With the promotions of LB Cassh Maluia and RB J.J. Taylor to the roster after Beau Allen and Damien Harris were placed in short-term IR (minimum three weeks), we have a better idea of the Patriots' final roster heading into this season.
Let's breakdown each side of the ball with our vision of the depth chart, get into position- and player-specific comments, and then hand out some predictions.
OFFENSE DEPTH CHART
QUARTERBACKS
For the first time since 2001, the Patriots will enter a season without Tom Brady under center. To find his replacement, the Patriots tabbed the complete opposite to Brady in many ways with Cam Newton, the 2015 NFL MVP who had each of his last two seasons ended by shoulder and foot injuries. Of all the veteran quarterbacks available this offseason, Newton was the last one left besides Blake Bortles. That's equal parts Newton's injury history, the pandemic halting visits, and also the power of Newton's persona that not all teams can entertain because it will overpower their younger quarterbacks.
What should be expected of Newton? Well, he's going to direct an offense that will at least use the illusion of his legs and mobility because ... well, frankly, it's one of the few sure things it has going for it. Josh McDaniels is no dummy, in fact most think he's the smartest man in the building besides Bill Belichick. McDaniels knows that he has Julian Edelman and James White among proven targets in the passing game. Everyone else is a projection. The best way to get everyone up to speed is go simple with a lot of different, dressed up looks that make the defense have to account for Newton at all times.
Newton has never been a hugely accurate downfield passer, and he struggled with that in training camp. He has improved his tempo running the offense, but he is slow to process in the passing game unless the targets are clearly defined. He is prone to high throws, and those that are late and put the receiver into danger. How fast Newton moves from running threat and short passing game master to being dangerous with his right arm down the field could determine how high this offense can go.
Brian Hoyer will likely be the top backup in Week 1. You know what you get with him, but his ball pat before throwing is a constant worry because it tips the best defenders that a throw is coming.
Jarrett Stidham looks like a Hall of Famer on 2 out of 4 throws, a complete scrub on one, and the other is a toss-up. That he wasn't able to push Newton in camp is a bad indicator for his future, and he may have already been written off in some circles of One Patriot Place.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
(Adam Richins for BSJ)