Good morning. Here are your Patriots news 5-04 and notes for this week. With the draft and the initial group of UDFAs in the books, the 90-man roster has taken shape. And it is much better than the roster that finished 4-13 in January.
Cutting down the roster to the 53-man limit this summer will take some doing, which we’ll take a very stab at today. I know…they haven’t taken the field in pads yet, but this is based on how we expect they’ll play. But it makes for some good conversation until the players get on the field.
Give our Pats Picker Patriots Roster Prediction Tool a try on PatsFans.com and share with us your early picks and we’ll share some on here.
Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News:
Will Campbell: The new Patriots left tackle was given props by a Hall of Fame left tackle who thinks he should be just fine.
“The whole arm length thing to me is ridiculous,” Joe Thomas said, while stating at the time he came out of college for the NFL Draft, much the same was said about him. He also had another nice thing to say.
Thomas said, “Will Campbell will be a great Patriot.” Thomas thinks that this will be the last time Campbell hears about short arms unless he makes the Hall of Fame and is asked about a newer prospect who the Combine says has short arms.
Drake Maye: The Patriots’ starting QB said he loved hearing Will Campbell’s short speech with Jamie Erdahl at the NFL Draft when he said, he’s “gonna fight and die to protect” quarterback Drake Maye.
“I listened to it live,” Maye told media members this week. “It gets you going, gets your juices going. I think it makes you want to go out there and play football now. Pumped that we picked Will. We got a chance to meet him when he flew in on Friday. Pumped to get things going. Obviously, he seems like a football player. That’s what you want around here.”
Patriots Plane Kerfluffle: Mark this one down as a “whole ‘lot of nuttin,” but once the Patriots are involved, then the conspiracy theories start in earnest.
So, the Patriots’ team plane was chartered by the Defense Department to fly to Guantanamo Bay, not to drop off detainees bound for El Salvador, but to ferry military troops, hence why it took off from the military base in El Paso, Texas.
Of course, the truth doesn’t matter, but sorry, no story here.
Patriots No-Huddle: Derek, Mike D’Abate, and I discussed the draft with Patriots.com and Patriots Unfiltered’s Evan Lazar. Please check us out and listen to us on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriot tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position. This will be displayed in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
Breaking Down The Patriots’ 53-Man Roster Projection:
Here is a quick breakdown of very early Patriots’ 53-man Roster and how we feel things may play out, but there is a long way to go until September. But here is a good place to start. Check out our Pats Picker on PatsFans.com. It will make it easier to see what the team is looking at, roster wise.
Quarterback (2) :
Joshua Dobbs, Drake Maye
No surprises here, Dobbs was brought in to be Drake Maye’s backup. Maye is the future, and the present. Ben Wooldridge will go to the practice squad and serve as the emergency QB
Running Back (5):
Lan Larison, Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, TreVeyon Henderson, Brock Lampe (FB)
Gibson may see a reduced load this season with Henderson now on the team. And if Larison has a strong camp, they may release Gibson to let him find a role elsewhere. Josh McDaniels has always used a FB in his offense, but he may opt to run a different style of offense this season, in which case they may use a TE in certain situations. Terrell Jennings to the practice squad.
Tight End (3):
CJ Dippre, Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper
Henry and Hooper were the most consistent targets that Drake Maye had in 2024. McDaniels will find inventive ways to use them. I was surprised that Dippre went undrafted. But he’s a good get for the team. He’s a good blocker who is a good receiver when called upon, which wasn’t alot at Alabama.
Gee Scott winds up on the practice squad, he’s another good blocker.
Wide Receiver (6):
Ja’Lynn Polk, Kayshon Boutte, Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams
In training camp, this will be the most contested position on the team, With 12 WRs currently on the roster, half of them must go, which is no easy task. But, take a look at who’s here.
They signed Diggs and Hollins in free agency, they aren’t going anywhere. Kyle Williams was a 3rd round draft pick. He’s a lock. Douglas has to be darned close to being a lock. That leaves two slots. Here Boutte and Polk make the team.
DeMeer Blankumsee, Efton Chism go to the practice squad, but keep a sharp eye peeled for Chism, he may push one of the final two. I think they’ll trade Kendrick Bourne although he had a fantastic season with McDaniels and Mac Jones back in 2021. Javon Baker is the odd man out here with John Jiles. But the final two spots could easily change.
Center (2):
Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury
The team signed Bradbury to a two-year deal after he was released by Minnesota. But it really is a one-year deal if they decide to move on. He struggled badly a year ago. In a perfect world, Bradbury would start this year, while Wilson, who they drafted would learn from him and take over in 2026 or even late this year. Wilson is going to be a good one.
Guard (4):
Wes Schweitzer, Layden Robinson, Mike Onwenu, Cole Strange
Mike Onwenu is locked as the starting left guard. Strange and Robinson will compete for the left guard, while Schweitzer backs up Onwenu. Jack Conley, Ben Brown, Cole Birdow end up on the practice squad.
Tackle (4):
Marcus Bryant, Caedan Wallace, Will Campbell, Morgan Moses
Tackle has been transformed this season, as has the entire offensive line. Morgan Moses will take over right tackle backed up by Caedan Wallace. Moses is a very good veteran who will bring stability and veteran presence to the room.
Will Campbell is the future at left tackle, unless his T-Rex arms don’t allow him to tie his cleats on game day, backed up by Marcus Bryant. Jack Conley, Ben Brown, Cole Birdow go to the practice squad.
