Anyone want to bet on when the undefeated 2018 Patriots lose their first game? Is it never? It’s probably never. Coming off another monumental win against the villainous Philadelphia Eagles, the Patriots have just discovered a once-secret clause in the NFL rulebook: According to the 2011 CBA, because the Patriots beat the Eagles in the highly anticipated Super Bowl 52 preseason rematch, the Patriots are now retroactively crowned Super Bowl 52 winners. Belichick and company now lay claim to six rings! Suck it, haters! 53-man roster projection. Go!
Quarterback (2)
- Tom Brady
- Brian Hoyer
Analysis: When is it time to worry about the backup QB situation? Brian Hoyer has looked awful since the start of training camp and through the first two preseason games. What’s more concerning is that he still looks leagues better than 7th Round pick Danny Etling, who continues to struggle with accuracy and consistency. Judging from his lack of reps in practice and in the games, the Patriots may have already decided that Etling is better served with a year on the Practice Squad. The team could use an upgrade at QB2.
Running Back (5)
- Rex Burkhead
- Sony Michel
- James White
- Jeremy Hill
- Brandon Bolden
Analysis: Jeff Howe of the Athletic has reported that Burkhead is dealing with a minor knee tear that wouldn’t have held him out if it were the regular season. That’s good news. Sony Michel is on track to return for Week 1 as he recovers from a knee procedure. More good news. James White is still a great third down back and Jeremy Hill still looks very good. Bolden is going absolutely nowhere. The guy does enough to earn his role as a jack-of-all-trades backup as well as a Special Teams Ace. Mike Gillislee is still on the outside looking in. He just doesn’t run with the same vision or decisiveness of Hill and that’s going to cost him. Ralph Webb is still a longshot to make the roster.
Fullback (1)
- James Develin
Analysis: Develin remains among the three best Fullbakcs in the league. Henry Poggi is auditioning for other teams at this point.
Wide Receiver (5)
- Chris Hogan
- Phillip Dorsett
- Cordarrelle Patterson
- Kenny Britt
- Matthew Slater
Analysis: Funny how quickly things change in the NFL. Coming into the offseason the Patriots couldn’t be deeper at WR; fast forward a few months and the team has nothing but question marks below the suspended Edelman and Chris Hogan (who the Patriots are looking to extend). Dorsett looks good in practice but struggles to track the ball deep in live games. He makes the team but he’s not going to be as big a contributor as once thought. Patterson showed off his freaky athleticism vs the Eagles. He’ll contribute this year but how and how much remains to be seen. Britt is coming back slowly from a June hamstring issue, but the Patriots seem intent on keeping him so who am I to cut him from my projection? Slater remains a WR in name only. Eric Decker can’t separate anymore and clearly has forgotten how to catch a football. Including him on the team in my last projection was clearly a mistake and I’d be really shocked to him stick. Despite his popularity, Braxton Berrios won’t make the team. He hasn’t received any snaps with the first-team offense and didn’t dress vs the Eagles. Riley McCarron is also a goner after showing nothing through most of the summer. Paul Turner is a total nonfactor and truth be told, I forgot he was on the team until right now. Devin Lucien was left off last week and will be left off again. He consistently lines up with the third-string offense and ostensibly hasn’t shown enough to be elevated beyond that. This is a really shallow position and I wonder if the Patriots make a trade for a WR or wait until cuts to add one. Either way, there’s a move coming at this position.
Tight End (3)
- Rob Gronkowski
- Dwayne Allen
- Jacob Hollister
Analysis: Gronk is Gronk. Allen is currently nicked up but I’m not sure it matters. His blocking earns him the role. Hollister continues to look good. He’s your “move” TE. Ryan Izzo is likely destined for the practice squad where he can develop more as a blocker before having a real shot next season. Will Tye is more Jacob Hollister than Rob Gronkowski. He had a great catch last night from Brady and followed it up with a bad drop. That inconsistency has been present all summer. He’s cut.
Offensive Line (8)
- Trent Brown
- Joe Thuney
- David Andrews
- Shaq Mason
- Marcus Cannon
- Cole Croston
- LaAdrian Waddle
- Ted Karras
Analysis: Brown-Thuney-Andrews-Mason-Cannon is your starting 5. 1st round pick Isaiah Wynn suffered an injury last night and early reports are not encouraging. Initially announced as an ankle injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that it is actually a ruptured Achilles. That obviously ends his season. Tough break. Cole Croston slides into Wynn’s spot. RT Marcus Cannon continues to be out of practice and the fact that Wynn was lining up in his spot starting this week can’t be a good sign. Let’s just say it’s nothing and Cannon will be out there to start Week 1. Waddle is serviceable and will be fine if he has to start the season in Cannon’s stead. Ted Karras remains the top interior backup. John Ulrick was also banged up last night, hurting his already slim chance at sticking on this roster. Matt Tobin is a player to watch if Wynn is down for the year; I have Croston over him but Tobin has shown up as of late. Jason King has been out of practice as well. Can’t make the club from the tub. Brian Schwenke, Luke Bowanko and James Ferentz are likely cuts as well but you could do worse than any of those three. All three are solid players.
Defensive Line (9)
- Trey Flowers
- Adrian Clayborn
- Derek Rivers
- Deatrich Wise Jr.
