It is officially the dog-days of the off-season, with no free agency signings to be announced, no draft coverage to look forward to, stuck right in between OTAs and Training Camp.
You know what that means? A way-too-early 53-man roster projection! Before we see the eventual surprise breakout stars who emerge in August practices, here are the names who are - for the time being - the most likely to make the Patriots initial 53-man roster.
Quarterbacks:
KEEP (3) : Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Joe Milton III
CUT (1) : Bailey Zappe
Brissett and Maye are locks to make the Patriots roster, with the expectation of Brissett being the team's bridge quarterback until Maye is ready to play.
Assuming the Patriots keep three quarterbacks, Milton gets the slight edge over Zappe for now. New England used a draft selection on Milton despite picking Maye earlier in the draft. Milton's athletic ability and potential gives him the nod over Zappe, who the Patriots may be able to get back on their practice squad.
Running Backs:
KEEP (3) : Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris
CUT (3) : Terrell Jennings, JaMycal Hasty, Deshaun Fenwick
Once again, the top-two options are locks to make the team. Stevenson and Gibson both signed large contracts in the off-season - Gibson's to come to New England and Stevenson's to extend his time with the team.
It is too early to make a true prediction on who will make the roster as the Patriots RB3, as OTAs are more-so pass-game oriented. Harris' experience with the Patriots gets him the initial spot as the team's third running back, but the door is wide open for Jennings, Hasty, or Fenwick to make it instead.
Wide Receivers:
KEEP (6) : DeMario Douglas, Javon Baker, Ja'Lynn Polk, K.J. Osborn, Jalen Reagor, Kayshon Boutte
PUP/IR: Kendrick Bourne
CUT (5) : JuJu Smith-Schuster, David Wallis, Tyquan Thornton, Kawaan Baker, JaQuae Jackson
Douglas, Polk, Osborn, Bourne, and Javon Baker are expected to make the roster as the team's top-5 receivers. Osborn and Bourne inked deals with the Patriots this off-season, Polk and Javon Baker were premium draft selections by the Patriots this past year, and Douglas was the team's receiving yards leader in 2023.
With the possibility of Bourne not being ready for the beginning of the season due to his ACL tear in 2023, Reagor and Boutte both make it onto the initial roster. Reagor brings potential to the team with his ability to return kickoffs, which is especially important due to the NFL's new kickoff rules. Boutte had an impressive set of practices during OTAs, and could make a roster push if he continues to impress during training camp.
Smith-Schuster and Thornton are possible surprise cuts, as Smith-Schuster signed a large contract in 2023 to go to the Patriots and Thornton was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft. However, neither have shown enough thus far to make the initial roster over Reagor or Boutte.
Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
Tight Ends:
KEEP (3) : Hunter Henry, Jaheim Bell, Austin Hooper
CUT (3) : La'Michael Pettway, Jacob Warren, Mitchell Wilcox
A relatively straight-forward group: Henry was a team captain last season and signed a new three-year deal with the Patriots in the off-season. Hooper signed a one-year deal with the team and is expected to be the Patriots TE2.
Bell, who the Patriots selected in the seventh round of this year's NFL Draft, gets the TE3 spot for the Patriots due to his versatility and athleticism. The Patriots held a 30-visit with Bell in the pre-draft process, and will likely give him an opportunity on the Patriots
53-man roster.
Offensive Line:
KEEP (10) : Chukwuma Okorafor, Sidy Sow, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Caedan Wallace, Layden Robinson, Jake Andrews, Atonio Mafi, Calvin Anderson, Nick Leverett
PUP/IR: Cole Strange
CUT (6) : Charles Turner III, Liam Fornadel, Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Zuri Henry, Vederian Lowe, Michael Jordan
David Andrews and Mike Onwenu are each among the best players at their respective positions, and were rewarded with new contracts in the off-season. Wallace and Robinson were premium draft selections for the Patriots and are locks to make the roster due to this. Sophomore guard Sidy Sow and free agency signing Chukwuma Okorafor are expected to be on the starting offensive line for the Patriots.
Those top-6 are locks to make the Patriots 53-man roster. Sophomore interior linemen Jake Andrews and Atonio Mafi both stick around for the time being as young players who showed promise in their rookie year with the Patriots. Nick Leverett spent some time in OTAs with the Patriots starting O-Line, and Calvin Anderson provides veteran leadership as a backup tackle.