Defensive Line (6):
Keion White, Milton Williams, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Christian Barmore
The addition of Williams and hopefully a healthy Barmore will make the interior DL a horrow show to defend against. White, Farmer, Pharms, and Tonga will keep legs fresh and provide pass rush (White).
Jaquelin Roy, Elijah Ponder go to the practice squad.
Off-The-Ball Linebacker (4):
Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai, Robert Spillane
The Patriots released Ja’Whaun Bentley and Spillane has taken his place. He’s faster and more athletic, Gibbens is cut from the same cloth. Eliis was re-signed and Tavai, who was a favorite to be cut this spring, sticks (for now).
If there is an area to add still at linebacker it would be linebacker. The starters are good, but they could use more depth. Cam Riley to the practice squad.
Edge Rushers (4):
K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, Harold Landry, Bradyn Swinson
You could drop Keion White in here depending on the package they are using. Landry and Jennings are the early down edge setters and pass rushers. Chaisson and Swinson are capable situational pass rushers.
Monty Rice goes to the practice squad.
Cornerback 5):
Alex Austin, Marcus Jones, Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Isaiah Bolden
The addition of Carlton Davis was huge this spring. He and Christian Gonzalez give the Patriots one of the best starting tandems at boundary CB in the league. Marcus Jones mans the slot with Austin and Bolden as backups.
But remember, Craig Woodson (below) can play the slot.
Safety (4):
Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Craig Woodson, Marcus Epps
The team has a good group to work with…again. Brendan Schooler could be mentioned here, but we’ll list him with the STs. They have two very good strong safeties, and now two free safeties, with Schooler for good measure.
Jaylinn Hawkins, Dell Pettus to the practice squad. Marte Mapu should be kept as a linebacker but he misses the cut here at safety.
ST (4):
Andres Borregales, Julian Ashby, Bryce Baringer, Brenden Schooler
The rookie draft pick Borregales beats out John Parker Romo, the rest are locks.
Don’t look now, but there are more than a dozen rookies on our initial roster. Talk about a turnover? It speaks volumes about what a good draft the Patriots had, to include selecting UDFAs. They did a great job this spring.
Total Players: 53
Created with PatsPicker at PatsFans.com
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“Craig’s a player that we had some great exposure with at the East-West game. Craig was able to come in here. He’s a great person, a high level of character, a really smart football player. I think the communication skills that he possesses at the safety position are something that sets him apart.
“Cal’s had a history of having really good communicators in their program from the backfield for the defensive secondary standpoint. That’s a little bit about Craig, just a great person and a high level communicator at the safety position.
“Josh [Farmer] has an amazing story. Josh has faced a ton of adversity in his life. Josh is eager and looking forward to continue to be coached, continue to develop some of the traits and skills that he possesses. Josh has had a relationship with our defensive line coach, Coach [Clint] McMillan.
“They’ve had a relationship for a long time and it helped us understand the picture of Josh too in a lot of ways. Again, going about investing in people, you guys have probably heard Coach Vrabel talk about that. Investing in the people, it’s what we want to do once they become a part of our team.
When we took [Bradyn] Swinson, he really had an interesting career at LSU. He started in the back end of things behind some good players, but he always had a knack for rushing the passer. I think over the last two years, he’s had more opportunities to do that. His ability on the edge to create pressures have some disruption out there from a hard program at LSU.
With the kicker, we thought that [Andres] Borregales has a big leg; he’s really talented. I know the idea about kickers, a lot of times is strong legs, and that’s obviously paramount. I think the weather is one of those things where we all talk about it, but is there really a metric or a measurement that says, ‘What is the production in cold-weather games?’
“ If I’m not mistaken, I think Nick Folk kicked at Arizona and did okay for a long time here to some degree. I think what you want to focus on is, ‘What’s the mindset and the makeup of the person?’ ‘What’s the talent level?’ ‘How explosive is the ball coming off his foot?’ Just like anything, I don’t think we can base that this guy had this exposure. Your poll would really shrink if you said, ‘Let me go find cold weather kickers and who are they?’”
Patriots VP of Player Personnel Ryan Cowden on the thought process of taking their Day 3 players
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“Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we’re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we’re making.’” — Mike Vrabel
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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)
If you look at this roster depth from a “where are the pats thin or vulnerable aspect”, there’s not a lot. There’s zero position where they have a flat out gap/hole. But to list the thin vulnerable areas its: 1) QB depth. I don’t know Dobbs well, but assuming a huge drop off if Maye goes down. Most teams have a high end backup. . Don’t design run Maye!!! 2) DT. There’s names/bodys there aplenty, but after Baremore/Milton and maybe Farmer, it’s a questionable area in terms of talent. And I list this spot as most teams rotate DT a… Read more »
Good morning Jim, there is always room for improvement, but overall they look pretty solid, I agree. I think Linebacker is one spot where they could use some added depth.
But, we’ll see how it plays out. As far as Dobbs goes, I was never a fan going back to his college days, but he’s a good backup QB. DT Tonga is a massive run-stuffer, doesn’t offer much as a pass rusher, but superb against the run.
Mapu is a tough cut, but with an injury here or there he makes the team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Conley make the team. He’s a big boy who played for Marrone at BC and was given a pretty good UDFA guarantee.
I agree, I would like to see him at linebacker