Training camp has concluded. The preseason is mercifully over. It’s time for the Patriots to trim their roster to 53 gamers and prepare for his or her season opener in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles.
It gained’t be a easy course of. The Patriots have tough selections to make previous to Tuesday’s cuts as they cope with accidents and decide whether or not to maintain gamers they know they’ll belief or youthful gamers with larger upside.
The Patriots already began the method on Saturday.
These are the eight hardest selections the Patriots should make earlier than Tuesday’s cutdown deadline:
Keep or threat dropping UDFA
Undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham is a person with no place on the Patriots. His improvement at huge receiver has been slowed by the snaps he will get at his school place of quarterback, however the Patriots have been hesitant to offer him a full slate of snaps underneath middle.
The crew should determine to what diploma they’ll develop Cunningham at both place and if his potential is value a spot on the 53-man roster over gamers who will really contribute this season.
It complicates issues that Cunningham could be helpful on the scout crew because the Patriots put together for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles in Week 1. That alone just isn’t value a spot on the roster.
Fourth working again
Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott are making the crew. Pierre Strong shall be on the roster, as nicely, barring one thing unexpected.
The Patriots may, in concept, roll with simply these three gamers. But they’ll probably hold a fourth working again for depth, and there are circumstances to be made for Ty Montgomery (expertise), Kevin Harris (early-down prowess) and J.J. Taylor (he’s been the very best of the bunch within the preseason). Montgomery has been harm for many of camp, Harris lacks an excellent trait, and Taylor must be very straightforward to slide onto the apply squad. Who makes the reduce?
Keep six receivers?
This looks as if a foregone conclusion with how sixth-round picks Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte had been dealt with within the preseason. There’s nonetheless the skin likelihood of the Patriots buying and selling away a WR.
Tyquan Thornton is presently coping with an harm and will doubtlessly land on injured reserve. He’d nonetheless have to make the preliminary 53-man roster in that situation.
A 3rd tight finish
Neither of the Patriots’ prime two tight ends are totally wholesome. Hunter Henry didn’t gown for Friday’s sport after getting banged up in apply Wednesday. Mike Gesicki hasn’t participated in full-contact drills since getting back from a shoulder harm suffered earlier in coaching camp.
Still, there’s not a 3rd tight finish on the roster value protecting who the Patriots shouldn’t really feel snug dropping in waivers. It could be a shock if a crew stole away Anthony Firkser, Matt Sokol, Johnny Lumpkin or Scotty Washington.
Perhaps the Patriots use a waiver declare right here so as to add depth?
Extra offensive linemen
The Patriots have to know they’ll have not less than seven wholesome offensive linemen in Week 1. Among potential starters, Trent Brown and David Andrews are good to go, Cole Strange and Mike Onwenu weren’t taking part in apply as just lately as Wednesday, and Riley Reiff suffered an obvious harm in Friday’s sport.
One of the highest reserves, Kody Russey, hasn’t practiced since Week 1 of the preseason, and swing deal with Calvin Anderson stays on the non-football sickness record. Rookies Jake Andrews, Sidy Sow and Atonio Mafi look like roster locks, Chasen Hines, Conor McDermott and Bill Murray have made circumstances for roster spots, and the Patriots love veteran guard/middle James Ferentz. With the well being of Strange, Onwenu and Reiff in query, the Patriots may have to hold greater than 9 or 10 offensive linemen on their preliminary 53-man roster.
It’s secure to incorporate Brown, Strange, David Andrews, Onwenu, Reiff, Jake Andrews, Sow and Mafi. The query is what number of of Russey, Hines, McDermott, Murray and Ferentz make the crew, assuming Anderson begins the 12 months on NFI.
It’s an advanced puzzle to assemble.
Munson’s push
Calvin Munson has earned a roster spot together with his play on particular groups and protection this summer time. But the Patriots additionally probably know that they might reduce him and pretty simply convey him again to the roster or apply squad after putting a participant on injured reserve.
As lengthy as they don’t lose him, it appears probably that Munson will contribute Week 1 on particular groups whether or not that’s on the roster or from a apply squad elevation.
Developmental cornerbacks
The Patriots snagged two tall, speedy cornerbacks late on Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft in Ameer Speed and Isaiah Bolden. Bolden was making an even bigger impression on protection till a concussion knocked him out of the Patriots’ preseason sport in opposition to the Packers final week. Speed seems to be the larger contributor on particular groups.
Bolden’s well being performs a think about whether or not or not the Patriots will hold him round. He’d should be waived with an harm designation, and if he cleared waivers, he would revert to injured reserve, successfully ending his season.
The standing of Jack Jones, who faces gun costs from June, performs an element. The Patriots have to determine if they need to hold extra depth with a extra skilled participant like Shaun Wade.
An further specialist?
It appeared like a foregone conclusion that Chad Ryland could be the Patriots’ kicker when he was chosen within the fourth spherical and that Bryce Baringer could be the crew’s punter when he was taken within the sixth spherical this spring.
But each rookies have had some up-and-down spurts as they compete, respectively, with Nick Folk and Corliss Waitman. Baringer shined in Friday’s preseason sport and has the leg up on Waitman. It’s dangerous to roll with Ryland regardless of his promise and massive leg. Do the Patriots play it secure and hold the rookie and Folk? Or threat dropping Folk to a crew just like the Dallas Cowboys in an try and get him on the apply squad?
Source: www.bostonherald.com