Yes, it’s a youth motion.
The Patriots’ finalized their preliminary regular-season roster Tuesday afternoon, assembling one in all their youngest squads in current reminiscence. Ten rookies made the roster, although one — large receiver Tyquan Thornton (damaged clavicle) — ought to land on injured reserve shortly, which is able to open up a spot. Running again/large receiver Ty Montgomery can be a candidate for short-term IR, although even when Montgomery stays energetic, the Pats are anticipated to proceed tinkering with their roster by way of the tip of the week.
Until then, here’s a position-by-position breakdown of the 2022 Patriots.
* denotes projected starter, (R) denotes a rookie
QUARTERBACKS (3)
*Mac Jones
Brian Hoyer
Bailey Zappe (R)
Analysis: Never any thriller right here. The solely query was whether or not the Patriots would launch Hoyer to quickly create a roster spot, then re-sign him to the energetic roster or apply squad, figuring out he gained’t depart New England. But doing so would have price the entrance workplace $2.5 million in useless cash. Barring a disastrous preseason, Zappe, a fourth-round rookie, was a digital lock from the beginning of coaching camp because of his draft standing.
RUNNING BACKS (4)
*Damien Harris
Rhamondre Stevenson
Ty Montgomery
Pierre Strong (R)
Analysis: The releases of J.J. Taylor and sixth-round rookie Kevin Harris point out the damage Montgomery suffered final Friday at Las Vegas will not be as severe because it appeared. Montgomery was carted off the sphere within the group’s preseason finale, then Taylor took over for the rest of the primary half. Both Taylor and Kevin Harris can be topic to waivers and probably claimed by one other group.
Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson are firmly entrenched because the Pats’ prime two backs.
WIDE RECEIVER (5)
*DeVante Parker
*Jakobi Meyers
*Nelson Agholor
Kendrick Bourne
Tyquan Thornton (R)
Analysis: The Patriots’ core 4 receivers will begin the season the identical means they began coaching camp: atop the depth chart.
Thornton’s damage ought to permit a struggling Kendrick Bourne to stay because the No. 4 possibility till at the least mid-October. Meyers was by far the steadiest wideout this summer season, whereas Parker and Agholor flashed. Lil’Jordan Humphrey made a late push for a roster spot, however will now be topic to waivers, as will Nixon
TIGHT END (2)
*Hunter Henry
Jonnu Smith
Analysis: Surprise!
The Patriots’ first lower Tuesday was third-year tight finish Devin Asiasi, a 2020 third-round decide who had a gradual, however unspectacular coaching camp. Asiasi ended his New England tenure with two profession catches, each nabbed as a rookie. His launch closed the ebook on two of the worst back-to-back picks within the Belichick period, because the group traded up for him and already launched tight finish Dalton Keene throughout the 2020 draft.
Sokol, a fourth-year journeyman, replaces Asiasi because the Patriots’ No. 3 tight finish. He completed the preseason with 4 catches for twenty-four yards.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8)
*Trent Brown
*Cole Strange (R)
*David Andrews
*Mike Onwenu
*Isaiah Wynn
Justin Herron
Yodny Cajuste
Chasen Hines (R)
Analysis: At least for now, the Isaiah Wynn commerce rumors may be put to relaxation.
Wynn remained with the Patriots, as did their 4 different projected starters up entrance. The major questions Tuesday pertained to their backups. Undrafted rookie middle Kody Russey was among the many remaining cuts, regardless of being the highest-paid UDFA to signal final spring. Russey was battling James Ferentz for the backup middle job, however his lack of versatility — he hasn’t performed guard — could have contributed to his launch. Hines, who began coaching camp on the Non-Football Injury listing, has that versatility, which can have saved him on the roster.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6)
*Lawrence Guy
*Davon Godchaux
Deatrich Wise
Christian Barmore
Carl Davis
Sam Roberts (R)
Analysis: No drama for the D-line, which retained its prime 5 gamers from final 12 months. Wise might begin this season relying on the Patriots’ opening defensive entrance. He typically manned the sting reverse outdoors linebacker Matt Judon when the Pats deployed their base nickel personnel grouping in coaching camp.
