchell Wilcox, Jacob Warren
Alex Van Pelt’s offense uses Tight Ends and motion as a critical part of the offense. Using three TE sets is not unusual. Unfortunately, none of these TE’s is known for their blocking. Hooper is a veteran and has played for Van Pelt before. Henry has turned out to be the leader and captain for the team. You know exactly what you will get from him.
Rookies Bell and Jacob Warren will compete for the last spot. Bell could be a potentially versatile player, moving all around the formation. His Yards After Catch should be excellent.
Warren is strictly a blocker. However, none of the top three can block. What does the team need more?
Offensive Line (9): Chuks Okorafor, Mike Onwenu, Sidy Sow, David Andrews, Caedan Wallace, Layden Robinson, Calvin Anderson, Jake Andrews, Nick Leverett
PUP/IR (1): Cole Strange
Cuts (6): Vederian Lowe (PS), Atonio Mafi (PS), Tyrone Wheatley, Michael Jordan, Charles Turner (PS), Zuri Henry (PS)
I am very concerned about the Offensive Line. Potential starters are Okorafor LT, Sow LG, D, Andrews C, Onwenu RG, and Wallace RT. If and that is a big if, they can gel, this could be a very good Offensive line. The question marks is whether or not Okorafor can move from Right Tackle to Left Tackle; Sow filling in for Cole Strange and can he make the transition from RG to LG; Michale Onwenu moving back to RG and rookie Caeden Wallace starting at RT. According to Greg Bedard, Onwenu looked out of shape at Spring workouts and that needs to be monitored. Onwenu got paid this year and this is how he shows up to off season workouts?
I am not sold on Jake Andrews but the team does not have a proven backup Center. Could Undrafted rookie Charles Turner put pressure on him for the backup spot?
Defensive Line (6): Christian Barmore, Davon Godchaux, Deatrich Wise, Daniel Ekuale, Armon Watts, Jeremiah Pharms
Cuts (2): Sam Roberts (PS), Trysten Hill
Barmore, Godchaux and Wise are solid starters. The Godchaux “hold in” will get resolved. The Patriots have no backup plan for Godchaux. He played all 17 games last year and continued good health is critical to the Patriots Defense. Watts will assume the Lawrence Guy role in a rotation. Ekuale provides a good pass rush from the interior but is not stout enough to handle Nose Tackle on every down. Pharms has impressed in limited play. The veteran paid his dues in the XFL and Artena leagues before his stint with the Patriots.
Hill may push for a spot and Roberts is just too small.
EDGE Defender (4): Matthew Judon, Keion White, Oshane Ximines, Anfernee Jennings
Cuts (2): Joshua Uche, John Morgan
I put Keon White in the Edge group since he isn’t big enough for every down player at DT. His position is an enigma, as a second-round pick, he should be a starter. Right now, he is a specialist on passing downs, usually at DT.
How much does Matt Judon have left in his tank? This is probably his last year In a Patriots uniform. Don’t be surprised if Judon is traded before the season starts. Judon turns 32 before the season starts and he has been injured the last two seasons. The Patriots survived without Judon, with Anfernee Jennings stepping up.
Oshane Ximines is a player to watch as a potential dark horse candidate to make the roster. Ximines has their ideal body type (6-3, 253) and some pass-rush juice to earn a roster spot.
Uche signed a Vet minimum contract to stay with the Patriots. My guess is there was no market for Uche’s services. He is a one trick pony (pass rusher) with only his speed rush and no secondary move.
Linebacker (4): Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Sione Takitaki, Raekwon McMillan
Cuts (4): Joe Giles-Harris (PS), Christian Eliss (PS), Jontrey Hunter, Steele Chambers (PS), William Bradley-King, Jotham Russell (PS)
This according to Evan Lazar of Patriots.com “Another position group without any major surprises for the time being. The first three names are locks, with Bentley and Tavai projected as core players for the Pats defense”. This Spring the ILBs were very limited for practices that were open to the media. The back up linebackers need to provide coverage on Special Teams. Raekwon McMillan has been hampered with injuries throughout his career. Joe Giles-Harris may push McMillan for the last spot.
