Our long national nightmare is finally over; Patriots football is back! Last night the Patriots completed their most important comeback since February of 2017 with their 26-17 win against Washington. Naturally, now is the time to overreact to their historic comeback in last night’s preseason game and what better way to overreact than to make sweeping conclusions on who makes the initial 53-man roster based on limited camp reps and the first of four preseason games? Let’s get started.
Quarterback (2)
- Tom Brady
- Brian Hoyer
Analysis: Rookie QB Danny Etling has not shown enough since being drafted in the 7th round of this past draft to supplant Brian Hoyer for the backup job and I can’t see the team rostering 3 QBs. He would benefit from a year of seasoning on the Practice Squad.
Running Back (5)
- Rex Burkhead
- Sony Michel
- James White
- Jeremy Hill
- Brandon Bolden
Analysis: The top 3 guys here are locked in to the roster; that much is clear, but with 1st round pick Sony Michel recovering from a knee injury, the door is open for 1 of Jeremy Hill, Mike Gillislee, or the MVP of preseason week 1 Ralph Webb, to make the cut. Right now, the nod goes to Hill who was equally impressive vs Washington. Brandon Bolden is a core special teamer and a do-it-all emergency backup which should be enough to save his roster spot.
Fullback (1)
- James Develin
Analysis: This is a no brainer. Develin is one of the best Fullbacks in the league. His backup, Henry Poggi, was serviceable in week 1 of the preseason but is nothing more than a camp body.
Wide Receiver (6)
- Chris Hogan
- Phillip Dorsett
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Kenny Britt
- Eric Decker
- Matthew Slater
Analysis: Hogan has struggled of late but he’s been reliable in his time in New England; expect him to bounce back and be his reliable steady self. Dorsett has looked fantastic this summer and is able to create real separation; he needs to be more consistent making contested catches but I like his prospects this season. Patterson is a human highlight reel and a return specialist; he sticks. Julian Edelman is suspended for the first four games of the season so that opens the door for an extra wideout on the team. Britt is still injured but he’s healing and the Patriots seem to really like him so he’s sticks. Eric Decker can’t separate anymore and clearly hasn’t fully grasped the offense to this point but we’ll give him more than a week before cutting him. Matthew Slater is a lock as a perennial All-Pro. Fan favorite Braxton Berrios, has done nothing to stand out in any tangible ways and is, in my mind, behind 1st year pass-catcher Riley McCarron, who I also have cut. Paul Turner also hasn’t fully grasped the offense and has yet to stand out. Devin Lucien is a player to watch, his last two games in a Patriot uniform has yielded 9 catches for 167 yards and a TD. If he continues to standout this way he could force Belichick and his brain trust into a tough decision.
Tight End (3)
- Rob Gronkowski
- Dwayne Allen
- Jacob Hollister
Analysis: Dwayne Allen was expected to be a cap casualty this offseason but his blocking is so good that he’s a valuable addition to roster, regardless of whether or not he preforms as a pass catcher. Ryan Izzo cannot separate but his hands are solid and his blocking has been very good, especially on Ralph Webb’s two TDs last night. Still, that won’t be enough to beat out Allen for the blocking TE job. Will Tye is a good pass-catcher but I don’t think he’ll beat out incumbent Jacob Hollister who has looked fantastic this offseason.
Offensive Line (8)
- Trent Brown
- Joe Thuney
- David Andrews
- Shaq Mason
- Marcus Cannon
- Isaiah Wynn
- LaAdrian Waddle
- Ted Karras
Analysis: The top 6 players are all locks to make the team. Waddle has been the top backup RT with Marcus Cannon banged up. That leaves Karras as the top interior OL backup. Left on the outside looking in are Cole Croston, John Ulrick, Matt Tobin, Brian Schwenke, James Ferentz, Jason King, and Luke Bowanko. Croston may be the only player with a true shot at sticking on this roster due to his familiarity and versatility but for now I’ll keep him off.
Defensive Line (9)
- Trey Flowers
- Adrian Clayborn
- Derek Rivers
- Deatrich Wise Jr.
- Trent Harris
- Malcom Brown
- Danny Shelton
- Lawrence Guy
- Adam Butler
DE Analysis: Flowers is primed for double digit sacks. Clayborn is a good bet to play the role Chris Long played in 2016 (Designated Pass Rusher) and Deatrich Wise Jr. is poised for a breakout year. Derek Rivers looked good against Washington as both a run defender and pass rusher. Trent Harris came on strong late in Week 1 of the preseason (with a TFL and a strip sack that set up a Ralph Webb TD) and could make some noise going forward—he sticks for now. Keionta Davis is another name to watch, he could be a factor if he continues his solid summer. Geneo Grissom is cut in this projection but at this point the guy is a phoenix and may rise from the ashes and play snaps late into the season. Eric Lee was a solid player last season but I think a healthy Rivers is an immense upgrade.
