The Patriots are precisely one week away from one of the crucial tough instances on the NFL calendar: roster cutdown day.
NFL groups should trim their rosters from 90 gamers right down to 53 on Aug. 29 by 4 p.m. ET. The Patriots have two practices and one ultimate preseason recreation Friday towards the Tennessee Titans to make any ultimate selections.
Here’s our newest crack at a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3)
In — Malik Cunningham, Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe
Out — Trace McSorley
The Herald’s take: The Patriots and Packers finally made the best transfer to droop Saturday evening’s preseason recreation after rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden was carted off of the sector on a backboard, but when any participant suffered for the choice, it was Cunningham, who’s nonetheless making an attempt to earn a roster spot at quarterback, large receiver and on particular groups.
Cunningham was focused 5 instances however didn’t catch a move. He didn’t enter the sport at quarterback and didn’t obtain many snaps underneath middle throughout joint practices with the Packers. McSorley was in the identical boat final week. It’s extremely uncertain that McSorley would earn a roster spot at this level. He’s struggled this summer time.
But Cunningham nonetheless has one thing to show, and the Patriots canceled joint practices with the Titans this week. Cunningham appears fairly distant from being able to contribute in his conversion to large receiver. He’s an thrilling playmaker at quarterback, nevertheless, and he might function a change of tempo underneath middle in sure conditions. The largest query is whether or not the Patriots threat dropping him.
Jones is the Patriots’ beginning quarterback. He performed nicely Saturday evening. Zappe is greater than an adept backup, although he hasn’t had the strongest summer time in coaching camp or the preseason by means of virtually 4 weeks.
RUNNING BACK (3)
In — Ezekiel Elliott, Ty Montgomery, Rhamondre Stevenson, Pierre Strong
Out — Kevin Harris, C.J. Marable, J.J. Taylor
The Herald’s take: Montgomery hasn’t practiced because the first week of coaching camp, however the Patriots like him, and he can moonlight as a large receiver if wanted.
Taylor had some first rate moments throughout Saturday evening’s preseason recreation, however he’s getting into his fourth season with the Patriots. There’s little threat of dropping him on waivers throughout cutdowns, so he can proceed to function depth from the follow squad.
Harris hasn’t had a lot room to run behind an ineffective offensive line by means of two video games, but it surely appears unlikely {that a} crew would declare him if he’s waived at roster cuts.
Stevenson and Elliott can lead the place group whereas Strong serves as depth and brings much-needed velocity to the place. Montgomery can add insurance coverage.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
In — Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton
Out — Tre Nixon, Thyrick Pitts, Raleigh Webb
The Herald’s take: Boutte has now performed sufficient within the preseason and coaching camp to justify a roster spot. He’s a participant price persevering with to work with. The LSU product isn’t the largest or quickest receiver, however he merely makes performs just like the catch-and-run off of a slant for a 42-yard landing from Zappe on Saturday evening.
Douglas, Parker and Smith-Schuster are roster locks. Bourne is a lock barring any unexpected commerce. Thornton will most likely preserve a roster spot given his second-round pedigree, however the different large receivers on this roster have performed extra to justify one this summer time.
TIGHT END (2)
In — Mike Gesicki, Hunter Henry
Out — Anthony Firkser, Johnny Lumpkin, Matt Sokol, Scotty Washington
The Herald’s take: The Patriots might use greater than two tight ends on the 53-man roster, however they’ll probably be capable to choose between Firkser, Lumpkin, Sokol and Washington for follow squad spots.
Firkser can be helpful to maintain round if Gesicki isn’t wholesome for Week 1 as he offers with a shoulder harm suffered in follow. Firkser doesn’t have Gesicki’s size or velocity, however he’s one other undersized tight finish who can transfer round formations.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8)
In — David Andrews, Jake Andrews, Trent Brown, Atonio Mafi, Mike Onwenu, Riley Reiff, Sidy Sow, Cole Strange
Out — James Ferentz, Chasen Hines, Conor McDermott, Bill Murray, Kody Russey, Andrew Stueber, Micah Vanterpool
NFI — Calvin Anderson
The Herald’s take: Anderson can be included on this group if he can return from the non-football sickness checklist earlier than the 2023 season. The Patriots might definitely use one other offensive deal with within the combine.
Russey was pushing for a roster spot however suffered an unlucky harm in Week 1 of the preseason and hasn’t practiced since.
McDermott additionally appeared like he was going to make the roster early in the summertime however obtained pushed down the depth chart after struggling towards the Houston Texans. Then he obtained injured in joint practices with the Green Bay Packers and didn’t play Saturday evening.
