I did this last year and thought it proved useful and discussion-worthy, so I'm going to give it another go.
With the draft now behind us, it's time to look at the Pats depth chart, position by position. I'll keep it updated as more changes happen.
2021 listing refers to the end of the season. 2022 ranking, where noted, is my opinion. I am not including UDFA's at this point, just contracted vets and drafted rookies. If people want, I will add the UDFAs later.
Note: there is no attempt to come up with a final 53; this is just meant to note who is signed at each position to look at camp battles.
I've moved all the guys who seem to be ST-only guys (e.g. Slater, Bethel, Davis) to their own category along with the usual ST specialists.
QB:
2021 -- (3) Jones, Hoyer, Stidham.
2022 -- (4) Jones, Hoyer,Stidham, Zappe
Comments/Needs:
EDIT: Stidham traded to Raiders
RB:
2021 -- (5) Harris, Taylor, Bolden, Stevenson, White (IR)
2022 -- (7) D Harris, Taylor, Montgomery, Stevenson, White, Strong, K Harris
Comments/Needs:
A very crowded room, with a lot of quality at all levels. Will be tough for a rookie to break in, but OTOH, White still isn't healthy. No obvious FB on contract unless one of the TE's sees time in the backfield.
WR:
2021 -- (6) Agholor, Bourne, Meyers, Harry, Olszewski, Wilkerson
2022 -- (8) Parker, Agholor, Bourne, Meyers, Thornton, Harry, Wilkerson, Nixon
Comments/Needs:
Gotta figure Harry is gone and Wilkerson back to PS.
TE:
2021 -- (4) Henry, Smith, Asiasi, Keene
2022 -- (4) Henry, Smith, Asiasi, Keene
Comments/Needs:
We start the way we ended.
OL: (listing here with starters from LT > RT, then bench)
2021 -- (9) Wynn, Karras, Andrews, Mason, Brown, Herron, Cajuste, Onwenu, Sherman
2022 -- (9) Wynn, Strange, Andrews, Onwenu, Brown, Herron, Cajuste, Steuber, Sherman, Desjarlais
Comments/Needs:
Presumably Strange and Onwenu will replace Karras and Mason on either side of Andrews.
DL:
2021 -- (8) Wino, Godchaux, Wise, Davis, Ekuale, Adams, Guy, Barmore, Perkins (IR), Anderson (IR)
2022 -- (6) Godchaux, Barmore, Anderson, Wise, Guy, Roberts, Ekuale, Murray, Davis
Comments/Needs:
Seems like this group could use some improvements. I don't think we have 4 real starting quality DE's nor am I impressed with the depth. Maybe Anderson will give us something in a bounce-back from injury. Maybe Godchaux can have more games like the first Bills game and fewer where he was a zero. Does Guy have anything left?
LB:
2021 -- (8) Hightower, Judon, Van Noy, Bentley, Tavai, Langi, Hall, Uche, Jennings (IR), McMillan (IR), McGrone (IR), Perkins (IR)
2022 -- (11) Judon, Bentley, Wilson, Tavai, Langi,Hall, Uche, Jennings, McMillan, McGrone, Perkins
Comments/Needs:
This group ended 2021 with a raft of young players on IR and since the end of the season has seen a lot of departures. Now we will see if fresh young blood can improve this group. Also, can Judon out together a full season of All-Pro level play or was his fall-off at the end of the season a scary harbinger of things to come?
EDIT: Hall cut.
CB:
2021 -- (5) Jackson, Mills, Bryant, Williams, Wade, J Jones (IR)
2022 -- (8) Butler, Mills, Jon Jones, Jack Jones, M Jones, Wade, Bryant, Williams
Comments/Needs:
Does Butler have anything left after a year off? Can either rookie Jones find playing time? Have we seen the last of either Bryant or Williams? Who will be the UDFA who becomes a regular?
Safety:
2021 -- (4) DMac, Phillips, Dugger, Bledsoe (IR)
2022 -- () DMac, Phillips, Dugger, Peppers, Bledsoe
Comments/Needs:
On paper, arguably the deepest/strongest position group on D, and possibly on the team.
ST:
2021 -- (7) Folk, Bailey, Cardona, Slater, Bethel, Davis, King
2022 -- (6) Folk, Bailey, Cardona, Slater, Bethel, Davis
Comments/Needs:
Can Bailey return to his Pro Bowl level? Will any of the ST vets get pushed out by one of the rookies? Awwwwwwww, no!