DT Analysis: Danny Shelton and Maclom Brown are your top options at NT this season. Brown was up and down last season but I think a lighter workload can bring out the best in him and the presence of Shelton should help. Guy was good last year and I expect the same this season. Butler has added weight and will play this season as more of a traditional 5-Tech DT as opposed to last season’s hybrid DT/DE approach. He beats out Vincent Valentine for the final spot.; the former 3rd round pick is the last player off in the scenario and I could see a scenario where he makes the club. John Atkins is the ideal practice squad player for the Patriots. Frank Herron has not shown much to this point.
Linebacker (6)
- Dont’a Hightower
- Kyle Van Noy
- Elandon Roberts
- Marquis Flowers
- Ja’Whaun Bentley
- Brandon King
Analysis: Hightower and Van Noy are your starters. Elandon Roberts is also a pretty good bet to make the team; he’s excellent against the run and the starter in three LB sets. Ja’Whaun Bentley has had a good summer and it showed up big time against Washington where he was one of the standouts on defense. Marquis Flowers is interesting. He was an ascending player down the stretch last season on defense but has not flashed that same magic to this point. Still, he makes the team here because of his standout special teams ability. Brandon King is a core special teamer and a lock to make the team. Nicolas Grigsby doesn’t make it in this instance but he’s a big time special teamer but Flowers also plays defense. Christian Sam was projected to be the late round LB to make it but he’s been outplayed by Bentley. The Practice Squad might be his home in a few weeks. Harvey Langi is probably the most intriguing player here. He’s looked good a times, struggled at others but his biggest enemy is health. Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports that he is dealing with a kidney injury that will sideline him until the start of the season at the earliest. Will the team carry him that entire time? Maybe but for now, I say he’s off the team.
Cornerback (5)
- Stephon Gilmore
- Eric Rowe
- Duke Dawson
- Jason McCourty
- Jonathan Jones
Analysis: This might be the hardest position to project. The team has an abundance of talent at the position but can only keep so many. Gilmore and Dawson are the only locks I have. Rowe is a good bet to make the team as he’s been starting opposite Gilmore. Dawson is a second-round pick and hasn’t looked lost in the secondary; he sticks. McCourty is a better player than Rowe but he has yet to crack the starting rotation. What’s more is he did not play last night, begging the question as to whether or not he’s healthy. That’s something to monitor. That last spot comes down to who can contribute on Special Teams. Right now, the edge goes to Jonathan Jones who is off the PUP list and contributes as both a slot CB and a gunner. JC Jackson has looked great in camp but struggled a bit in live action. Still, I think he’s in the mix. Ryan Lewis has looked good this summer as well and laid a big hit on Washington WR Trey Quinn that had Quinn vomiting in a trash can on the sideline. He’s been steady in coverage and I would like to see him stick but I don’t know who he beats out. Keion Crossen is an athletic option at CB who has shone in spurts but has not shown the consistency to leapfrog the CBs ahead of him. I know most Patriots fans want him off the team but Cyrus Jones has only appeared in 10 career games, which is too early to cut bait. He could make a tough decision tougher by inserting himself into the mix at punt returner and CB. Jomal Wiltz rotated in with the starting unit last night but I don’t think that carries any weight. He’s the longest of long-shots to make this roster. Above anything, it feels like there’s a move coming at CB—more than likely a trade.
Safety (5)
- Devin McCourty
- Patrick Chung
- Duron Harmon
- Eddie Pleasant
- Nate Ebner
Analysis: The Patriots have the best Safety depth chart in the league—don’t @ me. Jokes aside the top 3 here is as good as it gets in the NFL as a trio. The fourth spot originally belonged to Demarius Travis but he really struggled vs Washington, especially in coverage so Eddie Pleasant gets the nod. Nate Ebner is a lock. Jordan Richards has struggled his entire career and this season is no different. In this projection his Patriots tenure mercifully comes to an end. AJ Moore is a mainstay on special teams but has not yet carved out a role on defense.
Specialist (3)
- Stephen Gostkowski
- Ryan Allen
- Joe Cardona
Analysis: No surprises here. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski and Long Snapper Joe Cardona have no competition and are locks. Punter Ryan Allen is competing with rookie Cory Bojorquez and while Bojorquez has the stronger leg, he is less consistent and has struggled as a field goal holder.
So, there we have it: my first crack at the Patriots’ 53-man roster. Let me know how wrong I am on my twitter @PatriotsPOV. Follow and share for more NFL content with a Patriots Point of View.
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