Bedard: Elandon Roberts & Duron Harmon know competition for spots has only increased this year

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Bill Belichick and the Patriots are all about competition. They are the anti-Red Sox in the sense that every season — especially when they're defending champions — features an entirely new team where competition among almost all the positions is the bedrock for that season's team.

And as we've illustrated, the race for the roster might feature the most competitive ever.

Two of the most competitive positions appear to be off-the-ball linebacker and safety. In year's past, the groups have been fairly predictable. Linebacker has featured Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy and Elandon Roberts with special teams ace Brandon King thrown in for good measure. The safeties have been Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon and Nate Ebner seemingly forever.

With Jamie Collins (signing) and Ja'Whaun Bentley (health) back in the mix at linebacker, and Terrence Brooks (signing) and Obi Melifonwu getting reps at safety, that mix seems destined to change this season in one fashion — perhaps keep more players than normal at the expense of others — or another (replacing veterans with younger players).

If the latter happens, two veterans with a combined five Super Bowl rings between them figure to most in danger of moving in the form of a release or trade. Elandon Roberts and Duron Harmon are well aware of the situation.

"It’s a deep secondary, for sure," Harmon said. "Competition makes everyone better. It always elevates the level of play. Doesn’t matter who they bring in here, safety, quarterback, receiver, offensive lineman, Coach Belichick and Nick (Caserio) are going to do their job — and the personnel department — of finding players who are going to make this team better. At the end of the day, I’m a team-first guy and anything that is going to make the team better, I’m all for."

Harmon, 28, has the team's 10th-highest cap number at $4.75 million. The team would save $2.25 million if he is released or traded. A fixture as the deep safety in passing situations, Harmon saw his playing time plummet in the second half of the season, and especially in the postseason. He played just two snaps in the AFC Championship Game, and he does not play special teams. Harmon has one more year left on his deal ($5.5 million cap in 2020).

"I would say the main thing is the whole preaseason, the games, camp, is getting better every day, being better than I was the day before and honestly I think my day (Monday), coming out here (Tuesday), I think I was better so that’s all I can worry about," said Harmon, who saw extensive action with the first team this week for the first time in camp. "Trades, depth charts … I can’t worry about that because nothing I can do can affect that except my play.

"If I play well, I’ll be here playing for this team. If I don’t and my level of play slips, I could get cut or traded. The only thing I worry about is myself getting better and my talent is on display so I can help show the coaches how I can help the team."

Roberts, still only 25, has steadily built himself into an every-down NFL player. But we're not sure what would have happened if Bentley wasn't lost for the season last year. With Collins and Bentley back in the mix, Roberts has seen his snaps outside of base defense almost evaporate this summer.

He's in the final year of his deal and would save the team $2 million against the cap if traded or released. It probably doesn't hurt that there are now two head coaches (Matt Patricia, Brian Flores) who have been his defensive coordinator. The Dolphins, especially, could use some help at linebacker.

"I’m out here just trying to get better every day," Roberts. "I don’t really think that much into it. I’m just doing what those 10 guys are looking for me to do, what Coach Belichick is looking for me to do, what Coach (Jerod) Mayo is looking for me to do. That’s kind of all I’m concerned with. All I can do is come out here every day and do whatever Coach Belichick and Coach Mayor need from me to get the job done."

Both players have been around Foxborough for a long time, almost against the odds as constant roster afterthoughts. Yet they persevered and helped this team win a lot of big games, and multiple championships. Now, though, their futures are very much in doubt.

"Just got to battle," Roberts said. "We're used to it."