The Patriots wrapped up their offseason workout program last week, but there are still areas of the 90-man roster where Jerod Mayo’s squad could use additional talent or depth.
Let’s make some tough cuts in a 53-man roster projection while also assessing where the team stands with each positional group.
QUARTERBACK (3)
In: Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Joe Milton III
Out: Bailey Zappe
Let’s get right into it. The overall talent on the Patriots’ current 90-man roster doesn’t exactly stack up to the glory days of the dynasty team. There are undrafted free agents on the roster who would simply not crack the spring roster of a typical Bill Belichick-coached team. But the current Patriots are in a rebuilding phase, and that does come with some advantages.
One of them? The Patriots can easily carry a third quarterback on their roster without worrying about that spot going to a more deserving player at another position. So, while Milton, a sixth-round pick, might have been a candidate for the practice squad in the past, the Patriots can now safely keep him on the 53-man roster.
With Brissett and Maye competing for the starting job and Zappe’s role reduced to third-team reps, it makes more sense to carry a developmental rookie like Milton.
RUNNING BACK (3)
In: Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson
Out: Deshaun Fenwick, JaMycal Hasty, Terrell Jennings
The Patriots should look to add another veteran running back to compete with Harris, Hasty, Fenwick and Jennings for the third running back spot on the roster. Mayo shouldn’t overwork Stevenson after signing him to a four-year contract extension. And Harris is a decent player, but through two seasons hasn’t looked like a lock to make this year’s 53-man roster. Some available options include Joshua Kelley, Latavius Murray, Kareem Hunt and Dalvin Cook.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
In: Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Ja’Lynn Polk, JuJu Smith-Schuster
Out: Kawaan Baker, Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton, David Wallis
We wanted to include Boutte after he stood out at the Patriots’ final minicamp practice, but we’d like to see more from him in training camp when the pads come on before making any rash decisions. He also has potential discipline looming from his offseason arrest for underage gambling. So, for now, Smith-Schuster makes the team as the sixth receiver behind Baker, Bourne, Douglas, Osborn and Polk. But watch for Boutte this summer.
TIGHT END (3)
In: Jaheim Bell, Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper
Out: La’Michael Pettway, Jacob Warren, Mitchell Wilcox
Henry will play the majority of offensive snaps in the Patriots’ offense, and Hooper is a solid backup. Bell is the developmental rookie who can play special teams until he’s ready for an offensive role.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
In: David Andrews, Jake Andrews, Nick Leverett, Atonio Mafi, Chukwuma Okorafor, Mike Onwenu, Layden Robinson, Sidy Sow, Caedan Wallace
Out: Calvin Anderson, Liam Fornadel, Zuri Henry, Michael Jordan, Vederian Lowe, Charles Turner, Tyrone Wheatley
PUP: Cole Strange
Based on the final days of minicamp, the current starting offensive line would be David Andrews at center, Onwenu at right guard, Okorafor at left tackle, Sow at left guard and Wallace at right tackle. There’s, of course, still the possibility that Onwenu will stick at right tackle and one of Leverett, Mafi or Robinson could start. Onwenu can serve as the backup offensive tackle while starting at guard, if that’s where the Patriots choose to start him. Anderson, Lowe and Wheatley didn’t do enough last season to show they were deserving of a spot in 2024. There are still veteran left tackles like David Bakhtiari and Charles Leno available if the Patriots wanted to start Onwenu at right guard and Okorafor at right tackle.
EDGE DEFENDER (5)
In: Anfernee Jennings, Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, Keion White, Deatrich Wise
Out: William Bradley-King, John Morgan, Jotham Russell, Oshane Ximines
No major surprises here, but Ximines could certainly make the team as a backup if the Patriots feel that they need a sixth edge defender. Russell, a 20-year-old rookie from Australia with a rugby background, is an interesting undrafted free agent if the Patriots decide to experiment with having a non-kicker handle kickoff duties.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5)
In: Christian Barmore, Daniel Ekuale, Davon Godchaux, Jeremiah Pharms, Armon Watts
Out: Trysten Hill, Sam Roberts
The Patriots typically like to carry five interior defensive linemen, and Pharms has been a favorite of the coaching staff in recent years.
LINEBACKER (5)
In: Ja’Whaun Bentley, Christian Elliss, Raekwon McMillan, Sione Takitaki, Jahlani Tavai
Out: Steele Chambers, Joe Giles-Harris, Jontrey Hunter
Elliss is a special-teams standout who can contribute on defense. McMillan has been injury-prone in recent years, but he’s another favorite of the defensive coaching staff as a veteran leader.
CORNERBACK (6)
In: Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial, Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones
Out: Kaleb Ford-Dement, Azizi Hearn, Mikey Victor, Shaun Wade, Marco Wilson
After Gonzalez and the Joneses, nothing is guaranteed. So, expect a competition between Austin, Bolden, Dial, Wilson, Hearn, Ford-Dement, Victor and Wade for two-to-four spots. Austin, Bolden and Dial carry the most upside.
SAFETY (5)
In: Kyle Dugger, Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu, Jabrill Peppers, Brenden Schooler
Out: Joshuah Bledsoe, Dell Pettus
Hawkins played well in the spring and gets a spot. The Patriots also have the option of playing some of their cornerbacks at safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
In: K Chad Ryland, P Bryce Baringer, LS Joe Cardona
Out: K Joey Slye
We’ll put Ryland on the roster for now. The kicker battle should wage on through the preseason.