Cole Strange begins the year on the injured list as he is expected to miss the beginning of the year due to the torn patellar tendon which he suffered towards the end of last season.
Defensive Line:
KEEP (7) : Armon Watts, Davon Godchaux, Christian Barmore, Daniel Ekuale, Deatrich Wise Jr., Keion White, Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
CUT (5) : Sam Roberts, Jotham Russell, Trysten Hill, John Morgan III, William Bradley-King
Barmore signed a rich extension during the off-season and will lead the Patriots D-Line as an All-Pro caliber player. Keion White showed potential last season as a second-round rookie, and Wise Jr. brings veteran leadership as a former Patriots captain.
Godchaux should make the team as an elite run-stuffer, but this could get complicated in the midst of contract negotiations. Godchaux has no remaining guaranteed money remaining on his deal, and his expressed his desire for a new deal for more job-security as an older-player on a team that has prioritized getting younger.
Watts was signed by the Patriots in the off-season and should make the team as a rotational lineman. Ekuale and Pharms Jr. similarly make the team as backup linemen and could get a more significant role if Godchaux holds out for a new deal.
Linebackers:
KEEP (7) : Joshua Uche, Jahlani Tavai, Sione Takitaki, Matthew Judon, Anfernee Jennings, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Christian Elliss
CUT (5) : Oshane Ximines, Raekwon McMillan, Jontrey Hunter, Joe Giles-Harris, Steele Chambers
Uche, Tavai, Takitaki, Jennings, and Bentley all signed deals with the Patriots in the off-season: Uche and Jennings re-signing with the team, Takitaki signing for the first time with the Patriots, while Tavai and Bentley each earned contract extensions.
Elliss was brought back by the Patriots in the off-season also, as an exclusive rights free agent. He was claimed off of waivers by the Patriots in December of last season, and has a legitimate shot at making the team in 2024 primarily as a specialist.
Despite Judon possibly wanting a new contract, he is too talented of a player to let go of, and therefore makes the initial 53-man roster. While the possibility of a trade remains, releasing the star edge rusher seems unlikely.
Cornerbacks:
KEEP (6) : Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Christian Gonzalez, Alex Austin, Marcellas Dial Jr., Isaiah Bolden
CUT (5) : Marco Wilson, Shaun Wade, Mikey Victor, Azizi Hearn, Kaleb Ford-Dement
Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, and Christian Gonzalez are all locks to make the Patriots roster. Jonathan Jones has been a veteran leader with the Patriots and an impressive defender, while Marcus Jones is an impressive talent in all three phases of football. Gonzalez, the Patriots 2023 first-round pick, had an impressive start to his NFL career before suffering a season-ending injury, and projects to be one of the league's best cornerbacks in 2024.
Austin may make the Patriots starting lineup on the boundary opposite of Gonzalez, as he impressed in his final few weeks of the year after being signed by the Patriots in the middle of the 2023 season. Bolden heads into his sophomore season after having a solid 2023 training camp before suffering a season-ending concussion in the pre-season.
Dial Jr., the Patriots only drafted rookie on defense, may begin the season as a core specialist before getting rotational time on the defensive side of the ball. Marco Wilson and Shaun Wade are each candidates to replace him if he does not look prepared in camp.
Safeties:
KEEP (4) : Jabrill Peppers, Marte Mapu, Jaylinn Hawkins, Kyle Dugger
CUT (2) : Dell Pettus, Joshuah Bledsoe
Peppers and Dugger are locks to make the Patriots roster, as the duo are both projected to be among the best safeties in the NFL. Mapu also makes the roster as a former third-round pick headed into his sophomore year. The Patriots three top safeties bring a similar skill-set and all are impressive talents who are likely to make the team.
Hawkins brings depth to the safety room and additionally will play a role on special teams. While Pettus and Bledsoe each have a chance to overtake Hawkins, he gets the initial spot before more is seen in July and August.
Specialists:
KEEP (4) : Brenden Schooler, Joe Cardona, Bryce Baringer, Joey Slye
CUT (1) : Chad Ryland
Schooler, Cardona, and Baringer are all guaranteed to make the roster as each impressed last season as some of the best specialists in the NFL.
The Slye/Ryland competition is still far too early to call. Ryland's strong-leg could ultimately earn him the job, but his accuracy is still questionable. For now, Slye gets the starting spot, but the job will primarily be decided through training camp.
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