53-Man Roster Predictions / Cut Watch Thread

Eck'sSneakyCheese · May 12, 2014

Jeremy Deering who I think they're going to try at WR. I would also put Mark Harrison at TE.

Eck'sSneakyCheese · May 12, 2014

Pxer said:
BB said he will not be moved to TE at any point in the near future.

Hmm. Must have missed that. Link?

Eck'sSneakyCheese · May 12, 2014

Thanks Pxer. That line of thinking makes perfect sense.

Klostrophobic · May 12, 2014

Seems surprising that they wouldn't bring in a kicker to compete with Gostkowski a la the punting competition last year. I think he's a top kicker, but he's a FA after the season and it looks like they can save about 2.5 million by cutting him.

Plus it would give the radio guys something to bitch about if they go with the new kicker in the end.

SeoulSoxFan · May 12, 2014

Thanks for putting this together Pxer!

Where I'd differ:

I'd think Ebner would be in yellow, and Chung as a red. Ebner was #3 in special teams tackles (7) and assists (4), behind Slater and Fletcher (no longer with the Pats). On the other hand, Chung recorded exactly 1 ST tackle and 0 assists in 2013.

Considering the fact that Chung had a well-published craptacular year in Philadephia (whopping 124.7 NFL rating, 7th worst in the league with 25% snaps played), I'd say Ebner has a better chance of making the team than Chung does. Then again, both could be easily gone.

Boyce is fairly safe to me, as he was effectively getting the redshirt treatment last year. Reminds me of Vereen's lost rookie year.

Mallett would be cut or traded -- can't imagine BB carrying 3 QBs, especially one that's at the end of a dead-end rookie contract in Mallett. A solid red to me.

With Stork coming on board, I'd put Wendell in red, and Connolly (not listed -- Freudian slip?) as well. As a 1st year mid-round picks, Fleming, Stork, and Halapio are all greens to me (I can see someone like Halapio being stashed away a season-ending "IR", but on the team).

If Armestead shows any pulse, I'd think Kelly is gone. So I'd put AA in yellow, Kelly in red.

Eric Ampersand · May 12, 2014

With the signing of Stephen Houston at RB I'd put Brandon Bolden as a bubble/cut watch guy. I'd also put James White in yellow because he is the only viable 3rd down back besides Vereen. At Wisconsin White was the 3rd down back even with Montee Ball as the starter. Chris Jones should be fairly safe. He is the best interior pass rusher other than Easley. I like that there will be lots of competition for the bottom twenty or so roster spots. I honestly want to see how the WR depth chart comes together. Can anyone push Amendola or Dobson?

Stitch01 · May 12, 2014

SeoulSoxFan said:
Thanks for putting this together Pxer!

Where I'd differ:

I'd think Ebner would be in yellow, and Chung as a red. Ebner was #3 in special teams tackles (7) and assists (4), behind Slater and Fletcher (no longer with the Pats). On the other hand, Chung recorded exactly 1 ST tackle and 0 assists in 2013.

Considering the fact that Chung had a well-published craptacular year in Philadephia (whopping 124.7 NFL rating, 7th worst in the league with 25% snaps played), I'd say Ebner has a better chance of making the team than Chung does. Then again, both could be easily gone.

Boyce is fairly safe to me, as he was effectively getting the redshirt treatment last year. Reminds me of Vereen's lost rookie year.

Mallett would be cut or traded -- can't imagine BB carrying 3 QBs, especially one that's at the end of a dead-end rookie contract in Mallett. A solid red to me.

With Stork coming on board, I'd put Wendell in red, and Connolly (not listed -- Freudian slip?) as well. As a 1st year mid-round picks, Fleming, Stork, and Halapio are all greens to me (I can see someone like Halapio being stashed away a season-ending "IR", but on the team).

If Armestead shows any pulse, I'd think Kelly is gone. So I'd put AA in yellow, Kelly in red.

