Pats Pulpit
With the first two weeks of training camp in the books, let’s take a look at who is trending up or down.
With the first two weeks of New England Patriots training camp down, and the team currently on a two-day break following Friday’s in-stadium practice, now is a perfect time to take a stab at a 53-man roster projection. Obviously, Patriots fans are clamoring for the team to trade for the likes of a Terry McLaurin or Micah Parsons, but we’re going with the assumption that they don’t make either of those deals.
So, with that out of the way, let’s dive straight in.
In: Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
Out: Ben Wooldridge
This is the easiest position to predict on the entire current roster. I can’t imagine the Patriots keeping more than two quarterbacks, and Joshua Dobbs is almost certainly going to be the backup behind Drake Maye. I could see Ben Wooldridge sticking around on the practice squad to work as a scout team QB, though.
In: Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, Lan Larison
Out: Terrell Jennings
IR: Brock Lampe
This comes down to numbers for me. I think the Patriots were planning on four backs with Brock Lampe being one of them. With the undrafted rookie fullback out for the season, however, they can afford to keep another back with plus receiving upside in Lan Larison. He has been flashing in camp, and if he looks tgr part in preseason, I don’t think he would make it through waivers and onto the practice squad.
The guy who might be on the chopping block, if they feel like Larison is a player they want to keep around long-term, is Antonio Gibson. There is a long way to go, but I think he sticks on this roster because of the experience, and because of Rhamondre Stevenson’s fumbling issues.
In: Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Javon Baker
Out: Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, Efton Chism III, John Jiles, Jeremiah Webb
I think that the top five here are all but a guarantee to be on this team, including both Kayshon Boutte and Mack Hollins. Boutte has the chemistry with Drake Maye, and Hollins was brought in for a specific role, and I don’t believe that anyone else on the roster fits it. That means it might come down to one roster spot, and I’m giving it to Javon Baker here.
There are a few reasons for that, but the biggest might be his play on special teams. He has been the primary gunner across from Brenden Schooler on the punt team all training camp and also might factor into the kickoff returner mix. His willingness to play there, combined with his ability to make big plays as an outside receiver, is enough to get him onto the roster.
As for Ja’Lynn Polk and Efton Chism, who I think have the best shot of making...
