It's nice to have a cut-down day come and go and not wait until hours after the 4 p.m. deadline to get the Patriot's official list. That said, this 53-man roster crafted by GM Eliot Wolf is thin. It's so thin it's already taken offense to what I just wrote and stormed out of the room (I won't quit my day job). Here are four takeaways from what happened and a few names to watch as possible waiver claims.
RESERVE LISTS
The Patriots placed WR Kendrick Bourne, G Cole Strange and LB Sione Takitaki on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform List, DT Christian Barmore on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List (designated to return) and OL Calvin Anderson, S Marte Mapu (designated to return) and DT Armon Watts on Injured Reserve.
RELEASED PLAYERS
The Patriots released the following players: S Joshuah Bledsoe, T Kellen Diesch, OL Liam Fornadel, LB Joe Giles-Harris, RB Kevin Harris, RB Terrell Jennings, LB Kobe Jones, WR Matt Landers, G Atonio Mafi, DE Jotham Russell, K Chad Ryland, S A.J. Thomas, CB Shaun Wade, WR David Wallis, TE Mitchell Wilcox and QB Bailey Zappe.
1. SEVEN WIDE RECEIVERS? YES, SEVEN: Don't think this is because the Pats have so many good ones they couldn't dare part with one or two and risk losing them. The decision is as much about the overall depth of the team and keeping the 53 best players, regardless of position, as it is about being loathe to expose someone to waivers. Why do that when you aren't good enough elsewhere? Plus, Tyquan Thornton hasn't proven durable during his first two years in the league. Ditto for Pop Douglas in year one. Kendrick Bourne is on PUP, and who knows what he looks like when he comes back? Could Wolf flip a piece for depth in another area of need, which is to say, almost all of them? Everything is in play, and it should be. This is a 4-13 team with a flawed roster.
2. LARRY BIRD ISN'T WALKING THROUGH THAT DOOR BUT IS CHRISTIAN BARMORE? I know I used that Pitino line a couple of weeks ago, but if it ain't broken, don't fix it. The Pats have been mum on Barmore since they announced he had blood clots. But by putting him on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List (designated to return), they've given the player, his teammates, and the coaching staff hope that Barmore could find his way back on the field in 2024-25. That would be a massive shot in the arm for a team with precisely zero blue chippers on its roster. Barmore was turning into that. If he does come back and is that same kind of player, then having a chance at being an elite defense comes back into play.
3. IS NINE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN ENOUGH? And would the league accept a petition to let them all play at the same time? Look, they were borderline trainwrecky (not a word. Work with me) Sunday. I know Bedard believes it wasn't as bad after watching the film, but I watched it, and I can't get past the idiotic penalties, the lack of cohesion, and overall high-end talent. New OL coach Scott Peters has his hands full, and I can't help but wonder if all this futzing around trying to find the best five has held this unit back from being further advanced at this point. The other thing I can't erase from my memory bank is the number of NFL folks I talked to (and wrote about) who wondered aloud if the Pats have the personnel to run the system Alex Van Pelt has brought to Foxborough. Thus far, they look right.
4. DUMPSTER DIVING: Many people act like having the 3rd spot in the waiver wire order is a real opportunity to change the fortunes of this team. Danny Woodhead was the last player the Pats claimed that I can recall making a significant impact. That was a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Belichick was throwing 99. Brady was throwing 99. The rest almost didn't matter. This roster doesn't have anyone throwing 99. Hell, we don't know if anyone can break 90 (to cross sports). Tackle Geron Christian was released by the Titans. He played nine games under Van Pelt/Peters in Cleveland. He might be worth a claim. Guard Wyatt Davis is another worthy of tire kicking. He was a third-round pick in 2021 but has bounced around and was just cut by the Browns (but not a Peters/Bill Callahan product). The Eagles waived center/guard Matt Hennessy. The Pats saw him up close and personal during joint practice. He has 41 games of NFL experience and can shotgun a snap to the QB without it skipping like a stone.