Mallett is probably on the team if he's not traded. BB carried three QBs as recently as 2011 in a similar situation. If he is traded, some chance a scrap heap vet like David Garrard or Sexy Rexy is brought in at the vet minimum
Connolly is a red to me. Wendell a yellow. They're both in competition in camp, but Connolly is the easier cut. Don't think both guys are cut unless the rookies all wow. Do expect Fleming, Stork, Halapio all either make it or one gets stashed on IR.
White probably makes the team unless he's a complete disaster given the RB contract situation. Agree with above, Bolden is a potential cut, but all four probably make it.
Boyce, Thompkins, and Gallon appear to be fighting for two spots.
Not sure I have Wilfork as a lock until I see him play.
Chung is behind Wilson and Ebner on the depth chart IMO. Not sure Smith is ahead of Bequette and Buchanan either.
Agree with above too, Jones probably makes the team. He was pretty good last year as a rusher.

Super Nomario · May 12, 2014

SeoulSoxFan said:
I'd think Ebner would be in yellow, and Chung as a red. Ebner was #3 in special teams tackles (7) and assists (4), behind Slater and Fletcher (no longer with the Pats). On the other hand, Chung recorded exactly 1 ST tackle and 0 assists in 2013.

Considering the fact that Chung had a well-published craptacular year in Philadephia (whopping 124.7 NFL rating, 7th worst in the league with 25% snaps played), I'd say Ebner has a better chance of making the team than Chung does. Then again, both could be easily gone.

With no safeties added in the draft, I'd think both Ebner and Chung are pretty safe - Chung is the third safety right now (barring a leap forward from Wilson or a position change from Ryan) and Ebner is maybe the second-best special teams coverage player on the team.

SeoulSoxFan said:
Boyce is fairly safe to me, as he was effectively getting the redshirt treatment last year. Reminds me of Vereen's lost rookie year.

I think Gallon puts Boyce on the block; not sure there's room for both those guys.

SeoulSoxFan said:
Mallett would be cut or traded -- can't imagine BB carrying 3 QBs, especially one that's at the end of a dead-end rookie contract in Mallett. A solid red to me.

They carried 3 QB Mallett's rookie year, and have most times throughout the years under Belichick. Garoppolo's coming from the Ohio Valley Conference and an offense that saw him rarely under center; I don't see him as ready to be the backup day one.

ivanvamp · May 12, 2014

Goodness, I didn't realize how thin the LB corps is. They definitely need to add another solid player there, IMO.

I looked at a list of available free agent LBs and only one, really, is still available: James Harrison. Is he worth bringing in on a minimum one-year deal to see what he has left in the tank? I just don't like the LB depth at all.

SeoulSoxFan · May 12, 2014

ivanvamp said:
Goodness, I didn't realize how thin the LB corps is. They definitely need to add another solid player there, IMO.

I looked at a list of available free agent LBs and only one, really, is still available: James Harrison. Is he worth bringing in on a minimum one-year deal to see what he has left in the tank? I just don't like the LB depth at all.

Harrison had a decent year for the Bengals, but Steelers may have him back as there is a mutual interest.

jsinger121 · May 12, 2014

I'm wondering if they may shift Nink back there to play some LB.

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) · May 12, 2014

It doesn't matter much but they signed Josh Hull who is technically a Linebacker, but pretty much a pure special teamer.

ivanvamp · May 12, 2014

Maybe. But good grief. I'm one of the biggest defenders of how Belichick drafts and assembles a team, but how can they leave such a crucial area so thin? They don't really have in-house options, there's almost nobody left on the FA market, and they didn't address it at all during the draft. What's the solution? Trade? Just roll with what you have (which is, um, uninspiring)?

SeoulSoxFan · May 12, 2014

ivanvamp said:
Maybe. But good grief. I'm one of the biggest defenders of how Belichick drafts and assembles a team, but how can they leave such a crucial area so thin? They don't really have in-house options, there's almost nobody left on the FA market, and they didn't address it at all during the draft. What's the solution? Trade? Just roll with what you have (which is, um, uninspiring)?

LB may be thin as far as DEPTH goes, but to call this group " uninspiring" is like faulting Kate Upton for having thick ankles.

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) · May 12, 2014

They ran with only Two LBs on the field for what 65%-70% of snaps last year? (I think that's the range people have been throwing around). Maybe they see that number heading a little higher next year. If it's a position with only two starters then the depth looks a little better.

