With the 2019 NFL Draft in the books, the Patriots have added 10 players via the draft and the first group of undrafted free agents. Look for some movement among those, as those positions, at least initially tend to be in flux for the first week to 10 days after the draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The roster as it currently stands has 88 players, fullback Jakob Johnson is an international gateway program player and doesn\u2019t count against the 90-man limit. He\u2019ll be on the practice squad once the season starts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first glance, the team has a deep, strong, solid base, especially along the offensive line and at cornerback. Players in bold are draft picks. So, how is the team shaping up post draft? Let\u2019s look at each position and where they may need to still look to add more depth this spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quarterback: <\/strong>(4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tom Brady Four quarterbacks are probably going to be one too many, even if Tom Brady decides to skip the voluntary workout OTAs. Etling would be the odd man out, they just invested a draft pick in Stidham, who along with Hoyer should see a ton of work this spring. This position is set for the year<\/p>\n\n\n\n Running Back:<\/strong> (5)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sony Michel With the addition of Harris, this takes an already good group and makes them better. Injuries last year hurt this position. So, the only question is, will they keep all five? Bolden was brought back for STs but can fill in with the odd carry here and there. Very solid, and versatile group of backs here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fullback:<\/strong> (2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n James Develin Johnson doesn\u2019t count against the limit and should be on the practice squad in September. Develin is extremely valuable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wide Receiver: <\/strong>(13)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Julian Edelman Edelman and Harry begin the season as the #1-2 WRs on the roster, Dorsett as the #3. The team brought in Ellington and Harris earlier this spring. Demaryius Thomas will probably begin the year on PUP and we don\u2019t know when we\u2019ll see Gordon again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fans have been gaga over Berrios since last spring, now we\u2019ll get to see if the optimism there is justified. Of the UDFAs, Meyers is intriguing and had a lot of production at NC State. He has good size at 6\u20192, 203 but doesn\u2019t run well (4.63 time in the 40). Ubosi is also big (6\u20192, 217) and averaged 23.9 yards per catch but isn\u2019t fast either (4.58 in the 40). Davis is a slot guy who caught 69 passes but most were extended handoffs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With questions around both Thomas and Gordon\u2019s availability this season, they\u2019d do well to bring in another veteran to help take the heat off their top two. Or perhaps the team feels that Ellington (23 catches for the Lions) or Harris (28 catches for the Redskins) can add something to the offense. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tight End: <\/strong>(6)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Austin Seferian-Jenkins Everyone, including here, expected the team to address tight end in the draft and probably early. But they didn\u2019t draft one, only adding UDFA Andrew Beck from Texas. Beck is known more for his blocking than pass receiving (28 catches, 281 yards 2 TDs in 2018) as is Ryan Izzo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The team is hoping Austin Seferian-Jenkins can find his game here in New England. Newcomer Matt Lacosse had 24 catches for the Broncos last year. Hollister has shown flashes but can\u2019t stay healthy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Will the team add another veteran tight end (the hype is on Kyle Rudolph) or decide that for 2019, they\u2019ll be content with the production they can get from the current crop and keep them inside as blockers and put the onus elsewhere on the roster? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Offensive Line:<\/strong> (18)<\/p>\n\n\n\n LT Isaiah Wynn Huge positional group here. They draft Wynn to be the LT last year but he got hurt in camp. All the other starters return. They drafted Cajuste to be the RT of the future and he\u2019ll be the swing tackle this year, backed up by Croston…right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Draft pick Froholdt is an intriguing guy who can play guard or center and may push Karras as the top interior backup. It is going to be tough to evaluate all of these guys this spring\/summer. The roster should be set unless Wynn isn\u2019t ready to go and then they may opt for another veteran tackle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Defensive End\/Edge<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n (7)Michael Bennett After losing Trey Flowers in FA, the team brought in Michael Bennett and just added Michigan\u2019s Chase Winovich who brings the good speed and athleticism needed for the edge. In their scheme, he was kind of their \u201ddesignated pass rusher\u201d opposite the TE on the weak side. He should get starter reps early. Simon and Wise and solid contributors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What do the Patriots have in Rivers? It is Year 3 so, the time is now and the clock is ticking on him, Davis and Harris. They are essentially playing for one roster spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interior Defensive Line: <\/strong>(7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lawrence Guy Lawrence Guy is an underrated solid player. The Patriots picked up Pennel to solidify the middle and he\u2019ll be a two-down starter. Butler is a good contributor. Cowart, the big kid from Maryland is a potential 5th round steal. He was highly regarded but flamed out in Auburn before having a really good season for the Terps. He and Kamalu have the versatility to play inside or outside. