Patriots' Road to 53, v. 20.01: Trading a veteran, and are some 2019 draft picks in trouble?

Well, we can almost smell the fresh-cut grass of training camp (we think). NFL camps will open up at some point, and then the competition for the final roster will be on.

We went through the roster, and we completed our initial 53-man roster for the Patriots.

A few caveats:

1. Obviously this is unlike any other offseason, so we're not exactly sure what kind of shape anyone is in, nor are we sure which players will start on the Physically Unable to Perform List. We're going with the thought that everyone will be healthy at some point.


2. Everything will be decided on the field. Doesn't really matter what kind of workouts someone had in the offseason — SoAndSo is poised for a breakout season because they've never worked harder says the trainer who's being paid by the player! ... How many times have we heard that over the years? — if you don't pick up the scheme, or show that you're coachable, or mesh with your teammates. So much is unknown.


3. Many final roster spots are determined by the overall health of the team ... whenever we get to September.

• I'm trading Deatrich Wise to the Lions or the Dolphins, where he would be a better fit with his former defensive coordinators, who will allow him to play more of the 4-3 end he's suited for. Patriots need more speed on the edge, and beef inside.


• I'm releasing or trading one 2019 draft pick, fourth-round pick Hjlate Froholdt, and I contemplated trading another in third-round pick Damien Harris. Oh, this is controversial? How many of you had Bill Belichick trading 2018 second-round pick Duke Dawson in his second training camp? Oh, and three more 2018 draft picks (Christian Sam, Braxton Berrios and Keion Crossen) were either cut or traded last year as well.

• Not sure I've ever seen the Patriots bring this many receivers to camp (well, at least receivers who are believed to be functioning and ready to go for camp ... ahem, Demaryius Thomas and Cam Meredith). This tells me a lot of spots are up for grabs. Certainly, Jakobi Meyers and Marqise Lee are on the chopping block, and maybe Mohamed Sanu (that $6.5 million in cap space would be nice should he better differentiate himself) should Lee or a UDFA pop.


• The opposite holds true at offensive tackle. There's only four true tackles. The Patriots think they're good with their top three.


• If the Patriots feel they need to make a trade in this camp, let's hope they do better than Jermaine Eluemunor (fourth-round pick) and Korey Cunningham (sixth), who don't make this squad.