Former first-round pick and starting left guard Cole Strange was among the 21 players the Patriots released Tuesday to meet the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline.
Strange and fifth-round rookie outside linebacker Bradyn Swinson headlined a group of mostly expected cuts. Strange lost his starting job to third-round rookie Jared Wilson after the first week of training camp this summer, the team’s first under Mike Vrabel’s coaching staff. He also struggled to adapt to playing center and right guard, both new positions for a career-long left guard who experimented at center upon returning from a torn patellar tendon last season.
Strange hit waivers Tuesday despite being named one of the Patriots’ offseason award winners. He leaves behind a group of nine offensive linemen, including backup interior linemen Ben Brown and Caedan Wallace. The Patriots are expected to make further roster changes Wednesday, though Brown is expected to remain after he pushed Wilson for the starting left guard job late in spring.
A talented edge rusher out of LSU, Swinson never flashed in camp and regularly took reps with the scout-team defense. He fell in the draft due to some minor character concerns after getting suspended last year. Swinson finished with 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss in his final collegiate season, before fellow rookie Elijah Ponder, who went undrafted, passed on the depth chart in New England.
The Patriots also released cornerback Miles Battle, offensive guard Mehki Butler, offensive lineman Jack Conley, cornerback Brandon Crossley, tight end C.J. Dippre, safety Marcus Epps, running back JaMycal Hasty, offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs, running back Terrell Jennings, wide receiver John Jiles, defensive end Truman Jones, center Alec Lindstrom, cornerback Kobee Minor, defensive tackle David Olajiga, linebacker Cam Riley, defensive tackle Jahvaree Ritzie, kicker Parker Romo, tight end Gee Scott Jr. and wide receiver Jeremiah Webb.
Several of those players are expected to return to the team’s practice squad, pending waiver claims on Wednesday.
The Patriots also placed linebacker Jahlani Tavai and wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk on injured reserve. Tavai has been designated to return, while Polk is out for the year.