EDIT: To add the guys Cellar Door listed.
With the draft now behind us, it's time to look at the Pats depth chart, position by position. I'll keep it updated as more changes happen.
2021 listing refers to the end of the season. 2022 ranking, where noted, is my opinion. I am not including UDFA's at this point, just contracted vets and drafted rookies. If people want, I will add the UDFAs later.
Note: there is no attempt to come up with a final 53; this is just meant to note who is signed at each position to look at camp battles.
I've moved all the guys who seem to be ST-only guys (e.g. Slater, Bethel, Davis) to their own category along with the usual ST specialists.
QB:
2021 -- (3) Jones, Hoyer, Stidham.
2022 -- (4) Jones, Hoyer,
Comments/Needs:
EDIT: Stidham traded to Raiders
RB:
2021 -- (5) Harris, Taylor, Bolden, Stevenson, White (IR)
2022 -- (7) D Harris, Taylor, Montgomery, Stevenson, White, Strong, K Harris
Comments/Needs:
A very crowded room, with a lot of quality at all levels. Will be tough for a rookie to break in, but OTOH, White still isn't healthy. No obvious FB on contract unless one of the TE's sees time in the backfield.
WR:
2021 -- (6) Agholor, Bourne, Meyers, Harry, Olszewski, Wilkerson
2022 -- (8) Parker, Agholor, Bourne, Meyers, Thornton, Harry, Wilkerson, Nixon
Comments/Needs:
Gotta figure Harry is gone and Wilkerson back to PS.
TE:
2021 -- (4) Henry, Smith, Asiasi, Keene
2022 -- (4) Henry, Smith, Asiasi, Keene
Comments/Needs:
We start the way we ended.
OL: (listing here with starters from LT > RT, then bench)
2021 -- (9) Wynn, Karras, Andrews, Mason, Brown, Herron, Cajuste, Onwenu, Sherman
2022 -- (9) Wynn, Strange, Andrews, Onwenu, Brown, Herron, Cajuste, Steuber, Sherman, Desjarlais
Comments/Needs:
Presumably Strange and Onwenu will replace Karras and Mason on either side of Andrews.
DL:
2021 -- (8) Wino, Godchaux, Wise, Davis, Ekuale, Adams, Guy, Barmore, Perkins (IR), Anderson (IR)
2022 -- (6) Godchaux, Barmore, Anderson, Wise, Guy, Roberts, Ekuale, Murray, Davis
Comments/Needs:
Seems like this group could use some improvements. I don't think we have 4 real starting quality DE's nor am I impressed with the depth. Maybe Anderson will give us something in a bounce-back from injury. Maybe Godchaux can have more games like the first Bills game and fewer where he was a zero. Does Guy have anything left?
LB:
2021 -- (8) Hightower, Judon, Van Noy, Bentley, Tavai, Langi, Hall, Uche, Jennings (IR), McMillan (IR), McGrone (IR), Perkins (IR)
2022 -- (11) Judon, Bentley, Wilson, Tavai, Langi,
Comments/Needs:
This group ended 2021 with a raft of young players on IR and since the end of the season has seen a lot of departures. Now we will see if fresh young blood can improve this group. Also, can Judon out together a full season of All-Pro level play or was his fall-off at the end of the season a scary harbinger of things to come?
EDIT: Hall cut.
CB:
2021 -- (5) Jackson, Mills, Bryant, Williams, Wade, J Jones (IR)
2022 -- (8) Butler, Mills, Jon Jones, Jack Jones, M Jones, Wade, Bryant, Williams
Comments/Needs:
Does Butler have anything left after a year off? Can either rookie Jones find playing time? Have we seen the last of either Bryant or Williams? Who will be the UDFA who becomes a regular?
Safety:
2021 -- (4) DMac, Phillips, Dugger, Bledsoe (IR)
2022 -- () DMac, Phillips, Dugger, Peppers, Bledsoe
Comments/Needs:
On paper, arguably the deepest/strongest position group on D, and possibly on the team.
ST:
2021 -- (7) Folk, Bailey, Cardona, Slater, Bethel, Davis, King
2022 -- (6) Folk, Bailey, Cardona, Slater, Bethel, Davis
Comments/Needs:
Can Bailey return to his Pro Bowl level? Will any of the ST vets get pushed out by one of the rookies? Awwwwwwww, no!
EDIT: To add the guys Cellar Door listed.
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