Eck'sSneakyCheese · May 12, 2014

Ja'gared Davis and Chris White are also LBs on the roster. I think it's possible that Nink could be shifted to OLB, possibly Buchanan as well.

Super Nomario · May 12, 2014

Eck'sSneakyCheese said:
Ja'gared Davis and Chris White are also LBs on the roster. I think it's possible that Nink could be shifted to OLB, possibly Buchanan as well.

Josh Hull, too. But Hull, Davis, and White have been special-teams-only so far in their careers.

We could see some Nink at OLB, but DE depth is even worse, so that's just robbing Peter to pay Paul. I don't think Buchanan is a 4-3 OLB option.

Stitch01 · May 12, 2014

ivanvamp said:
Goodness, I didn't realize how thin the LB corps is. They definitely need to add another solid player there, IMO.

I looked at a list of available free agent LBs and only one, really, is still available: James Harrison. Is he worth bringing in on a minimum one-year deal to see what he has left in the tank? I just don't like the LB depth at all.

IMO finding one more capable body at LB is the biggest need on the team right now. Playing 2/3 in the sub package means its not as bad as it looks, but its too thin heading into the season.

Eck'sSneakyCheese · May 12, 2014

Super Nomario said:
Josh Hull, too. But Hull, Davis, and White have been special-teams-only so far in their careers.

We could see some Nink at OLB, but DE depth is even worse, so that's just robbing Peter to pay Paul. I don't think Buchanan is a 4-3 OLB option.

I agree with the bolded if it's a basic 4-3. If they run multiple fronts though he would fit as a 3-4 OLB or a LEO in a 4-3 Under which he has some experience doing.

( . ) ( . ) and (_!_) · May 12, 2014

Mike Vrable was not much of a LB before he came to the Pats
Ninkovich wasn't much of a LB or DE before he came to the Pats
Come on Josh Hull! Continue the tradition!

(yes, I'm not serious)

Super Nomario · May 12, 2014

Eck'sSneakyCheese said:
I agree with the bolded if it's a basic 4-3. If they run multiple fronts though he would fit as a 3-4 OLB or a LEO in a 4-3 Under which he has some experience doing.

Those roles are more like DE / edge rusher roles, and don't really address LB depth behind Mayo / Hightower / Collins.

ivanvamp · May 12, 2014

SeoulSoxFan said:
LB may be thin as far as DEPTH goes, but to call this group " uninspiring" is like faulting Kate Upton for having thick ankles.

Well let's be honest: Mayo is great. Collins has a lot of potential but is far from proven. Hightower has shown glimpses, but he's also shown some real liabilities (slow in coverage, for example). I like those three, but they aren't the best set of LBs in the league either.

That said, I'm ok with them. But, as you alluded to, I was really talking about the depth, which, behind these three, is pretty awful.

RedOctober3829 · May 12, 2014

After the draft, does anyone else think that Browner will be used more of a hybrid safety than originally led to believe? The lack of LB depth is staggering.

Shelterdog · May 12, 2014

RedOctober3829 said:
After the draft, does anyone else think that Browner will be used more of a hybrid safety than originally led to believe? The lack of LB depth is staggering.

I'm not that worried about it. You've got three decent players, you're generally going to be playing only two of them, and it's generally pretty easy to plug in so-so 4-3 LB. Players with Beauharnais's pedigree play at an acceptable level all the time.

Stitch01 · May 12, 2014

Veteran DE Smith not ready yet. Free-agent signee Will Smith, the longtime New Orleans Saint who inked a one-year deal with New England, is still recovering from a torn ACL sustained last August. "He still has some rehabilitation to do," coach Bill Belichick said over the weekend. "We feel like that’s coming along, going in the right direction. I think he’ll be competitive, but we’ll have to see how he rehabs from the injury but we’re optimistic that he’ll be on the field and be able to compete at some point. He’s not ready right now but I think he will be."

Sounds like a good PUP candidate

RedOctober3829 · May 12, 2014

Stitch01 said:
Sounds like a good PUP candidate

Still too early to determine that. He still has over 2 months to further rehab that knee.

