We’re just one week away from NFL cutdown day. Arguments will be had, and plenty will light a candle for their favorite 53rd guy on the roster. I can hear the chatter now.
‘There’s no way player X makes it through waivers.’
Actually, more often than not, they all make it through. Teams also have all sorts of roster machinations they can go through after the initial 53 is named. In fact, you can take it to the bank that there’ll be at least a couple of changes before the Patriots open in Seattle on September 9th.
But for now, I present to you - in all its glory - my prediction for the 53, version 2.0.
QBs (3): Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton
I wondered in this weekend’s NFL Notebook if Morton could play his way onto the roster. He showed a lot last night against the Eagles, which was important because his play had leveled off over the last week of training camp. My suspicion is he gets all of the game on Thursday, and that could make or break his spot on the 53, but he has the best arm of any 3rd QB they’ve had in Foxborough in eons.
DeVito was so-so on Saturday. There were some throws you want a veteran backup to make and complete, and that wasn’t always the case against Philly.
RBs (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Reggie Gilliam
Toughest cut: Lan Larison, who had his best performance of the spring/summer on Saturday.
So I had to find one spot, with Morton making the roster. I don’t think anyone is claiming Hassan Haskins, Larison or Jam Miller. So shove ‘em all on the practice squad - or two of three - let the competition play out a little longer, then decide who gets elevated for week one (remember, you can play that on-again, off-again thing for a bit).
Haskins can play on multiple special teams units and is a physical runner at 228 pounds. That didn’t show up much against the Eagles, but I think they’d prefer a hammer in the #3 role and slide Larison to the practice squad. Yes, he was productive, but he can be overwhelmed in blitz pickup, so I’m not worried someone will claim him.
WRs (6):