The Patriots are finally ready to fully prepare for Week 1 and the Philadelphia Eagles with preseason and training camp out of the way.
They do need to cut their roster to 90 players first, however.
This year, all cuts are made at once. They’re also no longer done over the weekend, and there’s a longer break between the final preseason game and cuts.
Here’s our final crack at a 53-man roster projection:
In — Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe
Out — Malik Cunningham, Trace McSorley
The Herald’s take: Ultimately, it felt like Cunningham would need to make another positive step after his exciting finish to the Patriots’ first preseason game. That never happened, and it’s difficult to roster a player who needs serious development as both a quarterback and wide receiver.
The Patriots will need to figure out what they want to do with their third quarterback spot. If Cunningham clears waivers, they could always bring him back to the practice squad. McSorley didn’t seem like a great fit for the offense based on how he played in training camp and the preseason. Perhaps the Patriots dig through roster cuts after players clear waivers and sign an outside QB to the practice squad to join Jones and Zappe.
In — Ezekiel Elliott, Ty Montgomery, Rhamondre Stevenson
Out — Kevin Harris, J.J. Taylor
The Herald’s take: The Patriots traded running back Pierre Strong Jr. to the Browns for offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Strong was previously projected to make the roster as a 2022 fourth-round pick.
Taylor played well this preseason, but he’s in his fourth offseason with the Patriots. It seems very unlikely that a team would claim him off waivers at this point, and he can serve as depth on the practice squad.
Montgomery is a tough call. He’s just recently returned to practice but still wasn’t healthy enough to play in the Patriots’ final preseason game. The Patriots clearly like the veteran running back/wide receiver, and he brings versatility to the offense.
Stevenson and Elliott are the top backs on the depth chart.
In — Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Demario Douglas, DeVante Parker, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton
Out — Thyrick Pitts, Raleigh Webb
The Herald’s take: Barring something unforeseen, it appears the Patriots will keep six wide receivers on their initial 53-man roster.
The team took a slight risk in waiting until the sixth round to take their first skill-position player in the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s paid off with strong summers for Boutte and Douglas.
Thornton is banged up once again. The Patriots have the option to include him on the initial 53-man roster and place him on injured reserve so he’s not out for the entire season.
In — Mike Gesicki, Hunter Henry
Out — Anthony Firkser, Matt Sokol
The Herald’s take: The Patriots need a third tight end, but Firkser and Sokol haven’t really earned roster spots this summer. There shouldn’t be very much competition for any of those players if they come available. The Patriots should be able to add any of them to their practice squad for depth.
Henry didn’t dress for Friday night’s preseason game after suffering an apparent injury Wednesday in practice. Gesicki is still returning from a shoulder injury.
Another option is to claim a player off waivers or to add an outside option to the practice squad.
The Patriots already waived Johnny Lumpkin and Scotty Washington.
In — David Andrews, Jake Andrews, Trent Brown, Vederian Lowe, Atonio Mafi, Mike Onwenu, Riley Reiff, Sidy Sow, Cole Strange. Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Out — James Ferentz, Chasen Hines, Conor McDermott, Bill Murray, Kody Russey, Andrew Stueber
NFI — Calvin Anderson
The Herald’s take: The Patriots needed to keep 10 players here since Onwenu, Reiff and Strange are all banged up. Enter Lowe and Wheatley, who can play either tackle spot.
Getting Anderson back off of the non-football illness list would be big. There’s still a question of how long it would take him to fully get into game shape, however. The Patriots’ season opener is officially less than two weeks away, and Anderson hasn’t practiced since the spring.
We don’t know the full extent of Reiff’s injury since it was suffered in Friday’s preseason game. He was not practicing Sunday.
This group has been a disaster this summer. There’s still time for everyone to get healthy, it’s a complete mystery who will be playing right tackle even if the whole group is available.
In — Christian Barmore, Daniel Ekuale, Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Guy, Sam Roberts, Keion White, Deatrich Wise
Out — Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
PUP — Trey Flowers
The Herald’s take: Carl Davis was somewhat unexpectedly cut early on Saturday. He’s been a contributor for three seasons in New England. Justus Tavai was also waived.
That should open a path for Roberts to make the team.
Barmore, Ekuale, Godchaux, Guy, White and Wise all should be safe. Pharms has had nice moments in the preseason but is a better practice squad option.
In — Anfernee Jennings, Matt Judon, Josh Uche
Out — Ronnie Perkins
The Herald’s take: Perkins is kind of a tough call after he played with his hair on fire Friday night but ultimately left the game early with an injury. He totaled five pressures on 20 pass-rush snaps. But injuries have plagued him for three offseasons now.
The Patriots already released Carson Wells.
The Patriots are set here with Jennings, Judon and Uche. White and Wise also contribute as edge defenders.
In — Ja’Whaun Bentley, Marte Mapu, Jahlani Tavai, Mack Wilson
Out — Joe Giles-Harris, Calvin Munson
The Herald’s take: Munson made a great final push for a roster spot Friday night, but we’re ultimately leaving him off of the roster. The Patriots have good linebacker depth here in Bentley, Mapu, Tavai and Wilson, and the Patriots should be able to start the season with Munson on the practice squad.
He’d be a strong candidate for an early-season call-up. The Patriots will likely elevate him for special teams, and eventually, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster to continue using him in games.
Diego Fagot was waived.
In — Myles Bryant, Christian Gonzalez, Jack Jones, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Ameer Speed
Out — Isaiah Bolden, Shaun Wade
The Herald’s take: Speed gets kept on as a developmental cornerback and special-teams option. Wade could still be a dark horse for a roster spot if the Patriots believe they’ll be without Jack Jones for any stretch this season as he faces gun charges.
Most players will get through waivers without a problem. Wade was a fifth-round pick two years ago. It wouldn’t be shocking if he drew some interest.
Bryant, Gonzalez and the three Joneses are locks to make the team. The Patriots already cut Quandre Mosely and Rodney Randle.
In — Kyle Dugger, Jalen Mills, Jabrill Peppers, Adrian Phillips
Out — Joshuah Bledsoe
The Herald’s take: Bledsoe didn’t quite do enough this summer to earn a roster spot, though he is a strong practice-squad candidate. The Patriots have more depth here in Mapu, Bryant, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones and Speed, all of whom can play safety.
We still don’t know who will be playing free safety, but expect to see more two-high looks in the Patriots’ defensive backfield.
Brad Hawkins was already waived.
In — P Bryce Baringer, ST Chris Board, LS Joe Cardona, K Chad Ryland, ST Brenden Schooler, ST Matthew Slater
Out — K Nick Folk, P Corliss Waitman
PUP — ST Cody Davis
The Herald’s take: It would not be shocking if Folk is kept on the roster as insurance in case Ryland isn’t ready right away. But sometimes it’s worth taking a chance and burning the lifeboats. Ryland can’t be looking over his shoulder at Folk.