Patriots roster projection, v2

3 preseason games in the books. Roster cutdown to 75 by Tuesday. Seems like a good time to put out the next version. 82 players remain, including the QB with the suspension looming. So 54 players will be left at the end. Here goes:

QB (3):

Locks: Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett

In: None

Out: None

Way Out: None

Suspended: Tom Brady

No changes. Still don’t see them adding a veteran. Jimmy Football was not very good last night, and that is a little concerning. Perhaps some of it had to do with the fact that Tommy Boy had to have his snaps and therefore Jimmy G could not find a rhythm? Not making excuses, but worth considering. In my opinion, Brady should not have played at all. But I suppose he’s done enough for the organization that if he wanted the snaps, he should have gotten them…and did. Brissett looked good. But take that with a grain of salt considering the fact that a lot of the defense he was playing against may not be in the league as soon as Tuesday.

RB (5):

Locks: Brandon Bolden, LeGarrette Blount

In: James White, James Develin, Tyler Gaffney

Out: Joey Iosefa, D.J. Foster

Way Out: None

PUP: Dion Lewis

Only change is making Blount a lock. And Donald Brown got cut already, if that counts. Underwhelming group any way you slice it. I could really care less about any of them to be honest. Even Lewis. Yup. Lewis was great for what, 7 games last year? And had done nothing in the league for the previous 4 years? Sure, he was hurt a lot. But injuries happen…and they happen to him too much. Regardless, a lot of people act like losing Lewis is close to the end of the world. It’s not. Moving on…not completely sold on Gaffney. Would love to see more of Foster, but he may be running out of time. None of these guys seem to be any good in short yardage. I don’t know why the Pats even bother running the ball in those situations. Though, the offensive line also plays a part in that for sure. Wouldn’t shock me to see a waiver wire pick up or two here before the season starts. That seems to be a popular opinion around the team.

WR (5):

Locks: Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell

In: Keshawn Martin, Aaron Dobson

Out: Chris Harper, DeAndre Carter

Way Out: Devin Lucien

PUP: Danny Amendola

Few changes here. Because of Mitchell’s injury I added another receiver. Unfortunately that receiver is Dobson. Swapped Carter & Lucien, though neither makes it anyway. I’d actually love it if Carter…or anyone…beat Dobson out. No secret there. And Carter does seem to be getting a lot of love. Never know. Martin is no Hall of Famer either, but he signed that 2 year extension last year, so he’s likely safe. Harper may forever be doomed by that lost fumble on a punt return against Denver last year. To me, that was THE turning point of last season. Maybe overstating it on one single play. But once he dropped that ball, it sure felt different. Right away.

TE (3):

Locks: Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett

In: A.J. Derby

Out: Clay Harbor

Way Out: Bryce Williams, Steven Scheu

Hemmed and hawed a bit on this one. Ultimately went with Derby over Harbor. I think at this point Derby has done enough where they couldn’t slip him through waivers to the practice squad. But I’m not sure if he blocks well enough, which you really want your third TE to do best. And A.J. dropped the one pass Brady threw to him last night…on a third down that would have been a first down, no less. Not a good impression there. So it wouldn’t shock me if they kept Harbor instead. Then again, you should be able to find a “Clay Harbor” anywhere, especially after cuts. It also wouldn’t shock me if they kept all 4 initially, and took one less receiver, using Gronk, Bennett and/or Derby as that extra WR. Or kept the 4 and then waived Derby a couple of days after cuts to 53-man so that it was easier to move him to the practice squad when teams already have their rosters set and are less likely to make a claim. Or keep Derby, cut Harbor and re-sign him after Week 1, when salaries are not guaranteed. One thing is for sure: I’ve spent way too much time thinking about this…

Oops…guess Bryan Stork wasn’t a “lock” after all. Stork was credited with being the stabilizing force on the line once he entered into the lineup during the 2014 Super Bowl year. Less than 2 years later he was dumped for next to nothing. Hmmmmm. I’m guessing the concussion history was the deciding factor. But maybe there’s more to that story. Anyway, this situation is still in more than a little disarray. Vollmer may be done for the year. Jackson and Cooper have not returned from whatever ails them. Mason broke his hand. Cannon is still a starter. Solder hasn’t exactly looked great. Karras was the starting RG last night. Kline basically sticks because he appears to be the backup center now. Ugh, and…yikes! My guess is there will be some waiver activity here around cut day as well.

DE (5):

Locks: Chris Long, Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard, Trey Flowers

In: Geneo Grissom

Out: None

Way Out: None

Swapped Flowers and Grissom, but with the injuries to Ninkovich and Sheard they both likely make it anyway. May be able to get away with limited bodies here if the linebackers they keep play a role in this position. And they most assuredly will.

DT (4):

Locks: Alan Branch, Malcolm Brown, Vincent Valentine

In: Marcus Kuhn

Out: Terrance Knighton, Joe Vellano, Anthony Johnson

Way Out: Woodrow Hamilton

Little thin here, but maybe they can get Johnson on the practice squad. Looked great in Game #2 and showed up ok in Game #3. But is it enough? Knighton played in the 4th quarter of Game #2 and apparently not at all in Game #3. Never a good sign. Maybe he is cut and comes back later. Branch was suspended for whatever by the team, but not released. Should mean he stays.

Freeny apparently signed an extension today, so that makes him a lock. Humber, Roberts and Johnson are all victims of a numbers game here. Humber’s probably a guy you can move on and off the roster at your convenience…if he goes for that. Roberts started last night and that was a bit of a surprise. Not sure that puts him on the team though. Johnson seems to have his moments, but as is the case with the other Johnson above, is it enough? Who knows what Mingo brings, but since he was just traded for, hard to see him not making it.

CB (5):

Locks: Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Cyrus Jones

In: Justin Coleman, Cre’Von LeBlanc

Out: Jonathan Jones, Darryl Roberts

Way Out: None

Looks like I was way off on LeBlanc. So much so that I am putting him on. Played seemingly the entire game last night and has gotten some love all through camp. We shall see on Coleman, Jonathan Jones and Roberts. Leaning toward the guy that played last year here though. After missing all of last year, Roberts may be able to slide to the practice squad. It appears the team likes Jonathan Jones and probably hopes he can slip through to the practice squad as well.

Taking one IR guess…and it’s Grugier-Hill. He did not play last night and I don’t even know if anyone knows why. I’m guessing that they have/will come up with something to keep him in the organization without exposing him to waivers because I think they like him. He’s a little small for his listed position of LB, so maybe they want to keep him around to work with him more and build him up…and all that. Just a hunch. The rest here were pretty easy.

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About mpdenton

I am a passionate and life long fan of the local teams...and by local I mean New England. I remember the days of Ray Bourque, Larry Bird, Steve Grogan and Wade Boggs...meaning I have lived the highs and lows of the Boston sports scene. With all this pent up Boston sports emotion, I clearly have a lot to say about the local teams and sometimes about sports in general. Maybe even the Revolution...
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