David Andrews, Jake Andrews, Brown, Mafi, Onwenu, Reiff, Sow and Strange all appear fairly protected. Jake Andrews has seen much less work than fellow rookies Mafi and Sow up so far, however he was their highest-drafted rookie offensive lineman this spring.
DEFENSIVE LINE (7)
In — Christian Barmore, Carl Davis, Daniel Ekuale, Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Guy, Keion White, Deatrich Wise
Out — Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Sam Roberts, Justus Tavai
PUP — Trey Flowers
The Herald’s take: It was attention-grabbing to see Barmore and Godchaux begin over Guy in Saturday evening’s preseason recreation. Guy additionally obtained pushed round by rookie tight finish Luke Musgrave on a protracted working play.
Guy returned for coaching camp after skipping necessary minicamp and has been at follow day by day. The Patriots would save cap house by slicing or buying and selling him, however they may use the depth of their defensive position rotation extra.
Pharms has had his moments this summer time however seems primed for a spot on the follow squad. He obtained a particular shoutout from Belichick throughout Monday morning’s video convention name.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (3)
In — Anfernee Jennings, Matt Judon, Josh Uche
Out — Ronnie Perkins, Carson Wells
The Herald’s take: Judon is probably the Patriots’ finest general participant. Jennings is a stout edge setter towards the run on early downs, and Uche is a twitchy move rusher who ought to pile up sacks once more this season.
Perkins, a 2021 third-round choose, can’t keep on the sector. Wells flashed a few instances in Saturday evening’s recreation, however he’s one of many crew’s most up-to-date signings. The ex-XFL defender is combating for a follow squad spot.
LINEBACKER (4)
In — Ja’Whaun Bentley, Marte Mapu, Jahlani Tavai, Mack Wilson
Out — Diego Fagot, Joe Giles-Harris, Calvin Munson
The Herald’s take: We got here extremely near together with Munson as a result of he’s been a core particular teamer and obtained inserted into the defensive rotation surprisingly early on Saturday. But when it comes right down to it, the Patriots can most likely convey him again on the follow squad and elevate him to start out the season. Plus Bentley and Mapu didn’t play Saturday. So his reps may need been a bit deceiving.
Bentley, Mapu, Tavai and Wilson have all had robust summers.
CORNERBACK (6)
In — Myles Bryant, Christian Gonzalez, Jack Jones, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Ameer Speed
Out — Isaiah Bolden, Quandre Mosely, Rodney Randle, Shaun Wade
The Herald’s take: Bolden was a tough omission. He confirmed promise this offseason earlier than his unlucky harm Saturday evening. We didn’t have him making the 53-man roster in our final projection. He did make some spectacular performs in joint practices towards the Packers, but it surely wasn’t sufficient to get him on the squad over Bryant, Gonzalez, Jones, Jones, Jones and Speed.
Speed makes the minimize as a result of he has related measurement and athleticism however seems extra prepared on particular groups.
Jack Jones remains to be on the roster, and there’s been no phrase of a attainable suspension as he faces felony gun expenses.
Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones are at present banged up and didn’t play in Saturday’s preseason recreation. That led to loads of snaps for Gonzalez and Jack Jones by means of the primary three quarters of motion.
SAFETY (4)
In — Kyle Dugger, Jalen Mills, Jabrill Peppers, Adrian Phillips
Out — Joshuah Bledsoe, Brad Hawkins
The Herald’s take: No main surprises right here. There’s a world by which Bledsoe makes the crew, however it will most likely require accidents at different positions.
Bryant, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Ameer Speed and special-teamer Brenden Schooler can all play security, in order that’s the place the Patriots can cull some extra depth.
The largest query right here is whether or not anybody can play Devin McCourty’s previous free security position. We merely haven’t seen it but.
SPECIAL TEAMS (6)
In — P Bryce Baringer, ST Chris Board, LS Joe Cardona, Ok Chad Ryland, ST Brenden Schooler, ST Matthew Slater
Out — Ok Nick Folk, P Corliss Waitman
PUP — ST Cody Davis
The Herald’s take: It’s a slight threat handy over the special-teams reins to 2 rookies in Baringer and Ryland, however the Patriots knew what they had been doing after they chosen them within the 2023 NFL Draft. The crew all the time has the choice to make use of a few of their 16 follow squad spots on specialists.
Board, Schooler and Slater are among the many finest special-teams gamers within the NFL.
Source: www.bostonherald.com