Stitch01 · May 12, 2014

Of course, just might be an elegant solution to keep additional DE depth. Lets put it this way, the way the roster is now I wouldn't be pushing Smith to get back for camp

Morgan's Magic Snowplow · May 12, 2014

Shelterdog said:
I'm not that worried about it. You've got three decent players, you're generally going to be playing only two of them, and it's generally pretty easy to plug in so-so 4-3 LB. Players with Beauharnais's pedigree play at an acceptable level all the time.

4-3 OLB is also a pretty fungible position and an easy one to find depth at the veteran minimum (or close). Guys like Rocky McIntosh, Will Witherspoon, and Stephen Nicholas are all floating around still as free agents. I think it'll be pretty easy for BB to add a veteran to the mix before training camp if he feels its necessary. You don't want any of those guys starting for you at this point in their careers but as a 4th or 5th option they're not going to kill you.

TheDeuce222 · May 12, 2014

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2014/05/patriots-post-draft-roster-reset-and-thoughts.html#more-30995

Fantastic article from Loyko resetting the roster and predicting the 53. Obviously there will be injuries, and we don't yet know if Gronk, Smith, and Easley will be ready to go or need to be PUP-candidates for the first six weeks. But here is what I would forecast for the 36 truly safe (i.e. nothing to worry about in terms of getting cut) players:

1. QB Brady
2. QB Mallett (unless he is traded)
3. QB Garoppolo
4. RB Ridley
5. RB Vereen
6. RB White
7. WR Dobson
8. WR Edelman
9. WR Amendola
10. WR Slater
11. TE Gronkowski
12. TE Hoomanawanui
13. T Solder
14. T Vollmer
15. G Mankins
16. C Stork
17. G/T Cannon
18. T Fleming
19. DE Chandler Jones
20. DE Ninkovich
21. DT Wilfork
22. DT Easley
23. DT Kelly
24. LB Mayo
25. LB Collins
26. LB Hightower
27. CB Revis
28. CB Browner
29. CB Dennard
30. CB/S Ryan
31. CB Arrington
32. S McCourty
33. S Harmon
34. K Gostkowski
35. P Allen
36. LS Aiken

That leaves 17 spots at least somewhat up for grabs in camp. My predictions for those 17 spots in yellow below:

I think it is likely that they take a fourth tailback, most likely Bolden. Longer shots to make it would be the undrafted FAs: Roy Finch, Stephen Houston and/or Jonas Gray.

I think they will either take FB Develin or a third TE (DJ Williams, Asa Watson, Justin Jones, or perhaps most likely Dustin Keller) but likely not both given needs elsewhere on the roster.

I would foresee two additional WRs, but as Loyko says, they could possibly keep a seventh. I assume the two will be Lafell (who would have to totally crater to not make the team, and is more of a lock) and Josh Boyce. I am intrigued by Jeremy Gallon and Thompkins also had his moments last year. Deering is a serious longshot, but if they liked him as a return specialist, it's not out of the question they could take him.

They will take at least two more and probably another three offensive linemen in addition to the six I have listed as safe above. That would mean some combination of Wendell, Connolly, Halapio and Josh Kline. My guess is that they would not want to cut both of Wendell and Connolly because that would mean the interior offensive line was extraordinarily inexperienced (even if Cannon ends up starting at RG, which may be a good possibility). But my guess is one of the two gets cut to save money and given their spotty performance last year. I think Halapio is quite likely to be kept, but they have cut sixth-round type guys before. The Pats reputedly love Josh Kline.

I think they will likely keep two additional D ends - with Smith likely to make it if healthy, and Zach Moore a player I am guessing they will want to keep and develop, given his impressive measurables and stats at a lower level of competition. Buchanan certainly has a chance over Moore, but wasn't too impressive to me last year. Jake Bequette has hardly seen the field in two years and I would be very surprised if he makes the team.

They will keep at least two more defensive tackles, and perhaps even three more, given that the three locks, Wilfork, Easley, and Kelly, all dealt with season ending injuries last year. My bet would be on Siliga, Chris Jones and Armstead if he is healthy.

They will keep at least two more LBs, and perhaps three. Hull has been a reliable special teams guy, and Beauharnais is a developmental guy who got a ton of time in college, though he hardly played last year. James Morris and Cameron Gordon are good bets to challenge Hull and Beauharnais. Chris White and Ja'Gared Davis are extreme long shots.

