{"id":69158,"date":"2019-07-28T08:07:58","date_gmt":"2019-07-28T12:07:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=69158"},"modified":"2021-05-29T21:21:17","modified_gmt":"2021-05-30T01:21:17","slug":"new-england-patriots-roster-projection-training-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2019\/07\/28\/new-england-patriots-roster-projection-training-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"New England Patriots Roster Projection 3.0 – Training Camp Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

The New England Patriots<\/a> 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 Week One roster in the latest Patriots roster projection.<\/p>\n

Patriots Roster Projection 2.0<\/strong><\/em><\/a>
\nPatriots Roster Projection 1.0<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

New England Patriots Roster Projection 3.0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Quarterback (3)<\/h3>\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. Jarrett Stidham<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0has reportedly impressed early in training camp, but he’ll need to show more to usurp\u00a0Brian 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. Whether it’s quarterback or wide receiver,\u00a0Danny Etling<\/strong> won’t be making this roster.<\/p>\n

Running Back (6)<\/h3>\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

Sony Michel<\/a><\/strong> is off the PUP and should be ready for the start of the season. The former first-round pick should be the starter with\u00a0James White<\/a><\/strong> as 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. Considering Michel’s injury history, New England probably wants a reliable backup like Burkhead.<\/p>\n

Wide Receiver (6)<\/h3>\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. Edelman’s thumb injury opens the door for Berrios to make an impact.<\/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. Jakobi Meyers<\/b> was one of the hardest cuts to make, as the undrafted free agent has an impressive skill set<\/a>. However, New England can probably get him back on the practice squad.\u00a0Ryan Davis<\/a>, Gunner Olszewski, <\/strong>and Damoun Patterson<\/strong>\u00a0don’t have much of a chance.<\/p>\n

Tight End (2)<\/h3>\n

In: <\/em>Matt LaCosse, Ryan Izzo<\/p>\n

Out: <\/em>Andrew Beck, Stephen Anderson, Lance Kendricks<\/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. If the Patriots thought\u00a0Lance Kendricks<\/strong><\/a> had anything left in his tank, then they would’ve signed him before the start of training camp.<\/p>\n

Offensive Line (8)<\/h3>\n

In: <\/em>Isaiah Wynn, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Yodny Cajuste, Hjalte Froholdt, Ted Karras<\/p>\n

Out: <\/em>Cole Croston, James Ferentz, Tyler Gauthier, Cedrick Lang, J.J. Dielman, 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>. For the sake of this exercise, let’s assume\u00a0Yodny Cajuste<\/strong><\/a> is healthy by the time the season starts up. If that’s the case, he’ll be the top option at swing tackle.<\/p>\n

Hjalte Froholdt<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and Ted Karras<\/a> <\/strong>take the top spot, leaving Cole Croston<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>on the outside looking in. Croston is currently on the PUP, but it’s hard to imagine him getting a job even if he was healthy. Dan Skipper<\/strong> appears to be the top reserve option at tackle, but he had a rough day with the first-team offense.\u00a0New England should consider<\/a> signing a guy like Donald Penn<\/a><\/strong>, as Thuney and Skipper aren’t exactly ideal solutions at tackle.<\/p>\n

Defensive Line (9)<\/h3>\n

In: <\/em>Michael\u00a0Bennett, Lawrence Guy, Mike Pennel, Chase Winovich, Deatrich Wise, John Simon, Adam Butler, Byron Cowart, Derek Rivers<\/p>\n

Out:<\/em> Danny Shelton, 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, Cowart and Rivers make the cut. Cowart has reportedly looked good in practice and comes cheaper than Shelton.\u00a0Shelton spent the majority of the off-season on the street, so New England could bring him back if injury strikes. Rivers, meanwhile, still holds potential<\/a> as a third-round pick and could impress in his first fully healthy preseason.<\/p>\n

Linebacker (5)<\/h3>\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, Shilique Calhoun<\/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> was 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. However, Collins hasn’t been as dominant in training camp, so there’s plenty of time for this projection to change.<\/p>\n

Cornerback (6)<\/h3>\n

In: <\/em>Stephon\u00a0Gilmore, JC Jackson, Jason McCourty, Joejuan Williams, Jonathan Jones, Duke Dawson<\/p>\n

Out: <\/em>D\u2019Angelo Ross, Ken Webster, Keion 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> could be the slot cornerback of the future, but he could also be groomed to be Devin McCourty’s ultimate successor.<\/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

Safety (5)<\/h3>\n

In:<\/em>\u00a0Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty, Duron Harmon, Terrence Brooks, Obi Melifonwu<\/p>\n

PUP:\u00a0<\/em>Nate Ebner<\/p>\n

Out: <\/em>Malik Gant, 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> starts the year on the PUP list in this projection.\u00a0Terrence Brooks<\/strong><\/a> makes it for his special teams prowess, while Obi Melifonwu<\/strong><\/a> earns a job after a strong camp.\u00a0Malik Gant<\/strong> is a prime candidate for the practice squad.<\/p>\n

Special Teams (3)<\/h3>\n

In:<\/em>\u00a0Jake Bailey, Stephen Gostkowski, Joe Cardona<\/p>\n

Out: <\/em>Ryan\u00a0Allen<\/p>\n

Jake Bailey<\/strong> is reportedly killing it<\/a> in training camp 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 2.0<\/strong><\/em><\/a>
\nPatriots Roster Projection 1.0<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>