Who on the New England Patriots should look to own, and who should look to rent?
It’s a figurative conundrum that needs to be pondered as the team got down to 53 men, its initial roster, on Tuesday, culling away the chaff from the preseason group of 90.
Unfortunately for Patriots fans, the overhaul takes place a year later than it should have. Very little has been done to improve the overall depth in the group since Bill Belichick’s final season of 2023.
True, the franchise puts its hands in Drake Maye – a potential franchise QB/lynchpin – but as you peruse Tuesday’s 53, it harkens back to Belichick’s first year of 2000, when he literally made it a final 51 because of a lack of NFL talent.
That August/September, Belichick hit the waiver wire early and often, summoning audition after audition as he searched for able bodies that might help turn things around.
With that said we will look at the surprises on this 53 and who might not want to get too comfortable.
Eight Receivers
Maybe, coach Mike Vrabel was looking to instill a little confidence in his band of pass catchers. Hey, we’re so good that we need to keep eight of you. It’s an astronomical number in today’s NFL.
But, when you consider that Stefon Diggs is recovering from a torn ACL (roughly 10 months ago) and Efton Chism, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams have all missed serious time in camp with a vast array of injuries, eight may not be enough.
Diggs, Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte can feel comfortable in their job security. The undrafted free-agent rookie Chism might just be something, too.
Williams and Bourne could likely be headed to the injured list – the former with some form of the “Foxborough flu” in a bit of a red-shirt type year.
Tight end talk
Jack Westover was a bit of a surprise making the roster.
With a waiver wire completely stacked with recent tight end cuts, not to mention fullback Jakob Johnson who was cut in Houston, he probably shouldn’t get too comfortable. Also, New England kept only nine offensive lineman. You could see the Patriots plucking another big lug from the released list at the expense of Westover, who didn’t have a great summer camp.
Up-front upgrades?
The offensive line has been a serious drag this summer, breaking down and leaving the quarterbacks to fend for themselves way too often.
What do we know about the final nine?
Draft picks Will Campbell and Jared Wilson and veterans Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses don’t have to be looking over their shoulders.
Everyone else?
Garrett Bradbury and Ben Brown are likely on short leashes. I’m sure the powers that be would love to keep swing tackle Marcus Bryant under wraps so the rookie can learn his craft.
Ben Brown, Vederian Lowe and Caedan Wallace can breathe a sigh of relief. But make it a quick one.
No real shockers on defense
Many of the Patriots beat reporters were quick to usher veterans like Kyle Dugger, Anfernee Jennings and Marte Mapu out of town.
Dugger has been average over his time here, able to play the run but often lost in pass coverage. Jennings didn’t fit the system. And the oft-injured Mapu is too slow for safety and too small for linebacker.
The fact is, New England could not afford to lose any of the three. Yes, the roster is that thin.
Otherwise, the defensive cuts went pretty much as planned.
Now, it’s all about health. Cornerbacks Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez have missed gobs of time in training camp. Without them, and with the pass rush yet to prove itself, things might get ugly quick.
If there is roster movement on the defensive side of the ball, it will be health-related. And that’s not something this team can afford to have happen.