I think they will keep three additional defensive backs in addition to the safe players above. I will cheat a little bit and project four right now because Browner will have a roster exemption for weeks 1-4. I project those players to be Chung, Jemea Thomas, Nate Ebner and Justin Green. I could certainly see them leaving off Justin Green or Chung here with the idea that the roster spot would be better served going to a third TE or Gallon or Thompkins.

MainerInExile · May 12, 2014

Hard to consider Aiken a lock given that they now have 3 LS on the roster. They're at least considering an upgrade.

j-man · May 12, 2014

ivanvamp said:
Goodness, I didn't realize how thin the LB corps is. They definitely need to add another solid player there, IMO.

I looked at a list of available free agent LBs and only one, really, is still available: James Harrison. Is he worth bringing in on a minimum one-year deal to see what he has left in the tank? I just don't like the LB depth at all.

J Harrison will only sign with pitt late this summer or retrie

dcdrew10 · May 13, 2014

Pxer said:
RE: Connolly; I think it's a fairly safe bet that he is cut given the economics and the way the Pats went in the draft.

I want to agree that Connolly gets cut before Wendell, since his salary is more than double, but if Wendell isn't the clear winner of the C competition I could see BB keeping Connolly over him because of position flexibility.

PaulinMyrBch · May 13, 2014

I don't think Mallet is a cut. Even if JG were to prove himself in camp and preseason to the point where he elevates to #2 on the secret depth chart, I think BB would make sure to trade him to an interested team for a very late and conditional draft pick. He'd make a trade work for nearly zero value coming back just to make sure he doesn't clear waivers and find his way onto the Jets or Bills roster for the next dozen years.

It might be something he does before the trade deadline to a team that might have a QB go down. I can't see him leaving him out there for division teams unless BB has seen enough and truly doesn't believe he'll ever contribute in real time. But I doubt that, he's been the only backup and I doubt we would have gone with 1 if he truly wasn't a good insurance policy.

Super Nomario · May 16, 2014

I have 36 roster locks:
QB (3): Brady, Mallett, Garoppolo; RB (3): Ridley, Vereen, White; WR (5): Amendola, Edelman, Slater, Dobson, LaFell; TE (2): Gronkowski, Hoomanawanui; OT (4): Solder, Vollmer, Cannon, Fleming; G/C (2): Mankins, Stork; DT (3): Wilfork, Siliga, Easley; ER (2): Jones, Ninkovich; LB (3): Mayo, Hightower, Collins; CB (4): Revis, Dennard, Arrington, Ryan; S (3): McCourty, Harmon, Ebner; ST (2): Gostkowski, Allen

I figure they will also carry RB (1): Bolden, Develin, Houston, or Finch; WR (1): Boyce, Thompkins, or Gallon; TE (1): Williams, Jones, or Watson; G/C (2): Connolly, Wendell, Barker, Halapio, or Kline; DL (1): Kelly, Vellano, Jones, Armstead, or Forston; ER (2): Bequette, Buchanan, Smith, or Moore; LB (2): Beauharnais, White, Hull, Davis, Morris, or Gordon; CB (1): Thomas or Green; S (1): Wilson, Chung, Deering, or Davis; ST (1): Aiken or Ott

That leaves four spots from the above group, probably a fifth back, maybe another redshirt OL, and another couple special teamers. I'm assuming none of last year's IR squad (Boyce, Gronkowski, Vollmer, Wilfork, Kelly, Easley, Armstead, Smith) starts on PUP, and that Browner starts on the Suspended list.

I have as obvious cuts (and history tells us at least one of these guys will make the roster): Gray, Orton, Harrison, Dunn, Devey, Mattes, Cave, Skinner, Hawkins, Gary, Darius Fleming

Way-too-early predictions - the above 36, plus Develin, Houston, Gallon, Watson, Wendell, Halapio, Kline, Jones, Armstead, Smith, Moore, White, Hull, Gordon, Thomas, Chung, Ott

TheDeuce222 · May 16, 2014

Wow, you think they'd cut Boyce after one year? I thought he looked pretty good in limited time until his injury last year. I also think his ability to return kicks is important.
In any event, we're mostly on the same page. I think they could definitely keep 7 receivers, given that they've been playing more 3-WR sets and Slater can hardly be considered a WR (except for that horrible play against Indianapolis). Would like to see them keep both Boyce and Gallon.