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on how the young guys develop, they may later opt to bring in another veteran. Allen Bailey is still out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Linebacker: <\/strong>(8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kyle Van Noy The team made no moves here other than bringing in Hall as an UDFA. The top three from last year (Van Noy, Hightower, and Roberts) return. Bentley impressed in the early going before getting hurt and Sam is an athletic type who was hurt in camp. King is a LB in name only. He\u2019s a ST ace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They should be set here unless the injury bug starts to hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cornerback: <\/strong>(8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stephon Gilmore This is the deepest position on the team with eight (8) viable players who can step in and play. The top four were the stalwarts from last year\u2019s Super Bowl run. Crossen played a bit, Dawson was a 2nd round pick who got hurt and never saw the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They obviously liked Williams and moved up for him. Webster is an athletic freak who tested extremely well at the Combine. They can\u2019t carry eight corners, so the obvious thought is they\u2019ll try to trade some of these guys rather than just release them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Safety: <\/strong>(8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Devin McCourty The Patriots didn\u2019t add any during the draft and signed Gant as an UDFA. The top three return and now we\u2019ll see if they can get out of Melifonwu. Again, barring injury, this position is set for 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special Teams:<\/strong> (4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n K Stephen Gostkowski The team re-signed Gostkowski and Allen but moved up in the draft to select Bailey. He and Allen should battle it out as the #1 punter. He has a strong leg and led the nation in hang time. He can also kickoff and serve as an emergency field goal kicker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The initial roster here and we must remember it is only the end of April looks pretty strong and barring health concerns, they should be in really good shape come September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The thinking here is they could really use another WR and TE but they set themselves up very well with an extremely solid draft in 2019. They\u2019ll tinker with the roster and constantly look at ways at improving the team. As we\u2019ve said many times, the team you see in April won\u2019t look like the team you see in September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But for the start of OTAs, the roster is looking pretty solid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow me on Twitter <\/em>@SteveB7SFG<\/em><\/a> or email me at <\/em>stevebpatsfans@gmail.com<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen to our <\/em>Patriots 4<\/em>th<\/sup><\/em> and 2<\/em><\/a> podcasts on blog talk radio as the writers Russ Goldman, Derek Havens and I from <\/em>PatsFans.com<\/em><\/a> discuss the latest Patriots news and game analysis.<\/em> At first glance, the team has a deep, strong, solid base, especially along the offensive line and at cornerback. So, how is the team shaping up post draft?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":21027,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1911,11,10,907],"tags":[34,2008,2010,78,2007,17,2005,44,2004,1959,926,1776,13],"class_list":["post-23420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2019-patriots-offseason","category-patriots-commentary","category-patriots-news","category-patriots-rumors","tag-bill-belichick","tag-chase-winovich","tag-damien-harris","tag-james-white","tag-joejuan-williams","tag-julian-edelman","tag-nkeal-harry","tag-new-england-patriots","tag-patriots-2019-nfl-draft","tag-patriots-2019-offseason","tag-patriots-roster-building","tag-sony-michel","tag-tom-brady"],"yoast_head":"\n
Brian Hoyer
Jarrett Stidham<\/strong>
Danny Etling<\/p>\n\n\n\n
James White
Rex Burkhead
Brandon Bolden
Damien Harris<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jakob Johnson <\/em>**International Gateway Player** Doesn\u2019t Count against 90 player limit<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh Gordon (suspended)
Demaryius Thomas
Phillip Dorsett
N\u2019Keal Harry<\/strong>
Matthew Slater
Bruce Ellington
Maurice Harris
Braxton Berrios
Damoun Patterson
Jakobi Meyers UDFA
Xavier Ubosi UDFA
Ryan Davis UDFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matt Lacosse
Jacob Hollister
Stephen Anderson
Ryan Izzo
Andrew Beck UDFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LG Joe Thuney
C David Andrews
RG Shaq Mason
RT Marcus Cannon
OL Ted Karras
OT Yodny Cajuste<\/strong>
<\/strong>OL Hjalte Froholdt<\/strong>
<\/strong>OL Brian Schwenke
OL James Ferentz
OT Cole Croston
OT Cedrick Lang
OL Jake Eldrenkamp
OT Ryker Mathews
OT Dan Skipper
OT Tyree St. Louis UDFA
OL Tyler Gauthier UDFA
OL Calvin Anderson UDFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
John Simon
Deatrich Wise
Chase Winovich<\/strong>
Derek Rivers
Keionta Davis
Trent Harris<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mike Pennel
Adam Butler
Byron Cowart<\/strong>
<\/strong>Ufomba Kamalu
Frank Herron
David Parry<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dont\u2019a Hightower
Ja\u2019Whaun Bentley
Elandon Roberts
Christian Sam
Brandon King
Calvin Munson
Terez Hall UDFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
JC Jackson
Jason McCourty
<\/strong>Jonathan Jones
Duke Dawson
Keion Crossen
JoeJuan Williams<\/strong>
Ken Webster<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patrick Chung
Duron Harmon
Obi Melifonwu
Terrence Brooks
Nate Ebner
A.J. Howard
Malik Gant UDFA<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LS Joe Cardona
P Ryan Allen
P Jake Bailey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"