The Patriots players have gone through two weeks of training camp and the first preseason game, so there has been plenty to evaluate up to this point. However, there is still a long way to go before the final cuts are made to the roster, so nothing is written in stone yet.
This week, in particular, is a huge week for the team overall. They’re conducting a joint practice with the Philadelphia Eagles and then have a preseason game with them on Thursday night. That will give the coaches a lot more tape to evaluate on the roster.
So, with that in mind, let’s take another look at putting together a 53-man roster.
Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection 2.0 —
Quarterback (3) — Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Joe Milton
Trade/Cut – Bailey Zappe ***No Changes
Brissett is the starter for now, but Maye is the future. That is why he was drafted #3 overall. His time will come when he’s ready. Regardless of how the other players drafted pan out, the Patriots’ 2024 draft will be graded on how well he develops over time.
I had Milton staying on the first mock. I know many others didn’t, but his ceiling is so much higher than Zappe’s at this point. I think they’ll try to move Zappe to a team that needs a backup; otherwise, he could be brought back to the practice squad (2023 all over again).
Running Back (3) — Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Terrell Jennings
Cut – Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty
Stevenson and Gibson remain locked for the roster as the #1 and #2 backs. In this one, I’m changing out Jennings for Harris. Is this an overreaction to Jennings’ performance against guys who may be out of a job in three weeks? No. While I’ve been a big proponent of Harris, Jennings has shown the ability to gain yards after contact, which was on display during the game.
Harris and Hasty aren’t going anywhere; both would be on the practice squad and available when needed.
Wide Receiver (6) — DeMario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, KJ Osborn, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton
PUP – Kendrick Bourne Cut – Kayshon Boutte, Kawaan Baker, David Wallis, JaQuae Jackson
Leaving Boutte off of this mock was tough, especially after a good performance against the Panthers. They’ll try to sneak him on to the practice squad, if he clears waivers.
But with a dearth of speed, the team opts to keep Thornton and Reagor (who doubles as a returner). Bourne will return at some point, and then the roster will have to be tweaked again. Wallis showed some juice as a returner.
Tight End (3) — Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jaheim Bell
Cut – La’Michael Pettway, Mitchell Wilcox, Jacob Warren ***No Changes
Wilcox had a great opportunity to carve out a spot on the roster on Thursday night but had issues catching the ball. I’ve been a big supporter of Bell and he showcased some of the burst that he has.
However, he’ll need to keep building on that. Henry and Hooper are locked for making the roster.
Offensive Line (9) — Chuks Okorafor, Mike Onwenu, Sidy Sow, David Andrews, Caedan Wallace, Layden Robinson, Calvin Anderson, Nick Leverett, Vederian Lowe
PUP/IR – Cole Strange, Cut – Antonio Mafi, Kellen Diesch, Michael Jordan, Charles Turner, Zuri Henry, Liam Fornadel
Leverett becomes the backup center with Jake Andrews on IR with multiple meniscus tears. Andrews and Sidy Sow are locked into starting roles. After Robinson played a lot of snaps at LG, RG on Thursday, he’d take over RG, which would allow Onwenu to kick back outside at RT.
Caedan Wallace may be the LT at some point this season, but they’d have plenty of depth guys behind him as backups and/or swing tackles.
Defensive Line (6) — Davon Godchaux, Deatrich Wise, Daniel Ekuale, Armon Watts, Jeremiah Pharms, Trysten Hill
IR – Christian Barmore Cut – Mike Purcell, Sam Roberts, William Bradley-King, Jotham Russell
Pharms will replace Barmore on the roster. Due to his blood clot issue, it is doubtful that he’ll be able to play this year. He had a tremendous game on Thursday and has had a strong camp overall.
I went with Hill over Purcell because I have a sneaky suspicion that the defense will be going with more even fronts this year, opting for more of an attacking, penetrating defense. We’ll see.
EDGE Defender (5) — Matthew Judon, Keion White, Joshua Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Oshane Ximines
Cut – John Morgan ***No Changes
Hopefully, the team will find a way to keep Judon on the roster this year. But they obviously hope that his eventual replacement, Keion White is ready to take a big step up in Year 2. He’s big, 6’5, 285, and very disruptive. Jerod Mayo said earlier this year that he’s gotten stronger. We know he is disruptive, now is his chance to put it all together.
Jennings is the edge setter of the group, but Ximines has really come on in camp. Against the Panthers, he was a one-man wrecking crew. I think he’s found a home in New England. Coupled with his ST’s acumen, he will play a big role this year.
Linebacker (4) — Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Raekwon McMillan, Christian Eliss
PUP – Sione Takitaki Cut – Joe Giles-Harris, Jontrey Hunter, Steele Chambers
Bentley and Tavai are an outstanding tandem inside. Tavai is a versatile player who can move inside or outside. The tough cut is Giles-Harris, who is more of the new NFL linebacker, a tad smaller but an athletic, sideline to sideline kind of player. I still wonder about McMillan’s injury history, but the Patriots have always liked him. This is a situation that will bear watching.
Takitaki is another versatile guy who can play ILB or STs. However, he has yet to practice, and time is dragging on. Elliss had a really solid game on Thursday and seems to be ascending. I think he’s moved up.
Cornerback (6) — Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial
Cuts – Shaun Wade, Marco Wilson, Azizi Hearn, Mikey Victor
The Patriots are set with Christian Gonzalez at one corner. Is it going to Jon Jones at the other outside corner, or will Austin or Bolden step up? Jones could move back to the slot with Marcus Jones if either does. However, both Joneses are out with injuries at the present.
This promises to be a big week for the cornerbacks. In a joint practice and game, they face a very potent Eagles offense with excellent receivers. If they show they can hold up, it will go a long way in setting the tone for the season. If they’re lacking, then the team may get Stephon Gilmore on speed dial if Minnesota doesn’t scoop him up first.
I like Wade, Wilson, Hearn, and Victor, but they’re all simply victims of a numbers game here. That said, I like what I’ve seen from Dial thus far. I’d have liked to keep another corner, but that would mean cutting somewhere else. DL? That is a tough call to make.
Safety (4) — Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu
Cut – Dell Pettus, Joshua Bledsoe
Dugger and Peppers are a terrific duo at safety and roster locks. Hawkins has played himself as the #3 safety, who can play in the box and at free safety. Marte Mapu has to hear the tick-tock of the clock. As the old saying goes, “You can’t make the club from the tub.”
Pettus certainly hasn’t hurt his chances to make the team with his play on the field, so he’d be waiting in the wings if Mapu remains on the shelf.
Special Teams (4) — Kicker Chad Ryland, Punter Bryce Baringer, Long-snapper Joe Cardona, Specialist Brenden Schooler
Cut – Joey Slye, Tucker Addington
Ryland has had a solid camp and turned things around. I think he’s in front of Slye at this point, but not enough to write him in stone yet. The other three are all roster locks; however, Schooler has been getting a lot of reps at safety. It doesn’t mean anything at this point, but it is interesting.
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A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)
There’s some depth at all positions accept OT. The starters at OT are right now “shaky” at best. Guard/center has some decent bodies in place, but injuries to the starters likely yields a drop in play. Bottom line: if there’s one spot the pats need to make a trade at, it’s tackle. They could also pickup a solid veteran guard and more easily slide Onwenu out to RT if they must. WR is short term fine. Re-gauge WR end of year.