I should also modify my above list to say Aiken is clearly not a lock, with Ott apparently being a great LS and coming in for competition, which MiE rightly pointed out.

Super Nomario · May 16, 2014

TheDeuce222 said:
Wow, you think they'd cut Boyce after one year? I thought he looked pretty good in limited time until his injury last year. I also think his ability to return kicks is important.
In any event, we're mostly on the same page. I think they could definitely keep 7 receivers, given that they've been playing more 3-WR sets and Slater can hardly be considered a WR (except for that horrible play against Indianapolis). Would like to see them keep both Boyce and Gallon.

From a money perspective, they can cut him easily. As for his skill, he was behind both Dobson and Thompkins as an outside receiver when those guys were healthy (and at 5'11", he's small for that role), and they trusted him so little in the slot that they brought Austin Collie out of semi-retirement twice. In 19 targets, PFF credits him with 9 catches and 4 drops. He showed pretty good run-after-catch skills but little else. He was OK as a kick returner, but the Pats only had 39 KR all last year as a team, so we're talking 2-3 plays in the entire game, and he was so far behind everybody else as a receiver that he was a healthy scratch four times. He also doesn't contribute on STs anywhere else (just 21 snaps all year). I don't see his KR skills getting him on the 46-man game-day roster without a step forward as a receiver.

I think there's room for two of Boyce / Gallon / Thompkins, but if Gallon shows anything in the slot role I think Boyce is the #3 guy there.

TheDeuce222 · May 16, 2014

Super Nomario said:
From a money perspective, they can cut him easily. As for his skill, he was behind both Dobson and Thompkins as an outside receiver when those guys were healthy (and at 5'11", he's small for that role), and they trusted him so little in the slot that they brought Austin Collie out of semi-retirement twice. In 19 targets, PFF credits him with 9 catches and 4 drops. He showed pretty good run-after-catch skills but little else. He was OK as a kick returner, but the Pats only had 39 KR all last year as a team, so we're talking 2-3 plays in the entire game, and he was so far behind everybody else as a receiver that he was a healthy scratch four times. He also doesn't contribute on STs anywhere else (just 21 snaps all year). I don't see his KR skills getting him on the 46-man game-day roster without a step forward as a receiver.

I think there's room for two of Boyce / Gallon / Thompkins, but if Gallon shows anything in the slot role I think Boyce is the #3 guy there.

Well, fair enough. They certainly did not trust him at all early in the season. But in the two games in December in which he was inserted into a prominent role, he played well before getting hurt in Week 15. In Week 14, he had 3 catches for 49 yards, and I think drew a long pass interference which set up a score. Then, in Week 15, Brady was trying to feature him on short passes and he was racking up some good gains, 4 for 42. Not a lot of players that can run a sub-4.4 on our offense. I think he has hte potential to bring a different look.

Additionally, he was a high fourth round pick last year, and I think it would be a little early to cut bait on him this offseason. Sure, they could cut him without it costing a lot of money, but it would be giving up cheap, potentially productive labor at WR for the next three years. Thompkins certainly had his moments, but he's a limited player due to his lack of speed and elusiveness. Will be an interesting battle.

lexrageorge · May 16, 2014

I'd hate to see them give up completely on Boyce; lots of players do improve between their rookie and sophomore seasons. However, there is a bit of a numbers crunch among the young WR's right now. The likelihood is that this will work itself out between now and final cutdown day once players start getting moved to IR.

MainerInExile · May 16, 2014

Pxer said:
I don't see any way Develin survives the crunch this year, barring unforseen IR/PUP guys. There are too many spots where the Pats need to probably keep 1 more guy than usual (WR, OT for starters). I'm nitpicking, but I feel really strongly about him as a cut -- I'd rather carry one of the young TE that shows any promise.

Josh McDaniels clearly likes having a FB on the roster though. I sort of agree with you, but I'm not sure the team does. We'll see I guess.

