Latest projected Patriots cuts: Jacoby Brissett, Jonathan Freeny

Well, that was brutal.

I have spent the past five hours trying to get the Patriots' final roster down to 53, and it was agonizing. I always ended up around 54 or 55 players, with several of whom I think are worthy (like Devin Lucien, Conor McDermott, Darius Kilgo, Jason Thompson, and Trevor Bates) always ending up on the cutting room floor.

And that doesn't even get into the guys I kept putting on, removing and putting on again.

A couple of things to keep in mind this time around (my first version is here):

• Julian Edelman's injury: How does that affect what the Patriots were going to do? Do they keep a young receiver like Lucien or Austin Carr, do they keep a seventh running back like D.J. Foster, or do they just hold serve? And how much, if at all, does this impact the punt return position?


• Derek Rivers will be on the 53, and then he will be placed on injured reserve in a corresponding move (likely a claim and I'm guessing for a slot receiver or an edge player). Because Edelman is a vested veteran, he can go on IR at any time and not count against the 53. Update: I received clarification on this from the league office. An player who is not a vested veteran can now go on injured reserve without being subject to waivers, but that player would count against the 90-man roster limit. I'm guessing that's why Rivers is still on the roster. So, unlike years past, he does not have to be on the initial 53-man roster. So that frees up a roster spot now on my projection, which I have updated. Hint: I'm now keeping Foster over Brissett, Freeny and Grissom.


• The Patriots traded for LB Marquis Flowers for a reason: they view him as an upgrade over someone who would have made the 53. That puts Jonathan Freeny, Elandon Roberts and possibly Shea McClellin on notice.


• When you're putting together your 53, keep a list of the seven players you will have inactive on most Sundays. It's easy to say, "I'm keeping D.J. Foster because he can be an alternative to Edelman." But if he's inactive every Sunday, that gets more difficult to say. Same thing with other players/positions.