With training camp underway, here’s my roster projection of who I believe will ultimately make the cut:<\/p>\n
Offense 25<\/strong><\/p>\n QUARTERBACK (3) <\/strong>Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer<\/p>\n Given Newton\u2019s recent injury history and the dearth of quality NFL backup QBs, keeping Hoyer around is a wise move.<\/em><\/p>\n RUNNING BACK (4) <\/strong>James White, Rex Burkhead, Damien Harris<\/p>\n I have Michel not ready and starting the season on PUP while recovering from foot surgery.\u00a0 This is a big opportunity for Damien Harris to show what he has to offer.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n FULLBACK (1<\/strong><\/em>) <\/em>Jakob Johnson<\/p>\n Only true Fullback on roster.\u00a0 I expect Keene will line up in the backfield also.<\/em><\/p>\n WIDE RECEIVER (6)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Julian Edelman, Jakobi Myers, Muhammed Sanu, N\u2019Keal Harry, Damiere Byrd, Jeff Thomas<\/p>\n I expect much better play from this group than they received last year.\u00a0 Byrd and Thomas provide deep threats.\u00a0 Thomas is the KO returner.\u00a0 Another year a UDFA makes the 53 man roster.\u00a0 I like the tall receivers because Newton has a tendency to throw the ball high. <\/em><\/p>\n TIGHT END (3)<\/strong>, <\/em>Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene, Jake Butt<\/p>\n With LaCosse opting out, the Pats will go with two draft picks and a an UDFA .\u00a0 No experience at all.\u00a0 Look for waiver wire pick up here!\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n OFFENSIVE LINE (9)<\/strong> Cannon was going to battle Cajuste for the starting position.\u00a0 I keep Cunningham in case Cajuste can\u2019t perform.\u00a0 Cajuste is a complete unknown of whether he can play or not.\u00a0 Wodward is the backup OC, Herron I wouldn\u2019t cut and expose him to waivers unless its to sign another OT.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Defense 24<\/strong><\/p>\n DEFENSIVE TACKLE (4) <\/strong>Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, Byron Cowart, Beau Allen,<\/p>\n I would rather of seen a veteran DT signed for that 4th DT spot. <\/em><\/p>\n DEFENSIVE END (4) <\/strong>John Simon, Chase Winowich, Tashawn Bowers, Afernee Jennings,<\/p>\n Bowers makes the team because he already has NFL experience.\u00a0 Look for Jennings to start.<\/em><\/p>\n LINEBACKER (6) <\/strong>Ja\u2019Whaun Bentley, Josh Uche, Shilique Calhoun, Brandon Copeland, Cassh Mulai, De\u2019John Harris,<\/p>\n The loss of Hightower coupled with the losses in Free Agency is devastating. \u00a0They go from one of the top defensive units to mediocre.\u00a0 Uche and Bentley start with Copeland and Calhoun working some at DE.\u00a0 Mulai is ST ace and Harris is a run stopper in the Elandon Roberts role. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n CORNERBACK (5)\u00a0 <\/strong>Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty, JC Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Jojuan Williams,<\/p>\n Best CB group in the league.\u00a0 They will be counted on to get the defense off the field. <\/em><\/p>\n SAFETY (5)\u00a0 <\/strong>Devin McCourty, Justin Bethel, Adrian Phillips, Cody Davis, Kyle Dugger<\/p>\n Phillips jumps in for Chung, with Dugger eventually taking over the position.\u00a0 Bethel and Davis\u00a0 are ST aces.\u00a0 Look for Jojuan Williams to play some S also. \u00a0I think Davis can play some S where Bethel is ST only. <\/em><\/p>\n Special Teams 4<\/strong><\/p>\n K <\/strong>Justin Rohrwasser (1), \u00a0P<\/strong> P Jake Bailey(1), LS <\/strong>Joe Cardona (1), Matthew Slater ST<\/strong> Capt (1)<\/p>\n Not much has been said about Rohrwasser\u2019s kicking ability.\u00a0 I hope the pool reporters that will be attending preseason practices report on his progress.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n PUP <\/strong><\/em>Sony Michel, Brandon King<\/p>\n Opt Out <\/strong><\/em>Donta Hightower, Patrick Chung, Marcus Cannon, Brandon Bolden, Marquise Lee, Najee Toran, Dan Vitale, Matt LaCosse,<\/p>\n Notes: <\/strong><\/p>\n The first four veteran Patriots players on the Opt Out list are all 30 or older.\u00a0 They may have played their last games for the Patriots.<\/p>\n Opt Out Player Compensation\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I have read that the $150K – $350K stipend the Opt Out Players are getting, must be paid back if they don’y play in 2021.\u00a0 As noted above, many of these players won’t be back next year.<\/p>\n MNF crew announced<\/strong><\/p>\n Steve Levy, Brian Griese and Louis Riddick are the three man crew.\u00a0 Levy is a clear and concise play by play man.\u00a0 I am amazed that some team has not made Riddick a GM or Player Personnel Director yet.\u00a0 His insight will be valuable.\u00a0 Not sure how Griese will fit in.\u00a0 Lets see how he is used on the broadcasts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With training camp underway, here’s my roster projection of who I believe will ultimately make the cut.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":26524,"comment_status":"open","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":[22020,22128,10],"tags":[22184],"class_list":["post-31620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2020-patriots-53-man-roster-projection","category-2020-patriots-training-camp","category-patriots-news","tag-patriots-roster-projection"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nJoe Thuney, Shaq Mason, Korey Cunningham, Isaiah Wynn, David Andrews, Jodny Cajuste, Michael Owenu, Justin Herron, Dustin Woodard<\/p>\n