2019 Patriots Offseason Thread

Well that sucks, I wonder what is happening. He took a veteran minimum deal because he wanted to be a Patriot. Not the position we needed things like this to happen.

I don't know anything about him.

Hopeful about Gronk, but it all depends about his body. I can see it if the extra rest gets him 100% healthy, but who knows. The guy has taken a beating for years and it might be smart to walk away. I hate saying that, but I also want the best for Gronk, the guy was just a beast for us.

I'm not worried about Michel, I expect they'll rest him a lot more than normal RBs. He's fragile. If it's something big, we'll hear about it soon. I hate saying it, but only so many Bullets in Michel, don't waste them. He's like our new Gronk, the guy you always worry about health wise. There's a reason we took another RB and one who's the exact opposite of Michel.

If he wasn’t at these sessions he was at the last ones. Harris has also talked about him in the running back room so I assume he’s around.

Here’s my post camp roster projection:


Offense (25):

QB (3)

Locks (2): Brady, Stidham

In for now (1): Hoyer

Out forever (1): Etling

Notes: the only slight question is can Stidham show enough that they can move on from Hoyer and only carry 2 QBs so they can carry more elsewhere?


Running Backs (5):

Locks (3): White, Michel, Harris

In for now (2): Burkhead, Bolden

Out: Brossette


Notes: Burkhead should probably be a lock, they don’t want to get caught short like last year but due to his injury history I’ll leave him in out of lock status. I’m pretty confident Bolden makes the team as a special teams ace and a guy they can go to if guys are hurt or late in blow outs to save guys. I also see a situation where because of their confidence in him here Burkhead gets cut due to needs elsewhere.

Fullback/Tight End (3)

Locks (1): Develin

In for now (2): LaCosse, Anderson

Out (3): Izzo, Beck, Johnson

Suspended so doesn’t count (1): Watson

Notes: Watson is in when back but won’t count against a roster spot. LaCosse is probably a lock by default and Izzo could beat out Anderson but Anderson is bigger to help with blocking, has a second year in the system now (1st full) and is a receiving threat so he gets the nod. Jakob Johnson is a specially designated player who will go on the practice squad and not count against the roster number. I think it’s some NFL Europe development program. He’s a fullback.


Offensive line (8):

Locks (6): Wynn, Thuney, Anderson, Mason, Cannon, Karras

In for now (2): Cajuste, Froholdt

Out (7): Croston, Lang, St Louis, Schwenke, Ference, Skipper, Gauthier.

Notes: I’ve seen some people go with 7, but that’s playing with fire. Croston will likely go on the PS and Skipper turned some heads this camp. He could be solid tackle depth on the PS. They could sign a veteran tackle.


Wide Receivers (6):

Locks (4): Edelman, Harry, Dorsett, Slater

In for now (2): Harris, Berrios

IR to return (1): Thomas

Suspended (1): Gordon

Out (5): Inman, Meyers, Davis, Patterson, Olszewski

Notes: Berrios and Harris had impressive camps without contact. Let’s see how it goes in next phase. Inman appears to be invisible at this point.

I don’t know how many they will put on the PS but Meyers, Davis and Olszewski are candidates. Olszewski is the guy who’s most interesting due to his background and did impress in camp but hard to tell if it’s impressed because they expected nothing or because it was legitimately something. Meyers is a guy that intrigued me as an UDFA but heard nothing of him in camp.


Defense:

Edge (4):

Locks (3): Bennett, Wise, Winovich

In for now (1): Simon

Out (5): Davis, Rivers, Kamalu, Harris and, Thurman

Notes: I’d like to to think there’s legit competition here but with Collins, KVN and Hightower also able to play the edge in passing situations there’s only one spot up for grabs and Simon has a pretty good grasp on it. I look for them to try and hide a guy or two to get them on the PS. Think David and Kamalu. I doubt Rivers makes it thru but he’s shown so little he could.

Interior (4):

Locks (2): Guy, Pennel

In for now (2): Butler, Shelton

Out (2): Parry, Cowart

Notes: Butler and Shelton are probably close to locks, especially Butler. Hopefully, Cowart can make the PS - good potential there.

