After drafting a whopping 12 players in the draft, and adding another three undrafted players (QB Malik Cunningham, TE Johnny Lumpkin and LB Jourdan Heilig), the Patriots appear to be at 89 players on a possible 90-man roster.
Time to start sorting out the roster with our way-too-early look at our 53-man roster prediction. It's a useful exercise to go through, at the very least, to identify possible competition and redundancy at certain positions, which could lead to some surprising trades/releases of veteran players.
To be honest, this exercise wasn't all that hard. Maybe it's because it's been so long since I've seen them on the field, and I haven't grown attached to a certain player by what he shows in practice. Then again, it might speak to the current level of talent on the roster. Not really sure.
Right now, here are my last six out:
RB James Robinson: This should be a straight-up competition with Kevin Harris. If the youngster stays healthy, we're projecting that he will make the vet expendable.
TE Johnny Lumpkin: Have a feeling the UDFA is going to make a name for himself and push for a roster spot, but unless the two veterans get injured, he's not needed.
WR Kayshon Boutte: We kept one long-shot rookie receiver on our roster due to his special teams prowess, but we have a hard time seeing a second — unless a veteran like Kendrick Bourne gives an opening.
DE Ronnie Perkins: The 2021 third-round pick just hasn't had much luck during his run here.
CB Shaun Wade: The former trade target from Baltimore is a camp hero, but looks out of sorts in the regular season. Time to move on.
S Joshuah Bledsoe: This one's going to be close because we liked the glimpses we got last season, but this is a numbers game at this point. Defensive backs could lose a spot because so many (Jonathan Jones, Myles Bryant, Jalen Mills) can play both safety and cornerback.
Here are our current roster projections (contract year players are in RED) by each side of the ball. We'll discuss some of those picks, and then get into lingering questions about some veterans:
We'll get into some of the veterans and their futures, but one thing you have to remember is what we repeatedly said last year: with veterans on the practice squad — especially those who likely won't be signed by other teams — teams can basically have 56 players on the roster for the first few weeks (remember a few years ago when Nick Folk was cut for a time, leaving only Tristan Vizcaino as the rostered kicker for a few days?).
Could see James Robinson landing on the practice squad.
Kayshon Boutte is somewhat of a tough cut, but so much red at that position makes you want to keep another, and maybe they do. If it's not Boutte, I could see the Patriots claiming or trading for someone (Jerry Jeudy?).
Projecting Sidy Sow at tackle for right now. He and Conor McDermott would have G/T versatility to bring balance to the room at 10 players combined.
Bet the Patriots will try hard to keep another tight end, but Sokol was on practice squad last year.
Keeping Demario Douglas at WR because of kick return possibilities and he's different than everyone else. And probably just because I've been begging for a jitterbug like him.
For now, Keion White displaces Daniel Ekuale. Hoping he's a lot more than an upgrade there this season.
Man, I still really don't like this linebacker group. I have Marte Mapu there and am hoping he hits sooner rather than later.
Damarcus Mitchell and his special teams ability, you know, will play well with Belichick.
I could see the Patriots going one more at DB and it would be between Shaun Wade and Joshuah Bledsoe.
Left Chris Board at linebacker since Belichick mentioned him there and he has actually played snaps at linebacker.
They better not keep two kickers on the 53, but I could definitely see Folk sticking on the practice squad.
Belichick only gets three designated special teamers. I'm making a rule.
OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
- The decision to make Jake Andrews the first of three interior linemen (at least in college) selected leads to a lot of questions about David Andrews' future. The Patriots looked to be all set there with their captain, and a young backup in Kody Russey the team appeared to really like, plus old standby James Ferentz around. Maybe new line coach Adrian Klemm doesn't think Russey is a future starter, and they're starting the transition now. It's possible Andrews has let the team know he's contemplating retirement - he did have that health scare a few years ago. Could be something simple. But this seems very odd.
If Andrews (Jake ... this is going to be annoying, almost as bad as Jones at CB) looks ready to start (C Bryan Stork and G Tre' Jackson each started as fourth-round picks about eight years ago), I would not be stunned to see Andrews traded, released or retired. It would be a Logan Mankins-esque move
- Of course, an Andrews departure would only make the Mac Jones conspiracy theory people froth at the mouth. That would only leave Kendrick Bourne (contract year, two draft picks at receiver) and Jones himself (Bailey Zappe breathing up at his neck) as the only boat rockers (arguably Hunter Henry as well) left from last year's debacle.
Been nice talking to you, Kendrick.
That would open up a spot for Boutte, if he's ready.
- If Sidy Sow does indeed prove he's a right tackle — we'll see on that — and the Patriots think that Riley Reiff and/or Calvin Anderson can get by at left tackle (file that in the Matt Patricia Memorial NOT A GOOD IDEA folder), then happy trails, Trent Brown. Makes the non-tackle drafting look even more questionable.
- The Patriots have left themselves plenty of wriggle room and depth where they could deal one of the impending big free agents (Dugger, Onwenu) and survive. Would like to see them keep their good, young players, but they better at least deal them for a real return now. Remember, the Patriots have a ton of cap space next year. That could be used for re-signings, but New England figures to be free-agent players, which would mean no comp picks. Might be better to get that third-rounder (or more) now.