Patriots Roster Reset: Bradley Fletcher, Robert McClain Boost Cornerback Depth

The New England Patriots still have work to do before they start preparing for the 2015 NFL season.

The Patriots have 75 players on their roster and 15 spots to fill by the time OTAs begin after the NFL draft. Even with their current roster, the Patriots again are favorites to win the AFC East. They could afford to add more pieces on their offensive line and at defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback, however. And if Wednesday, when they added cornerbacks Bradley Fletcher and Robert McClain, was any indication, the Patriots aren’t finished signing players off the open market.

Let’s look at where the roster stands now, more than one week after free agency began:

QUARTERBACK
Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo, Garrett Gilbert
The Patriots should be set at quarterback, as long as they believe Gilbert can be a serviceable training-camp arm.

RUNNING BACK
LeGarrette Blount, Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, Tyler Gaffney
Blount’s contract runs out after this season, and while Gray had success in limited opportunities last season, it became obvious that coach Bill Belichick couldn’t depend on the young running back. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots use an early draft pick on a running back to fill depth this season and to plan for the future.

Gaffney has potential after sitting out the 2014 season with a knee injury, but he was a sixth-round pick who has yet to take an NFL snap.

THIRD-DOWN BACK
James White, Travaris Cadet, Dion Lewis
Shane Vereen signed with the New York Giants, so for now, it looks like White and Cadet will be sharing this role in 2015.

FULLBACK
James Develin
The Patriots likely will sign another fullback for training camp, but Develin’s role with the Patriots is set barring injury.

WIDE RECEIVER
Julian Edelman, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amedola, Brandon Gibson, Brian Tyms, Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce, Jonathan Krause, Kevin Dorsey, Matthew Slater
The Patriots are bringing back last year’s starting receivers, but they have shown interest in adding another option. They would be fine going into the 2015 season with five players out of this group, but a little competition can’t hurt in training camp, and players such as Dwayne Bowe, Reggie Wayne and Greg Jennings still are available.

TIGHT END
Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Tim Wright, Michael Hoomanawanui
The Patriots could pick a tight end late in the draft, but they already have improved their depth by adding Chandler.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Nate Solder, Bryan Stork, Ryan Wendell, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming, Josh Kline, Jordan Devey, Chris Barker, Caylin Hauptmann
The Patriots currently are without a starting left guard, unless they plan on moving Fleming to the position. Dan Connolly, last year’s starter and a team captain, is a free agent and still could return. The Patriots should look to draft a player who could be a long-term fit at guard.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Sealver Siliga, Alan Branch, Dominique Easley, Chris Jones, Joe Vellano, Antonio Johnson
Vince Wilfork is gone, and it would be beneficial to bring in one or two more big nose tackles to rotate with Siliga and Branch. B.J. Raji, Ahtyba Rubin and Red Bryant are available on the open market, and the Patriots are studying nose tackles at college pro days.

DEFENSIVE END
Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard, Zach Moore, Michael Buchanan, Jake Bequette, Rufus Johnson, Eric Martin
The Patriots could add another edge rusher in the draft, but they already have improved their depth with Sheard. Moore and Buchanan provide upside at the position.

LINEBACKER
Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Jerod Mayo, James Morris, Darius Fleming, Chris White, Jonathan Freeny, Deontae Skinner, Cameron Gordon
The Patriots lack a true No. 4 linebacker, unless they have faith in Morris coming off a torn ACL. The Patriots brought in free-agent linebacker Colin McCarthy for a visit last Tuesday, but the only linebacker they have signed is Freeny, a special-teamer. The Patriots should add one or two linebackers before the offseason concludes to boost their depth.

CORNERBACK
Kyle Arrington, Logan Ryan, Malcolm Butler, Bradley Fletcher, Robert McClain, Alfonzo Dennard, Chimdi Chekwa, Justin Green, Daxton Swanson
Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner are gone, and Fletcher and McClain have partially taken their places. The Patriots could take a cornerback high in the draft, but training camp and preseason will dictate who starts in 2015. Arrington playing in the slot in three-receiver sets is the only sure-thing about this cornerback corps. Fletcher and McClain aren’t even guaranteed roster spots at this point.

SAFETY
Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner
McCourty and Chung are projected to start, and Harmon and Wilson provide valuable depth at free safety and strong safety, respectively. Ebner is a special-teams ace, and the Patriots could add one or two safeties before OTAs begin after the draft.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen, Tyler Ott
Starting long snapper Danny Aiken remains a free agent. The Patriots either will bring back Aiken or sign another player to compete with Ott for the job in 2015.

Thumbnail photo via Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports Images