With Kenny Britt and Eddie Pleasant both getting cut, there are two open spots on my roster projection since last time. The areas of biggest question are at cornerback where the Pats have a logjam of young promising players, a couple of whom were significant draft picks.
Here’s the rundown of the latest 53-man projection and where I could see some Labor Day additions after other teams cut down.
QB (2) T.Brady, B.Hoyer – No change.
RB (5) R.Burkhead, S.Michel, J.Develin, J.Hill, J.White – No change. Cut/Re-sign Bolden.
WR (4) C.Hogan, P.Dorsett, C.Patterson, M.Slater – I just can’t make a case for McCarron or Berrios at this point. Really the guy who’s impressed me the most of the low end receivers is Devin Lucien, but he has yet to get a big boy audition so I don’t think he’s a factor either. I don’t foresee a big free agent signing but I’d bet they take a flier on someone after cutdowns.
TE (3) R.Gronkowski, D.Allen, J.Hollister – No change. Hope Hollister is healthy, they’ll need him weeks 1-4 to play an inside receiver role.
C (1) D.Andrews
G (3) S.Mason, J.Thuney, T.Karras
T (4) T.Brown, M.Cannon, L.Waddle, U.John – John has emerged as the third tackle with Cannon out, he could sneak on especially after Waddle got benched against the Panthers. Cannon’s return would be a huge boost and likely push John off.
DE (4) T.Flowers, A.Clayborn, D.Wise, D.Rivers – Grissom can be cut and re-signed like last year. Excited about this group’s development, it’s a good mix and we haven’t even seen Flowers out there in weeks.
DT (5) M.Brown, D.Shelton, L.Guy, V.Valentine, A.Butler — I do wonder if Brown is in danger of getting cut or traded. I love Valentine and feel he’s a better schematic fit. Either way, Brown is clearly the 3rd DT now.
ILB(4) D.Hightower, E.Roberts, J.Bentley, N.Grigsby
OLB(3) K.VanNoy, M.Flowers, B.King
CB (7) S.Gilmore, E.Rowe, J.McCourty, C.Jones, D.Dawson, J.Jones, J.Jackson: Hardest spot on the roster right now and I can’t really justify keeping all these guys. Really, the one in the most danger might just be Jason McCourty. I’d predict Gilmore-Rowe-C. Jones might be the top trio out of the gate. I just love JC Jackson so he gets one of the two new roster spots even though there’s just too many players here.
SS (3) P.Chung, J.Richards, N.Ebner
FS (2) D.McCourty, D.Harmon – Thought Pleasant could get on via special teams and they gave him a long look. He’s an early cut out of respect to catch on elsewhere.
ST (3) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona
SUSP: Julian Edelman