The New England Patriots mandatory minicamps are officially in the books. With the team beginning their quest for a seventh championship, let’s take a look at who has the best chance to make it on the Opening Day roster in the latest Patriots roster projection.<\/p>\n
Patriots Roster Projection 1.0<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n In: <\/em>Tom\u00a0Brady, Brian Hoyer, Jarrett Stidham<\/p>\n Out: <\/em>Danny\u00a0Etling<\/p>\n Tom Brady<\/a><\/strong> looks as good as ever<\/a>, but the battle for the backup job could get interesting. As of this posting, Jarrett Stidham<\/strong><\/a> hasn\u2019t shown enough to usurp Brian Hoyer<\/a><\/strong> for the second spot on the depth chart. New England should have no problem carrying all three quarterbacks, but they\u2019ll move on from Hoyer if they feel Stidham is ready for the job. Barring absolute calamity, it\u2019s hard to imagine Danny Etling<\/strong> making his way onto the roster.<\/p>\n In:<\/em>\u00a0Sony Michel, James White, Damien Harris, Brandon Bolden, Rex Burkhead, James Develin<\/p>\n Out: <\/em>Nick Brosette, Jakob Johnson<\/p>\n No change here from the last time. Despite his absence, Sony Michel<\/a><\/strong> is still locked in for the top running back spot, and James White<\/a><\/strong> is still the primary receiving back. Damien Harris<\/strong><\/a> is a good backup while Brandon Bolden<\/a><\/strong> is a special teams ace who can fill in on offense in a pinch. Rex Burkhead<\/a><\/strong> doesn\u2019t have an easy path to playing time, but they\u2019d only save $1 million in cap space by releasing him. Given Michel\u2019s injury history and New England\u2019s love of running back depth, Burkhead holds on to one of the final roster spots.<\/p>\n In:<\/em> N\u2019Keal Harry, Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, Maurice Harris, Braxton Berrios, Matthew Slater<\/p>\n Exempt\/PUP<\/em>: Josh Gordon, Demaryius Thomas<\/p>\n Out:\u00a0<\/em>Dontrelle\u00a0Inman, Ryan Davis, Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski, Damoun Patterson<\/p>\n This position is the hardest to predict. N\u2019Keal Harry<\/strong><\/a>, Julian Edelman<\/a>, <\/strong>and Matthew Slater<\/a> <\/strong>are locks, but everyone else is fighting for a job. Phillip Dorsett<\/strong><\/a> still makes the cut, and\u00a0Maurice Harris<\/strong><\/a> and Braxton Berrios<\/strong><\/a> earn roster spots after impressive series of practices.<\/p>\n To make room, Demaryius Thomas<\/a><\/strong> starts the year<\/a> on the Physically Unable to Perform list and Dontrelle Inman<\/a> <\/strong>doesn\u2019t even make the roster. As a big believer in Inman, this projection hurts. However, NESN\u2019s Doug Kyed<\/strong> states that Inman isn\u2019t doing much<\/a> of anything in practice.<\/p>\n Ryan Davis<\/a>, Gunner Olszewski, <\/strong>and Damoun Patterson<\/strong> are facing uphill battles, but Jakobi Meyers<\/strong> could easily earn a roster spot. The undrafted free agent might be the most talented undrafted player in camp and isn\u2019t far behind Harris and Berrios.<\/p>\n In: <\/em>Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo<\/p>\n Out: <\/em>Andrew Beck, Stephen Anderson<\/p>\n Suspended: <\/em>Ben\u00a0Watson<\/p>\n With Ben Watson<\/a> <\/strong>suspended<\/a> and Austin Seferian-Jenkins<\/a><\/strong> off the team, Ryan Izzo<\/strong> earns a spot opposite Matt LaCosse<\/a><\/strong> on the opening day roster. Izzo looked good last year and reportedly could have beat out Dwayne Allen<\/a><\/strong> were it not for his injury. It\u2019s hard to evaluate blocking tight ends at this point in the off-season, so we\u2019ll give the spot to the incumbent.<\/p>\n In: <\/em>Isaiah Wynn, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Yodny Cajuste, Hjalte Froholdt, Cole Croston<\/p>\n Out: <\/em>Ted Karras, James Ferentz, Tyler Gauthier, Cedrick Lang, Brian Schwenke, Dan Skipper, Tyree St Louis<\/p>\n The starting unit is locked and loaded with Isaiah Wynn<\/a>, Joe Thuney<\/a>, David Andrews<\/a>, Shaq Mason<\/a>, <\/strong>and Marcus Cannon<\/a><\/strong>. Rookie linemen Yodny Cajuste<\/strong><\/a> and Hjalte Froholdt<\/strong><\/a> take the top depth spots, leaving Cole Croston<\/a><\/strong> and Ted Karras<\/a> <\/strong>fighting for the final spot. Croston earns it for now, due to New England\u2019s relative uncertainty at the left tackle position. However, New England should consider<\/a> signing a guy like Donald Penn<\/a><\/strong>, as Croston isn\u2019t exactly an ideal solution at tackle.