- Keionta Davis
- Malcom Brown
- Danny Shelton
- Lawrence Guy
- Adam Butler
DE Analysis: Flowers is currently dealing with an injury but seems like he’ll be back for Week 1. Adrian Clayborn has been showing up as the Designated Pass Rusher the last two weeks. He was productive against the Eagles and forced the fumble that Bentley returned for the score. Deatrich Wise Jr has stepped up considerably so far in his second season. He’s a real threat to start opposite Flowers. Derek Rivers is starting to heat up too. He had, by my count, six pressures (and a sack) vs the Eagles. That’s a lot of disruption coming off the bench. The fifth rusher here is Keionta Davis who started last night and recorded a sack. He’s been uneven as a pass-rusher but the team seems to like him and he’s playing football for the first time in a while, having missed his entire rookie season due to a bulging disc discovered toward the end of his senior season (also the reason he went undrafted). Last week this spot belonged to Trent Harris that was premature even then. He’s a decent player but no lock to make the team. Geneo Grissom is again cut but he’ll likely stick around in Foxboro in some fashion. Eric Lee is clearly behind Rivers and Davis. If the Patriots can get him on the practice squad that would be ideal.
DT Analysis: Danny Shelton and Maclom Brown are your top options at NT this season and have looked excellent defending the run to this point. Lawrence Guy is a good player who adds a little bit of pass rush from the interior. Adam Butler looks really good to this point. The added weight (up to 292lbs) has not hindered his ability to get after the QB. I’m looking forward to seeing him play this season. Vincent Valentine has started to show up. He’s cut here but the battle probably comes down to him or Butler. John Atkins and Frank Herron are likely practice squanders.
Linebacker (7)
- Dont’a Hightower
- Kyle Van Noy
- Elandon Roberts
- Marquis Flowers
- Ja’Whaun Bentley
- Brandon King
- Nicolas Grigsby
Analysis: Hightower and Van Noy are your starters, we know that much. Ja’Whaun Bentley is currently the best LB in the league judging by Twitter reactions. In truth Bentley is very exciting. He’s not a speedy guy in terms of footspeed but he plays fast. He also tackles well and doesn’t look lost in coverage. He’s an exciting player. On Twitter I wrote that people shouldn’t overreact when a player who isn’t usually a starter plays with the starters. In this case, react. Bentley is looking like the real deal. Elandon Roberts makes the team but may have lost his starting job. He remains a strong backup option, however. Marquis Flowers remains an enigma. He flashed as a WLB last year but has not be able to reprise the performance. He’s still a good special teamer though so that’ll help his case. Nicolas Grigsby also makes the team here. He’s been showing up with the third-team defense but more importantly he’s a core special teamer. Christian Sam continues to be outplayed by Ja’Whaun Bentley but he had a good night last night, nabbing an INT and showing more consistency on a down-in-down-out basis. Ideally, he’d stick around on the practice squad. Harvey Langi is still out and will remain out until the start of the season. The team may carry him until then but it’s not looking great for the former BYU product.
Cornerback (5)
- Stephon Gilmore
- Eric Rowe
- Duke Dawson
- Jason McCourty
- Jonathan Jones
Analysis: Gilmore looked like his dominant self vs the Eagles. Rowe was beaten a few times last night but has looked good all summer. He’s in. Dawson is dealing with an injured hamstring but he should be okay to start the season. McCourty was good vs the Eagles until he bit hard on an inside move that led to a 4-yard TD. That’s not enough to cut him, especially given how the rest of the secondary performed, but it’s something to watch. Jonathan Jones likely starts the year as the starting slot CB. He’s been good in practice and I would like to see him in the game. I might get my wish next week. JC Jackson has looked great in camp but continues to struggle in live action, getting beat deep for a 57-yard gain vs the Eagles backups. Still, I think he’s in the mix. Ryan Lewis has looked good in coverage but is dealing with what looks like a wrist injury. He needs to keep pace with the others if he wants to crack the 53. Keion Crossen had a horrible time last night, committing three penalties and routinely being picked on. He does not look ready to contribute consistently. Cyrus Jones has improved his ball security and may have a shot to stick on the roster if neither McCarron nor Berrios make the roster as punt returners. Jomal Wiltz had a rough night against the Birds. He blew a pair of coverages, one of which led to a TD, and looked generally lost playing outside CB. He’s almost certainly off the roster.
Safety (5)
- Devin McCourty
- Patrick Chung
- Duron Harmon
- Eddie Pleasant
- Nate Ebner
Analysis: McCourty, Chung and Harmon make up the best starting Safety group in the league. Eddie Pleasant offers some versatility being able to line up at both Safety spots as well as Nickel CB. Ebner is locked in following his contract extension this offseason. Demarius Travis is big but looks stiff athletically and struggles with short area coverage. Jordan Richards, woof. Goodbye. AJ Moore is a special teamer that has looked good minus one miscue vs the Eagles when he lost contain on a kickoff. He’s a classic Patriots practice squader.
Specialist (3)
- Stephen Gostkowski
- Ryan Allen
- Joe Cardona
Analysis: K Stephen Gostkowski and LS Joe Cardona have no competition and are locks. The Punter competition may already be over. Corey Bojorquez has yet to punt a single football in the games and has never looked comfortable as a field goal holder. Allen is the winner.
So that’s my Patriots Roster Projection 2.0. I’m curious to see what happens at WR and CB. I think the team adds a WR and trades a CB. Who? Don’t know but there are a few teams flush with WR depth (Green Bay, Tampa Bay, and Denver come to mind). As always remember to let me know how wrong I am on Twitter.
McGarvin is a Patriots fan and an aspiring sports writer. Follow him on Twitter @PatriotsPOV for more NFL content with a Pats Point of View.
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