How many spots are up for grabs on the Patriots roster? Three? Four?
“No, I would say there’s a lot more than that. This is our first year,” Mike Vrabel told 98.5 The Sportshub during the pregame show. “We’ve got to get it right. We’re going to have to get the right people in the building and on this football team. Whether that’s after their performance tonight or that’s next week, however that works, we have an obligation to the football team to get the right people. So, there’s a lot more than that that’s available, and a lot of things will change between now and the regular season.”
This is not uncommon for a team coming off back-to-back 4-13 seasons, and with their third head coach in three years. Vrabel wants his people, and while he's turned over half the roster, there's plenty more work to be done.
Following the final preseason game, here's my second and final stab at the initial 53-man roster, knowing full well that it will change before the regular season kicks off September 7th. The Pats, and every other team in the NFL, must be down to 53 by 4 PM Tuesday.
QBs (2): Drake Maye, Josh Dobbs - No changes, and Ben Wooldridge didn't make a case to survive the big cuts. Practice squad appears likely.
RBs (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson - No change, although JaMychal Hasty not only looked good against Minnesota and for parts of the New York game, but found himself on some special teams, and had a nice block (it was actually more of a screen) to help spring Marcus Jones on that 37-yard punt return. Henderson's work between the tackles is surprising some. Not here. The rookie generates more power than you expect because of his speed output.
WRs (6): Stefon Diggs, Pop Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism - The change here is Javon Baker no longer being on the 53. I suspect they'd like to keep working with him, and wouldn't be surprised if he ends up on the practice squad, but making plays in these preseason games has been hard for him. He had a drop and an offensive pass interference against the Giants. Douglas has been the team's best receiver this summer, and the Pats are trying to unlock him as a deep threat, using him to attack all three levels of the defense. The vets, Hollins and Diggs, have raised the floor of this group, and the days of stink, stank, stunk should be a thing of the past. There's sense in keeping Kendrick Bourne by putting him on the IR to start the season. Vet help isn't a bad thing should the bleep hit the fan at some point in the first month of the season.
TEs (2): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper - No change. Hooper had a nice block on Henderson's touchdown run Saturday, with some help from Jack Westover. Westover is destined for the practice squad, especially if they choose not to claim someone who has played fullback for a living. Cole Fotheringham might also have a shot at that. He played for McDaniels in Vegas and is much more of a blocking tight end than anyone else on the roster.
OL (9): Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses, Marcus Bryant, Ben Brown, Vederian Lowe, Caedan Wallace - Wallace has done nothing to convince me he should be on the roster, and yet, here he is. Again, it comes down to him vs. Sidy Sow vs. Cole Strange. Strange has not had a good summer snapping the ball. Also, farewell to Demontrey Jacobs. His play has regressed this summer. My suspicion is one or two of these guys won't be here by week one.
DL (6): Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Keion White, Khyiris Tonga, Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms - One change. Pharms is in. Kyle Peko is out. Peko is an easy guy to get onto the practice squad, and I bet you he plays for this team at some point during the regular season. Isaiah Iton was making a case, but he's headed for injured reserve after hurting his hip on Saturday. Bummer for the undersized (272 lbs) DT who may have a future as a bodybuilder (Dude's muscles have muscles). White needs to start moving the needle. He hits the tackle hard. Wee. His technique needs to improve, and so does his play awareness. Maybe I am expecting too much, but this needs to be a leap season for White.
Edge (5): K'Lavon Chaisson, Truman Jones, Harold Landry, Bradyn Swinson, Elijah Ponder - Ponder was on three of the four special team units. Landry has been a pain in the ass to the Pats' tackles all summer. I kid you not when I say the way he's moving reminds me of what he looked like in 2021 in Tennessee.
LBs (5): Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai, Marte Mapu - One change. Jahlani Tavai is in. Depth here is a major concern. If they believe Tavai can play at some point in September, I wouldn't put him on IR. Just carry that spot until he's ready (that's not something I thought I'd be saying). Monty Rice has played for Vrabel before, and has special teams value as well, but Mapu has the latter as well.
CBs (6) - Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, DJ James, Kobee Minor - All the young corners fighting for a spot - Minor, Miles Battle, and Jordan Polk - were riding the rollercoaster in the preseason finale. Minor and Battle both got beaten for touchdowns, and Polk had a pair of defensive hold calls. I'll stick with the 7th rounder, Minor, but it's a coin flip.
Safeties (5): Jabril Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins, Craig Woodson, Kyle Dugger, Dell Pettus - One change. Marcus Epps is out, and Pettus is in. Pettus was one of the few young players last year who got better as the season went along. Epps playing late in preseason game #2 would have me concerned if I were his agent. I still have Dugger on the roster because a) I don't think anyone's trading for him and b) you're paying him anyway. If the Pats do part ways, then put Epps back on.
Specialists (4): Andres Borregales, Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby, Brenden Schooler - Borregales got tested at MetLife. He failed, missing that 49-yard field goal. He has been better at kickoffs than Parker Romo, even if Romo has been the better kicker in games. It's close.
LAST 3 OUT: Battle, Epps, Baker - Baker feels like he's done enough to at least warrant a spot on the practice squad, should that be what he wants.
LAST 3 IN: Pettus, Minor, Wallace - If you flipped Minor with Battle or Crossley or Polk, I'd get it.