With the second of three preseason games in the books after the New England Patriots’ 20-12 win over the Vikings in Minnesota on Saturday afternoon, let’s take a stab at a new 53-man roster projection for Mike Vrabel’s squad.
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
Dobbs has been an up-and-down performer of late. His first day of joint practices featured two interceptions. His second day was eye-opening at times with his accuracy down the field. He’s the clear-cut No. 2.
Running back (4): Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, TreVeyon Henderson, Terrell Jennings
The Patriots could use some depth here, particularly after losing undrafted rookie Lan Larison to injured reserve. JaMycal Hasty could be the fourth, but Jennings runs hard and has some kicking-game ability. He just needs to get healthy. He missed both days of joint work.
Wide receiver (6): Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III
Chism was the best player on the field at times on Saturday. The same was true when Patriots backups took on Vikings reserves during joint practices. He feels like a lock for the roster.
Javon Baker has a chance thanks to the flashes he’s shown on special teams, but he struggled offensively in preseason game No. 2 and might be someone who would get through waivers to land on the practice squad.
Tight end (3): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jack Westover
This group feels light, but there is no obvious fourth option at the moment.
Henry and Hooper will get the bulk of the offensive work, but Westover is currently McDaniels’ top choice at fullback. Feels like he has a spot here thanks to McDaniels’ appreciation for that lead-blocker role.
Offensive line (8): Morgan Moses, Mike Onwenu, Garrett Bradbury, Jared Wilson, Will Campbell, Marcus Bryant, Ben Brown, Vederian Lowe
Brown isn’t the long-term answer over Wilson, but for right now? That feels like the choice.
Wilson has had some trouble of late. Allowing Brown to get top reps could give Wilson time to get his feet back underneath him. Brown also needs to work at guard if he’s ultimately going to be the interior substitute.
Lowe makes it here for now, but it’d come as little surprise if the Patriots were on the lookout for a moldable depth tackle who shakes free during league-wide roster cuts.
Special teams (3): Parker Romo, Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby
Romo or Borregales? Borregales or Romo? There has been a good battle there of late, and perhaps Borregales will get the nod as a draft pick. But he looked late — maybe unprepared? — to take the field for a long field-goal attempt on Saturday that he promptly hooked.
Romo, meanwhile, has been steady and he made his 57-yard attempt last week. Keep an eye on Ashby’s snaps, too. He had a couple of shaky ones Saturday.
Defensive tackle (6): Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Jeremiah Pharms, Joshua Farmer, Kyle Peko
Peko is a recent signee, but he has played a lot of NFL football as an eight-year vet. If the Patriots want to rotate frequently while relying heavily on top tackles Christian Barmore and Milton Williams, keeping six here makes sense.
Isaiah Iton might have been on this list, but he was forced to leave Saturday’s game early with an injury.
Edge defender (7): Harold Landry, Keion White, K’Lavon Chaisson, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Truman Jones, Anfernee Jennings
Big number here. To say the least. But the top three are locks. The next three are young projects worth developing. And the seventh, Anfernee Jennings, is coming on.
Even though he’s played late into these preseason games, and even though he doesn’t seem like a great fit for Mike Vrabel’s defense, he has the look of a roster-level player. In New England or elsewhere. If he isn’t dealt, maybe the Patriots would keep him to deal him later.
Linebacker (4): Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai
This might be one area, if the Patriots want to reduce their numbers on the edge, where they could look to add. Monty Rice is an off-ball linebacker who has played for Vrabel before and has some special-teams value. This spot looks especially thin because Tavai remains hurt and unavailable.
Cornerback (5): Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, DJ James
Credit to Austin, who had a pick on Saturday, and has been on of the most impressive under-the-radar players in camp. James played like he was worthy of a roster spot as well before getting hurt prior to Vikings joint practices.
Could Kobee Minor, Mr. Irrelevant, make it here? How about a longer player like Jordon Polk, who showed up on special teams on Saturday? What about a nose-for-the-football type like Brandon Crossley, who had a picture-perfect punch on the football that helped wind down the clock late in the Vikings preseason game?
There’s still some time for all three to state their case.
Safety (5): Jabrill Peppers, Craig Woodson, Jaylinn Hawkins, Brenden Schooler, Dell Pettus
It’s hard to ignore where Kyle Dugger sits on the depth chart these days.
That he was on the field for the final play Saturday, intercepting a pass but not getting down quickly and nearly having the football stripped for a game-tying fumble recovery, indicates the Patriots see him as little more than depth at the moment. He’s been stiff in space and doesn’t look like the kind of safety Vrabel is looking for.
Pettus may not fit that description perfectly, either, but he was around the football in preseason game No. 2, and he gained some special teams experience under coordinator Jeremy Springer last season.
