Malcolm Butler’s hectic offseason, including a brief suspension, hasn’t hindered the young cornerback’s development.
The New England Patriots’ Super Bowl XLIX hero has been the stand-out performer through 10 training camp practices, and he looks primed to start at left cornerback this season after playing just 187 regular-season snaps in 2014.
Check out how the depth chart is stacking up as the Patriots prepare for their first preseason game:
QUARTERBACK
Starter: Tom Brady
Reserves: Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Lindley
One practice down, and Lindley hasn’t beat out Brady yet.
RUNNING BACK
Starter: LeGarrette Blount
Reserves: Brandon Bolden, Jonas Gray, James White, Travaris Cadet, Dion Lewis, Tyler Gaffney, Tony Creecy
Blount is by far the best running back in Patriots training camp, and it looks like Bolden is the front-runner for the third-down role. It appears it will come down to Bolden and Gray for the Week 1 starting job while Blount is suspended.
FULLBACK
Starter: James Develin
Reserves: Eric Kettani
Develin has become a staple in the Patriots’ offense as a fullback/H-back/tight end/occasional wide receiver.
WIDE RECEIVER
Starters: Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell
Reserves: Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Brandon Gibson, Matthew Slater, Josh Boyce, Brian Tyms, Jonathan Krause, Chris Harper, Zach D’Orazio
With one or two more solid practices out of Gibson and absences from Dobson, the veteran could pass the third-year pro. Dobson will have every opportunity to succeed this offseason, however, because of his upside.
TIGHT END
Starter: Rob Gronkowski
Reserves: Scott Chandler, Michael Hoomanawanui, Jake Bequette, Jimmay Mundine, Logan Stokes
Chandler continues to sit out of practice with an undisclosed injury, meaning Bequette and Mundine will receive plenty of opportunities in the Patriots’ preseason opener Thursday against the Green Bay Packers. It will be interesting to watch Bequette, a former defensive end, and Mundine, an undersized athlete, on a game field. Both players have had flashes in camp.
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Starters: Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer
Reserves: Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming, Jordan Devey, Caylin Hauptmann
Cannon is out of practice with an undisclosed injury, giving Fleming plenty of opportunities to move up the depth chart.
GUARD
Starters: Ryan Wendell, Tre’ Jackson
Reserves: Shaq Mason, Josh Kline, Ryan Groy, Chris Barker, Caylin Hauptmann, Mark Asper
Wendell remains on the physically unable to perform list, and though Mason is taking first-team reps, it’s unlikely he’ll open the season as a starter. The Patriots traded sixth-round pick Matt Wells to the Chicago Bears for Groy, which means the Patriots are probably pretty high on their new guard. He could have a chance to start this season.
CENTER
Starter: Bryan Stork
Reserves: David Andrews
Kline also is receiving reps at center, and Wendell has a past at the position.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Starters: Sealver Siliga, Alan Branch
Reserves: Chris Jones, Dominique Easley, Malcom Brown, Zach Moore, Antonio Johnson, Joe Vellano, A.J. Pataliali’i
It’s hard to piece together this depth chart at defensive tackle because Jones is on the PUP list, Easley is a hybrid edge defender, Brown is a rookie and Moore is converting from defensive end. For now, Siliga and Branch project as starters, but Jones, Easley and Brown should receive plenty of playing time.
DEFENSIVE END
Starters: Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich
Reserves: Jabaal Sheard, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom, Eric Martin, Rufus Johnson
Easley and Moore also could play defensive end. Flowers was drafted later than Grissom, but the Arkansas product appears to be receiving more reps on defense so far in training camp. Martin was impressing in camp before suffering an undisclosed injury.
LINEBACKER
Starters: Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower, Jerod Mayo
Reserves: Dane Fletcher, James Morris, Jonathan Freeny, Darius Fleming, Dekoda Watson, Cameron Gordon, L.J. Fort, Xzavier Dickson, Brandon King
Fletcher is likely to start the season on the PUP list, which would leave Morris and Freeny as the primary backups at linebacker.
CORNERBACK
Starters: Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan
Reserves: Tarell Brown, Robert McClain, Bradley Fletcher, Darryl Roberts, Daxton Swanson, Jimmy Jean
If Butler and Ryan start in base and Brown comes off the bench in nickel, then Ryan likely would move to the slot, and Brown would come in to play right cornerback. McClain has a chance to earn the nickel role too.
SAFETY
Starters: Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung
Reserves: Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson, Jordan Richards, Nate Ebner
If the Patriots play in a Cover-2 zone defense, then either Harmon or Richards could start next to McCourty, leaving Chung in more of a hybrid-linebacker role. Richards, Wilson and Harmon have impressed in camp. Harmon already has two interceptions in 10 practices.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Starters: K Stephen Gostkowski, P Ryan Allen, LS Joe Cardona
The Patriots haven’t brought in any competition at the three specialist roles.
Thumbnail photo via Greg M. Cooper/USA TODAY Sports Images
