Overall, not a whole lot of changes from our initial projections. Have some competitive situations failed to materialize quite yet, like rookie safety Joshuah Bledsoe taking the field and an infective stalemate between James White and J.J. Taylor? Yes. Are we still waiting for Chase Winovich and Anfernee Jennings to show much of anything? Yes.
But that's why they call them projections.
Our latest 53-man projection and then we'll get into the slight changes and some discussions, about how Dalton Keene's injury miraculously (ahem) opened the door for N'Keal Harry to stay, and why we're still taking three quarterbacks.
QUARTERBACK
CHANGE: Jarrett Stidham to PUP, Brian Hoyer makes team
Stidham's mysterious injury — there are indications this has been bothering him for a while, dating back to last training camp (there's optimism for his future once he finally gets 100 percent right on the health front) — is a bit unfortunate because you'd prefer to have a younger third quarterback. But as we've already seen, Hoyer's wisdom has a lot of value when it comes to Mac Jones.
No, Hoyer doesn't want to be a coach anytime soon, so stop asking. Do I think that even if you release him that he's still available to Jones by living locally? Yes. Make no mistake, however: Josh McDaniels is teaching and building Jones from the ground up. Don't overrate the influence of a Hoyer, which is nice but not vital.
RUNNING BACK
No changes. Sill have JJ Taylor making the team over James White.
The only change there is that White could be an outright release instead of a trade, but I suspect some team would value his veteran leadership, like a Miami or Giants.
Taylor has not won the job in camp, but I expect him to. White has not shown much improvement from last season, and the worry is that he's on the downside of his career now. Coach Ivan Fears got on White the other day in practice ... not sure the last time I heard that happen.
As expected, don't expect Rhamondre Stevenson to be a factor anytime soon ... the Foxboro Flu might be in order. Fears was asked what Stevenson needs to improve on.
“Everything, everything," Fears said. "What do I like about him? He’s here. I like that he’s here, other than that, everything’s gotta improve. That’s what we have to get done. He’s got a lot to learn, he’s talented, we’ll see what he can do in the games, but right now, he’s got a lot to learn . . . a lot to learn.”
Yikes.
(Adam Richins for BSJ)
WIDE RECEIVER
Welcome back N'Keal!
With the injury to Dalton Keene opening up a roster spot — funny how that worked out — Harry is back on the roster and has the opportunity for time.
Kristian Wilkerson is making a run at the spot, and you would still like to see Harry report to camp in GREAT physical shape just once — so maybe a trade might still happen — but for now we're giving him another chance.
TIGHT END/FULLBACK
Interesting that we here had a lot of debate about the offense, the fullbacks, the new tight ends and what that meant for the FB position on the Patriots, namely Dalton Keene who really didn't fit. And suddenly with his knee surgery — that couldn't have been done before camp? — a player who still needs development is stashed away for another year. Interesting.
Now the only real question is whether or not Matt LaCosse now sticks in that spot. Right now we have it for an extra receiver (Harry).
TACKLE
Change: Korey Cunningham is traded instead of released
Probably the biggest change in thinking in this roster is, while it's still early, the Patriots have some interesting decisions at tackle. The top three are secure, but after that it's cloudy. Cunningham has had a good camp, and Yodny Cajuste has finally shown some signs after being on the sidelines for much of his Patriots career. We have William Sherman as a tackle, but he sure looks like a guard. Doesn't really matter because Mike Onwenu can cover you there.
Cunningham should have some trade value at some point. And it might be sooner rather than later (Vikings too):
In talking to teams around the league, sounds like Miami is searching for some offensive tackle depth and is willing to make a trade. I'm sure they aren't the only teams looking for quality tackles.
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) August 8, 2021
GUARD/CENTER
No changes other than Sherman being more of a guard.
DEFENSE
EDGE
Only change is moving Anfernee Jennings from edge to off-the-ball linebacker. After his return from a personal issue, it's clear that's where they see him after moving him around a lot (unsuccessfully) as a rookie.
TACKLE
No changes but we still haven't seen Byron Cowart, and we're starting to get worried about Christian Barmore's toe injury.
Love this group now, finally, after a few years of neglect.
CORNERBACK
No changes but it's clear now that if the Patriots suffer any injuries here, they are going to need to make a grade because none of the depth pieces are good enough.
The Patriots might have to make a trade in any event, and that would likely bump safety Joshuah Bledsoe off the roster.
SAFETY
How long does Bledsoe need to recover from a broken wrist that he had at the draft? The Patriots might be slow playing this on purpose, and I don't blame them. Now waiting for the activation and then move to IR after he aggravates it in the first or second practice.
OFF-THE-BALL LINEBACKER
Change: Raekwon McMillian to IR, Jennings on the roster
That was a shame that McMillian tore his ACL and is lost for the season. He showed some signs but was not going to be a difference-maker. Now that spot goes to Jennings, who you know Belichick won't be able to quit.
However, there is now a competition between Ja'Whaun Bentley, Jennings and Harvey Langhi for two spots. Don't count out Langhi.