It’s still early and there will likely be some more roster tweaking between now and the opening of training camp (Dustin Keller anyone?), but heres a first crack at a 53-man Patriots roster.
Make your own at PatsPicker and share it below!
QB (3) Brady, Mallett, Garoppolo – no surprises here, could Mallett go if Garoppolo picks things up quickly?
RB (4) Ridley, Vereen, White, Bolden – still feels a little light here, we’ll see how the undrafted rookies play out. Wouldn’t set Bolden’s spot in stone.
WR (6) Edelman, Dobson, Amendola, LaFell, Thompkins, Slater – Dropped Boyce, Gallon goes to practice squad, though I could see him beating out Boyce for a roster spot.
TE (4) Gronkowski, Hoomanawanui, Jones, Wiliams – feels very light here as well, a lot hinges on Gronk’s health. Could swap Williams for Keller if he signs.
C (2) Wendell, Stork – it’s possible Stork wins this outright and Wendell gets cut, but we’re playing it safe at this point.
G (3) Mankins, Connolly, Halapio – Josh Kline misses the cut to Halapio. Connolly stays on, if he slips in camp he could be a casualty with Halapio/Kline sliding into a starting role. Or maybe even Cannon?
T (4) Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming – Cannon could slide to guard and the Fleming becomes the swing backup.
DE (5) Jones, Ninkovich, Smith, Buchanan, Armstead – Good group, wish they had one more impact edge rusher but Buchanan will have to do.
DT (5) Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Siliga, Jones – really good group here with a solid mixture of strengths and experience.
LB(6) Mayo, Hightower, Beauharnais, Collins, Hull, Gordon – not great depth here but a really solid top three. Question is who is the #4 guy? Pencilling in Beauharnais for now.
CB (4) Revis, Dennard, Ryan, Arrington – Browner starts out suspended, but not a better top-to-bottom group in the NFL.
SS (3) Harmon, Chung, Ebner – Harmon slides into the top SS spot, but not great depth behind him.
FS (1) McCourty – Jemea Thomas could sneak on here given the lack of depth at FS.
ST (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Aiken – Obvs.
SUSPENDED 4 games – Browner
PUP potential – Easley, Gronk, Wilfork, Kelly
And for fun here’s my ballsy choices that involves a bigger youth movement.
QB (2) Brady, Garoppolo
RB (4) Ridley, Vereen, White, Finch
WR (7) Edelman, Dobson, Amendola, LaFell, Thompkins, Gallon, Slater
TE (3) Gronkowski, Hoomanawanui, Jones
C (2) Connolly, Stork
G (3) Mankins, Cannon, Halapio
T (3) Solder, Vollmer, Fleming
DE (6) Jones, Ninkovich, Smith, Buchanan, Armstead, Bequette
DT (5) Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Siliga, Jones
ILB(3) Mayo, Hightower, Beauharnais
OLB(3) Collins, Hull, Gordon
CB (4) Revis, Dennard, Ryan, Arrington
SS (3) Harmon, Chung, Ebner
FS (2) McCourty, Thomas
ST (3) Gostkowski, Allen, Aiken