The New England Patriots brought nine rookies aboard through the 2016 NFL Draft, but some of them could have trouble cracking the team’s initial 53-man roster in September.
Yes, we’re admittedly getting way ahead of ourselves by already predicting which Patriots will and won’t make a roster four months from now, but if the NFL offseason, and it’s fun to project.
The Patriots reportedly signed nine undrafted free agents, and we’ve included them in our 53-man roster projection despite not officially being on the roster yet.
Here’s our way-too-early roster projection.
QUARTERBACK (2)
In: Tom Brady*, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett
Out: None
*Currently suspended four games to begin the season.
— Brady’s ban is back on, so we’ll base this 53-man roster on the starting QB sitting out the first four games, opening what is essentially a 54th roster spot.
RUNNING BACK (5)
In: Dion Lewis, LeGarrette Blount, Donald Brown, Brandon Bolden, James Develin
Out: D.J. Foster, Tyler Gaffney, Joey Iosefa, James White
— Surprisingly, Brown is the only veteran running back the Patriots have added this offseason. He offers more as a ball-carrier than White.
WIDE RECEIVER (6)
In: Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan, Keshawn Martin, Malcolm Mitchell, Matthew Slater
Out: DeAndre Carter, Aaron Dobson, Chris Harper, Devin Lucien, Nate Washington
— Martin, Washington and Lucien likely will battle for one roster spot this spring and summer.
TIGHT END (3)
In: Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett, Clay Harbor
Out: A.J. Derby, Steven Scheu, Bryce Williams, Michael Williams
— If Derby or Williams impress in training camp, the Patriots could carry four tight ends at the expense of another position.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
In: Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Shaq Mason, Josh Kline, Bryan Stork, Jonathan Cooper, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, LaAdrian Waddle
Out: Chris Barker, Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming, Tre’ Jackson, Ted Karras, Keavon Milton
— This is the toughest group to project. Cannon, Jackson or Karras could easily make the roster over Mason, Kline, Andrews or Waddle.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9)
In: Jabaal Sheard, Rob Ninkovich, Malcom Brown, Alan Branch, Chris Long, Terrance Knighton, Geneo Grissom, Trey Flowers, Vincent Valentine
Out: Woodrow Hamilton, Rufus Johnson, Frank Kearse, Markus Kuhn, Joe Vellano
— The Patriots could elect to carry a fifth defensive tackle, like Kearse or Kuhn, over Flowers or Grissom.
LINEBACKER (5)
In: Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, Shea McClellin, Jonathan Freeny, Brandon King
Out: Jon Bostic, Ramon Humber, C.J. Johnson, Elandon Roberts, Kevin Snyder, Tony Steward
— Bostic, Humber, Roberts or Steward could make the team with a solid offseason.
CORNERBACK (5)
In: Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan, Cyrus Jones, Justin Coleman, Darryl Roberts
Out: V’Angelo Bentley, E.J. Biggers, Jonathan Jones, Cre’von LeBlanc
— Coleman impressed as an undrafted free agent, and Roberts was solid in training camp before suffering a wrist injury. They both have more upside than Biggers, a veteran.
SAFETY (6)
In: Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, Jordan Richards, Nate Ebner, Kamu Grugier-Hill
Out: Devonta Burns, Cedric Thompson, Brock Vereen
— Grugier-Hill and King, listed with the linebackers, are both hybrid linebackers/safeties who likely will contribute more on special teams than defense.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
In: K Stephen Gostkowski, P Ryan Allen, LS Joe Cardona
Out: LS Christian Yount
— Unless Cardona’s Navy responsibilities prevent him from playing in 2016, Yount likely will be gone by training camp.
Thumbnail photo via Logan Bowles/USA TODAY Sports Images
