With Tom Brady’s suspension getting thrown out in court today and the fourth preseason game around the corner there’s no better time than now to project the final 53 man roster. Here’s who yours truly thinks will make the final roster after the final cut day.
Quarterback: Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo
Cuts: Ryan Lindley
Tom Brady will be on the field for week one which means Ryan Lindley will be getting cut. Lindley was only brought in for practice reps and backup insurance meaning he has no future with the team. Garoppolo will slide back into his role as backup/heir apparent to Brady.
Running Back: Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, James White, Dion Lewis
Cuts: Travaris Cadet, Tony Creecy
Carrying only four running backs into week one is light for a Patriot roster but projected number one back LeGarette Blount will be back off suspension after week one making it a total of five. Belichick will use the open spot to get another week to see a young player elsewhere on the roster.
Wide Receiver: Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola, Reggie Wayne, Aaron Dobson,
Cuts: DaVaris Daniels , Zach D’Orazio, Chris Harper, Jalen Saunders
The top three for the Patriots is set with Edelman, LaFell , and Amendola. Newcomer Reggie Wayne appears to be on the team after receiving a large signing bonus with his one-year contract. The last receiver spot if you watched the preseason games looks like it should be Chris Harper, but Aaron Dobson was a second round draft pick and is a more impressive athlete allowing him to sneak in as the last receiver. The remaining receivers simply do not have the ability to make the team despite the fact that Daniels was recently claimed off waivers.
Tight End: Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Michael Hoomanawanui, Michael Williams.
Cuts: Asante Cleveland
Gronk and Chandler look to be a twin headed monster on offense and have guaranteed spots on offense. The flying Hawaiian Hoomanawanui adds little value to the team in the pass game but blocks well and can play fullback, which is particularly important now that Devlin is out for the season. Williams gets the nod over Cleveland because of his physical prowess potentially allowing him to be an impact run blocker.
Offensive Tackle: Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming
Cuts: Chris Martin, Caylin Hauptmann
The Patriots have their starting tackles in place with Solder and Vollmer entering the season. Fleming makes the team because of his run blocking ability as an eligible tight end in jumbo packages. Cannon appears safe for years to come after a contract extension and his ability to play on the interior as well as on the edge.
Guards: Ryan Wendell, Tre’ Jackson, Shaq Mason, Josh Kline
Cuts: Ryan Groy,
The Patriots have a solid mix of youth and experience with their lineman on the interior. Wendell will assume his role as a starting guard with rookie Tre’ Jackson starting at the other guard spot. Mason shows strength in the run game but has footwork issues that need to be worked out before he can be a viable starter. Kline is tied with Mason for last man in as he hasn’t shown tremendous ability at guard, but has shown he can at least suffice in times of need.
Center: Bryan Stork, David Andrews
Cut: None
Carrying an extra center particularly with Wendell and Kline having time at center may seem foolish but Stork hasn’t been fully healthy this offseason. Andrews has impressed starting most of the preseason and could be a hold over even if it’s just for one week until Blount’s return.
Defensive End/Edge Rusher: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom
Cuts: Rufus Johnson, Xzavier Dickson, Zach Moore
The edge has become a strength for the Patriots this season with returning starters Chandler Jones and Ninkovich still leading the way. Sheard looks impactful and is a lock to make the roster along with draft pick Trey Flowers. Grissom has done nothing this preseason but is athletic and a mid round pick investment and therefore will stay over long shots Johnson/Dickson and aging prospect Moore.
Defensive Tackle: Sealver Siliga, Malcolm Brown, Dominique Easley, Alan Branch
Cuts: Chris Jones (PUP), Casey Walker, AJ Pataiali’l
The starting interior line should be Siliga and some combination of Brown and Easley. Both the young players particularly Easley have impressed this preseason and with first round prestige they are a lock. Veteran Alan Branch is no lock but he is the closest thing to a zero technique left on the roster and therefore makes it as a run stopper. Jones may have made the roster over Branch if not for his injury while Walker and Pataiali’l were long shots from the start.
Linebackers: Jerod Mayo, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, James Morris, Jonathan Freeny.
Cuts: Dane Fletcher (PUP), Darius Fleming, Eric Martin
The linebackers complete the strength of the Patriots’ front seven with starter Jaime Collins and Dont’a Hightower still on the team supplemented by the return of Jerod Mayo. James Morris is the best athlete out of the bunch as backups and if not for an injury last season likely would have made the team. Last man in is Freeny who despite his drawbacks has a nose for tackles and is a perfect sub package tackler.
Cornerback: Malcolm Butler, Terrell Brown, Bradley Fletcher, Logan Ryan, Robert McClain
Cuts: Darryl Roberts (PUP) Dax Swanson
The number one corner role is wrapped up by Malcolm Butler who has been a lock all last season, with poor remaining options to pick from veteran Terell Brown looks to be the starter opposite Butler. Fletcher Ryan and McClain are situational corners at best but with Roberts missing the season with a wrist injury and Swanson showing little signs of improvement from last season they appear to have a good shot at making the team. McClain remains the last man in after poor performances in games two and three but Belichick liked him enough to grab him in free agency and McClain flashed in game one giving him just enough to stick.
Safety: Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Jordan Richards, Nate Ebner
Cuts: Tavon Wilson, Brandon King
The “surprise” cut here is Tavon Wilson who despite being reached for in the draft several years ago is simply too redundant as an in the box safety. McCourty and Chung hold down their starting spots with Harmon remaining as the backup free safety after showing improvement in coverage and Richards the backup strong safety after being drafted in the second. Lastly Ebner remains on the roster for his role on special teams is valued highly in New England.
Special Teamers: Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen, Joe Cardona, Matthew Slater
Slater is a lock as a captain and premier gunner while the rest of the players have no competition at their positions. The two kickers Allen and Gostkowski at above average to great at their position while Cardona will most definitely stick after being targeted in the draft and watching Danny Aiken leave.