Patriots’ way too early 53-man roster projection

Now that the draft is over it s time to assemble -man roster projections The Patriots could still have specific movement on their roster before training camp kicks off in late July but they have formulated a -man roster with the draft in the rearview Let s make selected complicated decisions with a way-too-early -man roster projection Related Articles First look at Patriots -man roster after NFL Draft UDFA signings NFL Draft Grading Will Campbell and all of the Patriots picks Eliot Wolf explains why Patriots Mr Irrelevant went unheralded Patriots draft pick gives scouting account on Will Campbell after LSU reunion Patriots UDFA tracker New quarterback Boston College OL reportedly sign Quarterbacks Joshua Dobbs Drake Maye Let s get through at least one practice before we pencil in undrafted rookie free-agent quarterback Ben Wooldridge s name onto the -man roster With the new urgency third quarterback rule in place it does make sense to keep three quarterbacks on the -man roster It s just too early to include Wooldridge Dobbs and Maye are at this moment locks Running Backs Antonio Gibson TreVeyon Henderson R Rhamondre Stevenson It wouldn t be surprising to see the Patriots keep a fullback or a fourth running back on their roster The fullback options are Giovanni Ricci and undrafted free agent Brock Lampe Terrell Jennings and Lan Larison are competing for a fourth running back spot For now none of those players have done enough to deserve a place on the roster Gibson Henderson and Stevenson are at the moment looking like locks Wide Receivers Javon Baker Kendrick Bourne Stefon Diggs Demario Douglas Mack Hollins Ja Lynn Polk Kyle Williams R There are eight wide receivers at the moment deserving of roster spots in Baker Bourne Diggs Douglas Hollins Polk Williams and Kayshon Boutte The Patriots also have Demeer Blankumsee Efton Chism JaQuae Jackson John Jiles and Jeremiah Webb on the -man roster There were various contract rumors involving Boutte before the draft He s a good participant but this is a crowded group so if the Patriots can get something valuable in return it makes sense to move him Diggs Douglas Hollins and Williams look like locks Baker and Polk still have upside from last season and Bourne had his best season with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels running the unit Tight Ends C J Dippre UDFA Hunter Henry Austin Hooper Dippre just like Wooldridge Larison and the rest of the Patriots UDFAs has done nothing to prove he deserves a roster spot But he also faces less competition for a job and he has a nice combination of athleticism and blocking ability This spot could easily go to Jaheim Bell Gee Scott Jr or Jack Westover But Mike Vrabel and Co didn t sign Bell or Westover They did bring in Dippre Offensive Linemen C Garrett Bradbury OT Marcus Bryant R OT Will Campbell R OT Morgan Moses G Mike Onwenu G Layden Robinson G Sidy Sow G Cole Strange OT Caedan Wallace C Jared Wilson R Jake Andrews Cole Birdow Ben Brown Jack Conley Demontrey Jacobs Vederian Lowe Tyrese Robinson and Wes Schweitzer are on the outside looking in for our first -man roster projection We have Bryant and Wallace making the gang as Campbell and Moses backups over Jacobs and Lowe And Robinson Sow and Strange would be competing for the left guard spot One of Bradbury or Wilson will be the top center This is a tough group to project Jacobs or Lowe could make the group over Bryant And Onwenu is the only real lock at guard Defensive Tackles Christian Barmore Joshua Farmer R Jeremiah Pharms Jr Khyiris Tonga Milton Williams Barmore Farmer Tonga and Williams should be pretty safe in this positional unit That fifth spot is Pharms for now but Marcus Harris Eric Johnson Wilfried Pene and Jaquelin Roy could push him Edge Defenders K Lavon Chaisson Anfernee Jennings Harold Landry Bradyn Swinson R Keion White Things could change but this group looks pretty locked in Truman Jones Titus Leo and Elijah Ponder would really have to stick out this summer to crack the rotation Linebackers Christian Elliss Jack Gibbens Robert Spillane Jahlani Tavai The Patriots didn t select a athlete at linebacker in this year s draft We have Elliss Gibbens Spillane and Tavai making the company over Cam Riley and Monty Rice Cornerbacks Alex Austin Carlton Davis Marcellas Dial Christian Gonzalez Marcus Jones The Patriots will have specific tough decisions to make in their defensive backfield We now have Miles Battle Isaiah Bolden Brandon Crossley D J James and Kobee Minor on the outside looking in But Battle and Bolden put out specific good tape late last season and Minor Mr Irrelevant did enough to show the Patriots he deserved a roster spot Safeties Kyle Dugger Marcus Epps Marte Mapu Jabrill Peppers Brenden Schooler Craig Woodson R It was tough to remove Jaylinn Hawkins and Dell Pettus Both guys played well and exhibited leadership last season But the Patriots added Epps and Woodson this offseason And Mapu could have value as a linebacker safety hybrid Don t be surprised if Hawkins and or Pettus push for roster spots this summer however Special Teams LS Julian Ashby R P Bryce Baringer K Andres Borregales R It would seem odd to use draft picks on Ashby and Borregales if the crew planned on keeping long snapper Joe Cardona and kicker John Parker Romo But expect a legitimate competition for both spots this spring and summer