Linebacker (5):

Locks (4): Hightower, KVN, Collins, King

Likely in (1): Bentley

Out (4): Roberts and Sam, Munson, Calhoun

Notes: A solid player is getting cut or traded here. I think Bentley is a lock but someone has to be on the bubble and he was not impressive in camp and supposedly Collins was a beast. Sam making the PS would be nice.

Corner (7):

Locks (6): Gilmore, McCourty, Jones, Jackson, Dawson, Williams

In for now (1): Crosson

Out: Webster, Ross

Notes: So much depth here it’s crazy. I think they take 7 even if maybe someone goes in IR to return. Or they deal Jones because Dawson looks great (has a nice camp). Crosson could get cut if they need a spot elsewhere. Webster and Ross are both exciting prospects, if they can make it to the PS that’d be great. Might hide one or maybe one gets hurt and hits IR for the year.

Safety (5):

Locks (3): McCourty, Chung, Harmon

In for now (2): Ebner, Brooks

Out (2): Melifonwu, Howard, Gant

Notes: Obi could sneak on. He’s young, great athlete, played with starters when Chung was out and is in his first full year here but spent half of last year getting familiar with system. They really could use youth there. Can he play Special teams? Bill seems to love Brooks, would they move on from Ebner? This is a tough group. Maybe they carry 6 here and 6 at corner.

Specialists (3):

Locks (2): Gostkowski, Cardona

In for now (1): Bailey

Out (1): Allen

Notes: this is really a toss up. Bailey has to prove to be reliable as Bill values that more than anything else. They want Bailey to win the job that’s for sure but he’s got to do it. Had a good camp but did drop a snap and 2 of his 3 attempts to pooch inside the 20 went for touch backs so keep an eye on those things.

Nice list, it's crazy hard. Injuries will make it easier in time. Yet my big thing is Bolden, shouldn't make the team, he's not even an elite special teams player like we've seen from Slater and Ebner in the past. Brady loves the guy, but we need the best team. Just IR him and keep him around, make him a coach, whatever it takes.

Also I can't see them caring 12 DBs on a 53 man roster. If you keep seven CBs, one of them has to be your backup safety. I also wouldn't mind a 5th DE given Bennett's age. Sure Collins can add pass rush, but he's not a full-time DE and we use them as DTs on passing downs.

The 12 DBs is hard - i just dont see a good enough edge guy that justifies cutting one of the good ones and for whatever reason we know the special teams safeties are going to make it.... one of them shouldn’t tho. My feeling is they think they can carry the edge depth on the PS.

I hear you on Bolden but he’s making the team we just have to accept that.😂

It’s definitely now or never time. It’d be nice if he started reaching his potential this year.

Just remember he’s only 250 lbs - no more than Colin’s or Hightower. So when you start thinking in terms of another true edge player because they like to love them inside - he’s not that guy so hows he fit with Collins, Hightower and Winovich?

Didn't they carry four DE basically the whole season on game day, with one left off each week? Wasn't it between Davis and Rivers? So your top three are basically the same just Bennett for Flowers, all are 260 plus. Yet all three can play inside. You just need depth, a true DE that can play run downs and passing downs when those guys go inside. All three LBers can rush the passer, but they can't play 4-3 DE vs the run.

Doesn't Collins just take Roberts spot? Like I don't keep an extra special team safety over extra DE depth unless it's a huge upgrade. Like Davis, Rivers or someone else is unplayable. It's just not easy to fill during the season and minus Bolden it works lol.

I just wish they could turn guys like Rivers into the special team guys. Adds depth and upside, instead of just special team only guys. The guys a freak athlete, he should be good at it.

Mike Reese said he was there every day they were just holding him back... didn’t use the same term but kind of like UMass said about saving bullets. Be concerned if he’s not there for camp.

Gotcha, but they did go light on the receivers with Edelman out so they carried an extra player - then Bentley went down before Julian came back so it was pretty easy.

If they like Brooks that much then they should cut Ebner. I wouldn’t cut one of the 7 corners - they’re all too good and Jones can play safety like he did in the SB if necessary.

Add: plus the 3rd QB this year... would be nice if they could cut Hoyer.