Veteran Henry Anderson was launched after agreeing to a pay lower this offseason. Sixth-round rookie and preseason stud Sam Roberts made the group, whereas undrafted rookie LaBryan Ray, who impressed throughout camp and preseason, didn’t make the lower.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (4)
*Matt Judon
*Anfernee Jennings
Josh Uche
DaMarcus Mitchell (R)
Analysis: Mitchell, an undrafted rookie, initiatives as a core particular teamer, although he flashed a robust edge rush within the group’s preseason finale. Jennings moved into lock territory as soon as he continued to rep with the starters halfway by way of coaching camp. Uche once more profiles as a third-down pass-rushing specialist.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4)
*Ja’Whaun Bentley
*Raekwon McMillan
Mack Wilson
Jahlani Tavai
Analysis: Cameron McGrone, a 2021 fifth-round decide, by no means made a robust push to bump any of those 4 off the roster. Despite being touted within the offseason by the entrance workplace and training employees, McGrone remained with the second and third-stringers in apply. Bentley and McMillan ought to begin, with Wilson enjoying center linebacker in dime packages, and Tavai bouncing between inside and out of doors linebacker as a reserve.
CORNERBACKS (6)
*Jalen Mills
*Jonathan Jones
Myles Bryant
Marcus Jones (R)
Jack Jones (R)
Shaun Wade
Analysis: Veteran journeyman Terrance Mitchell was one of many Patriots’ first cuts. Wade, a second-year nook who performed sparingly final 12 months, seemingly beat him out. It will both be Wade or fourth-round rookie Jack Jones first off the bench when outdoors corners Mills and Jonathan Jones hit the bench. The Pats are stocked with nickelback between Bryant, Marcus Jones and Jonathan Jones.
SAFETIES (5)
*Devin McCourty
*Kyle Dugger
*Adrian Phillips
Jabrill Peppers
Joshuah Bledsoe
Analysis: Bledsoe was the one query mark of this group, which Belichick mentioned Monday has his best confidence of any place on the roster. McCourty, Dugger and Phillips have been roster locks. Once Peppers hit the sphere and flashed the velocity he was anticipated to deliver as a free agent, the Patriots have been set at security.
SPECIALISTS (6)
Ok Nick Folk
P Jake Bailey
LS Joe Cardona
ST Matthew Slater
ST Cody Davis
ST Brenden Schooler (R)
Analysis: Schooler’s emergence could have bumped Justin Bethel off the roster. The undrafted rookie out of Texas was a mainstay on a lot of the Patriots’ beginning particular groups throughout the preseason and improved all through camp. Bethel, in the meantime, posted a farewell to Instagram that indicated he won’t be returning to New England. As a vested veteran, he won’t be topic to waivers and is free to signal with any group.
Injured reserve
DL Henry Anderson
WR Kristian Wilkerson
CB Joejuan Williams
OLB Ronnie Perkins
Suspended listing
DL Daniel Ekuale
Non-football damage listing
OL Andrew Stueber
Released
TE Devin Asiasi, CB Terrance Mitchell, LB Harvey Langi, OL Drew Desjarlais, RB Kevin Harris, OL Arlington Hambright, RB J.J. Taylor, DL Henry Anderson, CB Justin Bethel, OL Will Sherman, WR Josh Hammond, DL Jeremiah Pharms Jr.. LB Nate Wieland, OL Bill Murray, WR Tre Nixon, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, C Kody Russey, OL James Ferentz, DB Brad Hawkins, DL LaBryan Ray, TE Matt Sokol, Ok Tristan Vizcaino, TE Jalen Wydermyer
Source: www.bostonherald.com