2019 Patriots Offseason Thread

In lieu of doing a whole roster projection, I figured I'd just make a few comments on each positional grouping:

QB - I think Hoyer is off the 53-Man (trade or release) by Saturday. Even if they want to go with 3 QBs, they could release him and then re-sign him after they've done some bookkeeping work (ie keep someone on the 53 that they hope to move to IR-DTR)
RB - Nothing to see here.
FB - Same. Johnson will be on the Practice squad.
WR - The only curveball would be if they keep Gunner. Sounds like they want to work with him and he adds some value in the return game. Despite Meyer's strong showing, he'll be inactive most weeks (unless they believe he'll be a returner - they DID give him some time back there). However, Ryan Hannable's notion that you can cut Meyer's (keep Gunner) and "sneak" him onto the Practice Squad seems like a pipe dream.
TE - Izzo/LaCosse with Watson/Kendrick suspended
OL - Some moving parts here but Froholdt's injury may have helped (as stated above). Wynn, Thuney, Karras, Mason, Cannon, Eluemunor and Cunningham seem like locks. The backup C situation could be one where, by Saturday, they don't have anyone (I'm not going to include Thuney until I hear of him tacking a snap, even in practice, here). Then, once you've paired down your roster, you re-sign either Ferentz (not sure if he requires waivers or not) or Gauthier (does it REALLY matter which one?) to cover you for an in-game need. If Karras were to REALLY get hurt (miss multiple games), they'd likely have to make a move at that time. Outstanding questions would be whether Froholdt and/or Andrews make the initial 53 (seems like no for Andrews but think there are enough "cut and re-sign later" guys that I think you could get him to IR-DTR on the off chance).

DL - I hope they can get an asset for Wise. He's likely a better football player than some that will make the team but he's just an odd fit as they move to a 3-4 base. And as 1 "expert" said (I think it was Bedard), he didn't do that great as an interior sub rusher either. We also need to see if they pick up another nose (or do they just keep Parry - though he could be another "cut but stay close" guy)
EDGE - Rivers and/or Calhoun on initial 53 but IR-DTR soon thereafter? Seems like, at least, 1 will go that route.
ILB - The snaps during Game 3 would suggest Roberts over Bentley in the current pecking order but the latter is more of a lock. Question will be Roberts (no Special Teams), Munson (Special Teams) or both (as some are currently projecting). Roberts should be good enough to fetch a late pick in return.
DBs - Grouping these bc we've seen Jones, Williams and Dawson all lineup at S at points this offseason. The question is how many are they going to keep? Webster/Melifonwu and Howard are all likely gone. Cold to say it, but as some have pointed out on Twitter, the silver lining for Gant is that he can now go on IR and get more money than he would have as a Practice Squad guy. As with Meyers above, Hannable seems to think Crossen can be snuck onto the PS. And, as with Meyers, I think that's absurd. He's too talented. So the question is whether you keep enough DBs (or make a surprise move with someone else) to keep Dawson. If they do, it's not on merit but as so many have pointed out, BB has never cut a 2nd round pick this early. While Harmon was once a cut/trade candidate, I think that's passed.
ST - Mystery was removed when they cut Allen.

That's what I got for now. Not sure there is a surprise move out there that hasn't, at least, been discussed by the pundits. Harmon's probably the closest (as the discussion seems to have died down significantly). Cutting Dawson wouldn't be a shocker but it would be a first for BB so . . .

I no longer feel that Meyers is a roster lock.

Really? That would shock me. He didn't look good in limited time with Brady, but was electric with Hoyer and more importantly Stidham. We need young WRs and Meyers looked as good as a young WR to come through here in a long time. Plus Bill always keeps one undrafted free agent, is there another one even close to making it? I hope you are dead wrong. At the minimum IR the guy, he won't make it past more than a few teams if waived. No way he makes it to the practice squad.

I've been looking for a surprise move (bc there usually is one) and the above discussion got me thinking. Maybe it's Dorsett? I think he's very reliable but, as an X is he redundant? Counting on Gordon, DT and a rookie who has been dealing with an injury is not ideal (and that's why I think he'll make it) but he never plays ST and, if everyone is living up to their reasonable expectations, he's 4th on the X-WR depth chart and 5th overall. If Bedard is accurate, then Meyers can back up the slot (and, again, he's been doing some returning so he gives some flexibility there).

I don't think it happens but if it does, I can see some rationale (if I squint).

Getting something for someone you had no business keeping is just fine by me. Once someone is drafted they are a sunk cost... if you cut Crossen for him it’d be borderline criminal as is carrying 7 corners with this depth chart.

Pats just acquired their backup C. Russell Bodine from the Bills (has started 74 games since 2014 so HE might be the starter with Karras staying as a reserve, eventually).

If you’ve completely discounted Crossen’s ability as a corner then maybe not. However, Crossen has shown more upside as a corner than Dawson to this point and Crossen is a high level special teams Gunner. Some people think he’s Slater’s heir apparent he’s that good there.

Players Acquired - Bodine
Players Traded - Dawson
Players Cut - Beck, St. Louis, Lang, Parry

Current Count - 84
Target - 55 (We know Watson/Kendrick will be suspended and won't count against the 53 - unless something's changed since the Brady and Edelman suspensions).

To be clear we aren’t arguing here

It’s a strong word choice but I do think it’s accurate. I think 6 corners is already putting you at plus 1 at that position. Then you add in 5 safeties (McCourty, Chung, Harmon, Brooks and Ebner) and you are seriously plus in the DB department.

Keeping Munson does make sense because King’s special teams role needs to be filled by a more LB type than a DB type. Nink was talking about this on the broadcast last night.

Dawson was rated in the 2nd rd pre draft. No red flags (injury or other). At time it was a position of need.

He got injured and lost a year of development. BB hits on both a 7th and UDFA and there is no room to be patient.

Is it that we can't understand that good decisions sometimes go bad (and vice versa) or that a narrative so easily guides our analysis?

I guess it depends on the we. I have no issues with Dawson not working out. Like you said they got 3 DBs last year from the draft class (including UDFAs). Dawson got unlucky that he got hurt and the other 2 guys could play. A lot of people think Jackson is a legit 2 corner now. I look at it as a positive sign that they are so deep and have enough youth that they can comfortably move on from a second round pick after 1 season.

Dawson was rated 2nd/3rd round by most people, it wasn't a reach. What sucks is they traded back up for him. Seen as a guy who could play outside, inside and even safety. Almost everyone had him as one of the best inside CBs in the draft. Yet we are stacked and frankly I won't be surprised to see him do well in Denver.

Bodine is a really nice pickup for only a 6th rounder!