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Did you think Bill Belichick’s aggressive offseason was over? Well, what if he still had some life in him? What if he decided to do a few trades on the last day of downlisting, then he’d go down to 53?
The Patriots’ weaknesses are starting to show up. Really, they only have one weakness if Stephon Gilmore doesn’t come back from injury: he’s the cornerback. Jason McCourty’s departure seems to have really hurt the depth in high school.
And then there is the question of N’Keal Harry’s commercial demand.
So let’s take a look at those two points of interest while taking a look at how the preseason will influence a few players in the roster bubble.
PUP: Jarrett Stidham
It’s likely that if Stidham returns from PUP, he’ll take Hoyer off the list. But in week 1, I imagine Newton, Jones, and Hoyer will be three-quarters. They will carry three more this year, as COVID-19 continues to make people sick and limits their availability. The hot spot that I have not so subtly incorporated into this prediction is that Jones is QB1.
The quarterback has shown a unique aptitude for the Patriots offense, and he’s improving at a rate I’ve never seen in a rookie. If he continues at this pace – with, admittedly, some growing pains in the preseason – then Jones will win the starting position.
No sign of JJ Taylor. It’s just a tough year for the jitterbug to make the list. I think Taylor and Stevenson will get ample reps in the preseason to show what they can do, especially with the team removing running back Tyler Gaffney.
Stevenson and Taylor are essentially in a battle for an additional spot on the roster. But I don’t think Stevenson wins because he’s better, necessarily. He just has a unique body type that makes him valuable to the team – which is why the Patriots drafted him in the fourth round in 2021.
RI: Dalton Keene
Keene’s injury has made life easier for Asiasi, who is much more likely to be a part of the squad. That said, tight end Matt LaCosse has a good opportunity. The Patriots have always loved him. The only delicate thing could be Henry’s injury. Reports indicate that the tight end could be back in time for Week 1. Belichick said Henry was on a day-to-day basis but could push it back until the Week 1 deadline.
There is one name you might recognize: Isabella. It’s a game so many insiders have done that at this point seems unlikely. But we thought the same of the Patriots drafting Jones. Whether it was Isabella or another wide receiver, I could see the Patriots trading N’Keal Harry for someone who wants to play for New England more than their former first-round pick, who requested a trade earlier this offseason. I suggested the Patriots could put their foot in the ground to avoid swapping Harry for making a statement on Belichick’s authority. It is quite possible too. But trades are fun. I thought I would reject this idea.
Wilkerson is a player that I expect to have a solid preseason, both on offense and on special teams. In my mind, he can be a part of this team if he leads the receivers in receptions on their three preseason outings.
The running game will likely be a big deal for the Patriots in 2021. So the offensive line has nine players, which is the highest for the group. Inside offensive lineman Marcus Martin is in a battle with James Ferentz, although I love Martin, for now. William Sherman is a guy I could easily see getting cut in favor of a player the Patriots are trading for. They like to keep the pulse of the league’s offensive linemen. Sometimes they pull the trigger on a trade near the cut deadline to get the proper depth.
McCourty and Phillips were two of the best Patriots during training camp. Dugger is really promising. Davis isn’t likely to play on defense, but he’s a very good special teams player.
PUP: Stephon Gilmore
The safety position is a bit light as Jones, Mills and Bryant can play in it – as well as in cornerback. The problem is, they don’t have the right depth without Gilmore. As of yet, it’s unclear when Gilmore will return – or if he will. He could still be traded, given that the Patriots have not improved his contractual situation.
Instead, let’s imagine the Patriots bring in Henderson, the 2020 Jaguars first-round pick who is on the trading block. It helps solidify the cornerback position in 2021 – and beyond. Gilmore and Jackson, after all, will be uncompensated free agents next year.
What a stacked group. Sounds like the team to me. Perkins has yet to fully show his potential, but as a third-round pick he’s safe.
RI: Raekwon McMillan
PUP: Cameron McGrone
Hightower and Bentley are clearly safe. Jennings has the versatility to play indoors and outdoors, just like he did last year. His level of play did not reach draft status as a third round. I imagine there are ways he might miss the cut.
That defensive line has looked very impressive this offseason, with Godchaux a free agent signing and Barmore a second round pick in 2021 looking like major improvements. Spence has raced a lot with the starters, so he appears to be the last man. But don’t count DT Carl Davis, among others.
It might be a little crazy, but what if Nordin had a good preseason? Her leg was erratic in the spring. Suddenly, at training camp, things seem to have clicked. Nordin has a significantly better range than Nick Folk. A good preseason could solidify a place in the roster.
As for Cardona, his status for Week 1 could be in doubt. We’ll see if the long snapper they signed, Brian Khoury, ends up staying.
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