Patriots Pre-Training Camp 53-Man Roster Projection

With training camp just a couple weeks away, it’s a good time to take a quick reset on the roster and make a 53-man projection. Julian Edelman’s suspension being upheld, there’s an extra roster spot to play with at cutdown time. Despite it being a punishment, I always find those roster spots incredibly helpful in protecting promising young players.

Admittedly, this was a fairly easy projection. There are spots where I’m on the fence, but overall this is a deep team that got some good experience last year at the lower end of the roster. Add the influx of injury returnees like Dont’a Hightower, Harvey Langi and Derek Rivers and there’s a lot to be excited about. Training camp should be extremely competitive.

Here’s where I’m at and the spots that were the hardest to pare down.

QB (2) T.Brady, B.Hoyer – Brady Ride or Die. Etling to PS.

RB (5) R.Burkhead, S.Michel, J.White, J.Hill, J.Develin – Hill beats out Gillislee. Rest seems obvious.

WR (6) C.Hogan, J.Matthews, K.Britt, C.Patterson, B.Berrios, M.Slater – Phillip Dorsett a tough cut, Britt and Patterson just too specialized to keep a speed guy. Praying that Berrios looks like Edelman circa 2009 but I don’t think he’s nearly the lock some do.

TE (3) R.Gronkowski, D.Allen, J.Hollister – Curious if Niklas beats out Allen, seems possible. Hollister too impressive in OTAs to cut at this point. Could bring value without Amendola/Edelman.

C (1) D.Andrews – Solid centerpiece.
G (4) S.Mason, J.Thuney, T.Karras, I.Wynn – Wynn redshirt year backing up a number of spots.
T (3) T.Brown, M.Cannon, L.Waddle – I think Brown’s the guy at LT now, as much as I want Wynn to win the job. Carrying 8 OL will allow them to continue to mix and match if they need to. Karras keeps holding on, can anyone else play center?

DE (4) T.Flowers, A.Clayborn, D.Wise, D.Rivers — Grissom can be cut/re-signed. Eric Lee right on the bubble, would love to keep him.

DT (4) M.Brown, D.Shelton, V.Valentine, A.Butler – Valentine beats out Guy, though I could see both sticking. Valentine was just better at the end of 2016 than Guy ever was in 2017.

ILB(3) E.Roberts, H.Langi, J.Bentley – Roberts/Bentley might be a little redundant but I’m keeping both. As I’ve mentioned, moving Langi to MLB is a move I’d love to see made ala Bruschi early in his career. Could honestly see Langi overtaking Roberts as the primary MLB.
OLB(3) D.Hightower, K.VanNoy, M.Flowers – Flowers got good experience last season and can fill in if/when Hightower gets dinged.

CB (6) S.Gilmore, J.McCourty, E.Rowe, D.Dawson, J.Jackson, J.Jones – Jackson makes it over Crossen, the rest was pretty easy. Cyrus Jones’ punt return ability might be the only chance he has.

SS (3) P.Chung, J.Richards, B.King — Wanted to cut Richards for Travis, but that’s a heart move not a head move as much as I want Travis to emerge as the heir to Chung.
FS (3) D.McCourty, D.Harmon, N.Ebner — Stability on the back end.

ST (3) S.Gostkowski, R.Allen, J.Cardona — Allen will have to win the job over undrafted rookie Bojorquez.

PUP – Malcolm Mitchell – selling out a bit here to make things easier on myself. Reality is if Mitchell opens on PUP again his career could very well be in jeopardy.

PS Priorities – Danny Etling, Damarius Travis, Eric Lee, Christian Sam, Jason King, Keion Crossen

SUSP – Julian Edelman

Hardest Cuts: Phillip Dorsett, Eric Lee, Christian Sam

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