Cornerback (6): Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marco Wilson
Cuts (5): Shaun Wade, Marcellus Dial (PS), Azizi Hearn, Mike Victor, Kaleb Ford-Dement
I am looking forward to seeing this group healthy and seeing what they can do. Gonzalez, in his brief month-long preview last season showed why he was drafted so high and is a future shutdown corner. Gonzalez received Defensive Rookie of the month before he got hurt and missed the remainder of the season.
Marcus Jones is back from injury, and he was good at the slot corner and punt returner. Alex Austin, who finished the 2023 season on a high note and is picking up where he left off. Austin is now securely on the team as a rotational outside corner. Lets not forget about Jonathan Jones. He will turn 31 in September. I would love to see him moved to Free Safety. He has the speed to play the position. Marco Wilson is a 4-year veteran formerly with Arizona could provide that vet backup at both CB and Free Safety. Wilson pushes out Shaun Wade for that last spot. The Patriots have been waiting for Wade to step up and he has run out of time. Isaiah Bolden will battle rookie draft pick Marcellus Dial for the last spot. Special teams play will decide that battle.
Safety (5): Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, Jaylinn Hawkins, Joshuah Bledsoe,
Cuts (2): Dell Pettus
Evan Lazar had this to say about Hawkins. “The new name here is fifth-year safety Jaylinn Hawkins. The former fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft has 25 career starts with the Falcons and Chargers, so Hawkins isn’t a throwaway addition after signing as a free agent in March. The veteran safety could be the current group’s Duron Harmon, playing deep safety in obvious passing situations to allow Dugger and Peppers to play closer to the ball”. Dugger signed a big contract extension. He needs to improve his pass coverage. That was what dropped him in the PFF rankings to #68 Safety In the league. Consequently, Peppers was ranked 4th by PFF. Would have liked to see Pepper get locked up with an extension. Mapu is a redundant player to Dugger and Peppers, but the 2nd year player should make a big jump in play. Bledsoe has been on the fringes of the roster since he was drafted injured from Missouri in the 2021 draft. He was waived at the end of Training Camp last season and signed to the Practice Squad. He was signed to the 53-man roster in December. Bledsoe will be an Exclusive Rights Free Agent next year.
Special Teams (4): Kicker TBD (Ryland/Slye/ NFL Vet), Bryce Baringer, Joe Cardona, Brenden Schooler
Brendan Schooler is the only coverage ace on the team now. The days of keeping multiple players to play special teams only are gone.
Chad Ryland was absolutely putrid last year, dead last in all kicking stats. Why is he still here? Just because the team doesn’t want to be embarrassed, they spent a 4th round pick on a kicker that turns out to be a bust? The Pats brought in Joey Slye for the competition. During minicamp, Ryland was 5-for-8 on field goals, while Slye went 8-for-8. Neither showed off a huge leg. I am surprised the team didn’t sign UFL kicker Jake Bates. Don’t be surprised if the team doesn’t bring in another veteran kicker if these two don’t play well in pre-season.
Cardona is getting up there in age (32) and a replacement will be needed soon. He is of Mexican American decent, one of a few players in the league.
Bryce Baringer started the season off well but tailed off as the season progressed. He was 2nd in the number of punts, 3rd in punts inside 20, but only 19th in Punt Gross Average. Baringer is playing in the Massachusetts Amateur Golf tournament later this month.
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I agree with most of these projections. I agree Judon should be traded. This team should focus on developing a young core as they build for the future. Judon is not part of that future. Not sure Godchaux is either. Reagor certainly is not. His potential as a KR is not enough to overcome his deficiencies. He also is past being a development project. Give his WR spot to a younger player and find another KR or two