<\/p>\n In: <\/em>Michael\u00a0Bennett, Lawrence Guy, Mike Pennel, Chase Winovich, Deatrich Wise, John Simon, Adam Butler, Danny Shelton, Derek Rivers<\/p>\n Out:<\/em> Byron Cowart, Shilique Calhoun, Keionta Davis, Trent Harris, Ufomba Kamalu, David Parry, Nick Thurman<\/p>\n The top six or seven guys are locks, leaving Danny Shelton<\/a>, Derek Rivers<\/a>, Byron Cowart<\/strong>, and the rest fighting for two or three spots. For now, Shelton and Rivers make the cut. Shelton is a limited player, but New England\u2019s defense was better<\/a> when he was on the field. Rivers, meanwhile, still holds potential as a third-round pick and could impress in his first fully healthy preseason. Byron Cowart is one of the hardest cuts to make, but his practice squad eligibility should ensure he stays in New England.<\/p>\n In: <\/em>Dont’a\u00a0Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jamie Collins, Brandon King<\/p>\n Out: <\/em>Elandon\u00a0Roberts, Terez Hall, Calvin Munson, Christian Sam<\/p>\n Elandon Roberts<\/a><\/strong> is one of the hardest cuts on this list, but there just isn\u2019t room for a fifth linebacker who has never played more than 80 special teams snaps in a single season. Dont\u2019a Hightower<\/a>, Kyle Van Noy<\/a>, <\/strong>and Ja\u2019Whaun Bentley<\/strong><\/a> are locks, and Jamie Collins<\/a><\/strong> has reportedly been one of the stars of minicamp. The Patriots can save almost $2 million by releasing the former sixth-round pick, so he doesn\u2019t make this projection.<\/p>\n In: <\/em>Stephon\u00a0Gilmore, JC Jackson, Jason McCourty, Joejuan Williams, Jones, Dawson<\/p>\n Out: <\/em>D\u2019Angelo. Ross, Ken Webster, Crossen<\/p>\n New England has a good problem at cornerback, as there are too many talented players to keep around. Stephon Gilmore<\/a><\/strong> is coming off an All-Pro season while JC Jackson <\/strong>and Jason McCourty<\/a><\/strong> are both above-average starters. Joejuan Williams<\/strong><\/a> is a promising rookie who can develop into a Brandon Browner<\/a><\/strong> type of cornerback while Jonathan Jones<\/a><\/strong> holds down the slot. Duke Dawson<\/strong><\/a> should be the slot cornerback of the future and could take Jones\u2019 spot if he can build on his strong minicamp.<\/p>\n The biggest surprise cut on this projection is 2018 seventh-round pick Keion Crossen<\/a><\/strong>. Crossen was a valuable special teams player as a rookie and saw limited action on defense. While he is certainly an NFL-caliber player, he cannot crack this stacked depth chart.<\/p>\n In:<\/em>\u00a0Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Malik Gant, Nate Ebner<\/p>\n Out: <\/em>Terrence Brooks, Obi Melifonwu, A.J. Howard<\/p>\n Patrick Chung<\/a><\/strong> is already back on the field after suffering a forearm injury in Super Bowl LIII. He\u2019ll start opposite Devin McCourty<\/a><\/strong>, who is still one of the better safeties in the game. Duron Harmon<\/a> <\/strong>will play his usual role as deep safety while Nate Ebner<\/a><\/strong> shores up special teams. Malik Gant<\/strong> earns the final spot, as the undrafted free agent probably wouldn\u2019t make it to the practice squad if released.<\/p>\n In:<\/em>\u00a0Jake Bailey, Stephen Gostkowski, Joe Cardona<\/p>\n Out: <\/em>Ryan\u00a0Allen<\/p>\n Jake Bailey<\/strong> put on a show in minicamp and is ahead of Ryan Allen<\/a> <\/strong>on the depth chart. Stephen Gostkowski<\/a><\/strong> and Joe Cardona<\/a><\/strong> face no competition for their respective jobs.<\/p>\n Patriots Roster Projection 1.0<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n Main photo:New England Patriots Roster Projection 2.0<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Quarterback (3)<\/h3>\n
Running Back (6)<\/h3>\n
Wide Receiver (6)<\/h3>\n
Tight End (2)<\/h3>\n
Offensive Line (8)<\/h3>\n
Defensive Line (9)<\/h3>\n
Linebacker (5)<\/h3>\n
Cornerback (6)<\/h3>\n
Safety (5)<\/h3>\n
Special Teams (3)<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>