Super Nomario · May 16, 2014

TheDeuce222 said:
Well, fair enough. They certainly did not trust him at all early in the season. But in the two games in December in which he was inserted into a prominent role, he played well before getting hurt in Week 15. In Week 14, he had 3 catches for 49 yards, and I think drew a long pass interference which set up a score. Then, in Week 15, Brady was trying to feature him on short passes and he was racking up some good gains, 4 for 42. Not a lot of players that can run a sub-4.4 on our offense. I think he has hte potential to bring a different look.

Getting run in those late-season games was not, IMO, indicative of increased faith in him - those were games when both Dobson and Thompkins was hurt. I don't have as high opinions of his performances in those games as you do, and I don't find those stat lines overly impressive for a receiver getting a fair amount of run.

TheDeuce222 said:
Additionally, he was a high fourth round pick last year, and I think it would be a little early to cut bait on him this offseason. Sure, they could cut him without it costing a lot of money, but it would be giving up cheap, potentially productive labor at WR for the next three years. Thompkins certainly had his moments, but he's a limited player due to his lack of speed and elusiveness. Will be an interesting battle.

The alternatives to Boyce - Thompkins and Gallon - are also cost-controlled with potential. Thompkins was way ahead of Boyce last season; it'll be interesting to see if Boyce closes the gap somewhat (he is a little younger). And I think Gallon is intriguing if he has inside / outside flexibility, something that neither Thompkins nor Boyce showed last year. But all three of these guys are on the bubble, in my estimation; I don't know why we'd assume any of them make the squad based on the situation as it stands today.

MainerInExile · May 16, 2014

Super Nomario said:
Getting run in those late-season games was not, IMO, indicative of increased faith in him - those were games when both Dobson and Thompkins was hurt. I don't have as high opinions of his performances in those games as you do, and I don't find those stat lines overly impressive for a receiver getting a fair amount of run.

The alternatives to Boyce - Thompkins and Gallon - are also cost-controlled with potential. Thompkins was way ahead of Boyce last season; it'll be interesting to see if Boyce closes the gap somewhat (he is a little younger). And I think Gallon is intriguing if he has inside / outside flexibility, something that neither Thompkins nor Boyce showed last year. But all three of these guys are on the bubble, in my estimation; I don't know why we'd assume any of them make the squad based on the situation as it stands today.

Gallon is fairly likely to be able to make it to the practice squad, I would imagine. If they want to keep all three, Thompkins and Boyce making the active roster and Gallon landing on the PS seems like the best route.

Super Nomario · May 16, 2014

MainerInExile said:
Gallon is fairly likely to be able to make it to the practice squad, I would imagine. If they want to keep all three, Thompkins and Boyce making the active roster and Gallon landing on the PS seems like the best route.

Maybe, maybe not. The fact that they used a pick on him means they didn't want to take a chance on losing him as a UDFA. Last year they kept Beauharnais (also a 7th) on the roster all year even though he had PS eligibility and wasn't playing.

MainerInExile · May 16, 2014

Super Nomario said:
Maybe, maybe not. The fact that they used a pick on him means they didn't want to take a chance on losing him as a UDFA. Last year they kept Beauharnais (also a 7th) on the roster all year even though he had PS eligibility and wasn't playing.

Fair enough, and certainly possible. As to why he was drafted instead of one of their UDFA, maybe a WR would have been less likely to sign than one of the TEs, for instance. They can see the depth chart just like we can. Also, right now there's competition with every team having 90 spots. When every team has only 53, things could be drastically different.

RedOctober3829 · May 17, 2014

@BradBiggs: James Anderson, #Bears LB last season, had a tryout with #Patriots

Super Nomario · Jun 25, 2014

Oliver Thomas with his projections: http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2014/06/2014-patriots-53-man-roster-projection-calm-before-the-storm.html

Prominent players cut: Connolly, Gallon, Armstead, Vellano, Bequette, Chris White, Josh Hull, Tavon Wilson

I think they'll probably end up keeping one or more of the ST LBs, but I think his projections are pretty reasonable.

53-Man Roster Predictions / Cut Watch Thread

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