Counting down the most valuable Patriots -- No. 90 to No. 82

With training camp looming, we’ve decided to rate the Patriots’ roster, counting down the most valuable from No. 90 to No. 1. “Valuable” can be defined on multiple levels, but for purposes of this exercise, we’re going to take a few different things into account: talent, dependability, track record of success in the system, and their individual spot on the depth chart. (Basically: How badly would things be if they were removed from the lineup?)

There are some cases — namely, the first-year players — where it’s tough to predict where they should land. But based on their performances in the spring workouts and having talked to teammates and people around the league, we took our best shot.

We start our series Monday with No. 90 through No. 82. For the most part, these guys are first-year players and UDFAs who have a practice-squad ceiling. If things break, they could find themselves on the 53-man roster at some point in the season. There’s a reason to like each one of them — it’s just going to be a challenge for them to find a way to stick around.



90. Corey Bojorquez; Sorry, but the backup punter is always pretty much going to be the guy who is at the back end of a list like this one. He looked tremendous over the course of the spring when it came to distance, but no one is sure what he’s going to be like punting inside Gillette, or as a directional punter. Needless to say, he has the chance to move up between now and the start of the regular season. But for now, we'll have him start our list.

89. Shane Wimann: A young tight end who is at the back of a crowded depth chart, this 6-foot-4, 250-pound rookie out of Northern Illinois had 65 catches for 635 yards and 17 touchdowns in his college career, including seven last season with NIU.



88. Jason King: This offensive lineman was part of the practice squad last year before being cut and then brought back. Love this recent note from Miguel on King: “When Jason King re-signed with the Patriots on May 18, they gave him a $1,000 signing bonus. I can’t recall that ever happening with a released first-year player before during the Bill Belichick era. King is now the only former member of the Patriots 2017 practice squad to have received a signing bonus.”

87. Frank Herron: This 6-foot-5, 276-pound defensive lineman is facing an uphill challenge when it comes to making the Patriots roster, as New England has a really deep defensive front. But LSU guys have always seemed to find a way in Foxborough.

84. A.J. Moore: A nickel corner as a collegian at Ole Miss, the 5-foot-10, 202-pounder is going to have to figure out a way to stick as a special teamer and then go from there.

85. John Atkins: One of five current Patriots who played for Mark Richt as part of the 2014 University of Georgia team, he has some familiarity with teammates like Sony Michel and Isaiah Wynn. At the same time, the battle for playing time up front will likely mean he’s a practice squadder for the foreseeable future.

84. Keionta Davis: One of the great unknowns of the Patriots’ roster, the only reason this 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman is this low is because we just haven’t seen him play. He was signed last summer but spent the year on the NFI/Reserve List. He had great buzz when he arrived, but until he takes some significant snaps, we'll keep him here.