The Patriots canceled their 2023 minicamp on Wednesday one session early, deciding instead to head to Boston Paintball Maynard for a team-building activity.
Whether head coach Bill Belichick was there is unknown. What we do know, however, is that he'll head back to One Patriot Place this week to start making some roster decisions while the rest of his team heads home for a month of "summer break."
6 rings: hart and kadlick recap day two of patriots minicamp
Though there are still several weeks of training camp, joint practices with the Packers and Titans, and three preseason games before any decisions have to be made, here’s one way the Patriots roster could look following this summer’s cut-down day:
Quarterbacks (2): Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe
Out: Trace McSorley
The easiest decision on the roster. Mac is the starter, Zappe is the backup, and McSorley unfortunately gets released. We haven't seen enough from the Penn State product in order to challenge Zappe for the second spot.
Though UDFA Malik Cunningham is listed as a quarterback on New England's roster, I have him listed elsewhere. Stay tuned.
Running Backs (4): Rhamondre Stevenson, Ty Montgomery, Pierre Strong Jr., Kevin Harris
Out: JJ Taylor
The release of James Robinson earlier this week makes this room all the more interesting heading into 2023.
Rhamondre Stevenson will be the bell cow in the room, with RB/WR Ty Montgomery set to spell the workhorse alongside second-year runners Pierre Strong Jr. and Kevin Harris.
Long-time Patriot JJ Taylor gets the snip, with a chance to be back on the practice squad following a likely clearing of waivers.
Wide Receivers (6): DeAndre Hopkins, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, Demario Douglas (R)
Out: Kayshon Boutte (R), Ed Lee (R), Tre Nixon, Raleigh Webb
Spoiler alert: I think they're going to sign DeAndre Hopkins. The star pass catcher is meeting with New England on Wednesday and Thursday and, if all goes well, could be a Patriot by the end of the week.
As for the rest of the room, March signing JuJu Smith-Schuster and Pats vets Kendrick Bourne, DeVante Parker, and Tyquan Thornton round out the rotation.
Demario Douglas is the lone rookie to make the wide receiver room. Though I like Kayshon Boutte's upside, his lack of ability to stay healthy through just a few months into his NFL career may be telling of the path he's headed.
Tight Ends (2): Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki
Out: Scotty Washington, Anthony Firkser, Matt Sokol, Johnny Lumpkin (R)
Just like last season, the Patriots keep just two tight ends on their initial 53-man roster.
The only addition I could see happening here is Anthony Firkser, a veteran who is a better blocker than Henry and Gesicki.
Scotty Washington may show some athletic flashes in training camp, but it won't be enough to beat out the three vets ahead of him.
Offensive Line (10): Trent Brown, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Riley Reiff, Calvin Anderson, Conor McDermott, Jake Andrews (R), Sidy Sow (R), Atonio Mafi (R)
Out: James Ferentz, Chasen Hines, Bill Murray, Kody Russey, Andrew Stueber
New England's offensive line room was the talk of minicamp on Monday and Tuesday - but for all of the wrong reasons. Trent Brown was absent for day one due to a "canceled flight" and day two he was limited, causing the unit to struggle.
Though I called Brown a surprise cut in my Patriots Mailbag last week, I think he makes the team given what we saw during minicamp. As for the rest of the room, both veteran tackles make the cut due to depth concerns and all three rookies are employed into September for the same reason.
Defensive Line (6): Deatrich Wise Jr., Davon Godchaux, Lawrence Guy, Christian Barmore, Daniel Ekuale, Damarcus Mitchell
Out: Carl Davis, Sam Roberts, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Justus Tavai
Pretty much the same room as last season outside of Carl Davis and Sam Roberts missing the cut. The one wild card here would be Lawrence Guy and his contract situation, but I fully expect them to make it work.
Roberts and Tavai will likely push for special teams spots, but ultimately miss the cut and become practice squad candidates.
Linebackers (8): Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, Ja’Whuan Bentley, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, Chris Board, Keion White (R), Marte Mapu (R)
Out: Mack Wilson, Ronnie Perkins, Terez Hall, Calvin Munson, Okakunle Fatukasi
No surprises here as Judon, Uche, Bentley, Jennings, and Tavai all remain from last season.
They add Keion White at EDGE and Mack Wilson is pushed out after Marte Mapu continues his monster preseason.
Cornerbacks (5): Christian Gonzalez (R), Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Jack Jones, Myles Bryant
Out: Shaun Wade, Isaiah Bolden, Quandre Mosely, Brad Hawkins, Rodney Randle
A chalky room here, with rookie Christian Gonzalez as the headliner followed by the three Jones'. Myles Bryant finds his way onto the roster once again as well.
Though they keep just five corners, safety Jalen Mills will be able fill in as an emergency CB as well.
Safeties (4): Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Jalen Mills, Jabrill Peppers
Out: Joshuah Bledsoe
The best safety room in football subtracts Devin McCourty and adds Jalen Mills, who moves over from the cornerback room with plenty of experience in the backend. Marte Mapu will likely play a heavy role in the secondary as well.
Like last season, Joshuah Bledsoe once again makes a strong case to be rostered but can’t separate himself in a stacked room.
Specialists (6): Chad Ryland (R), Bryce Baringer (R), Joe Cardona, Matthew Slater, Brendan Schooler, Malik Cunningham (R)
Out: Nick Folk, Corliss Waitman, Cody Davis, Tucker Addington, Ameer Speed, Jordan Heilig
Both rookie specialists make the roster after the Patriots used draft capital on them (Ryland R4, Baringer R5). Nick Folk's run in Foxborough comes to an end.
Malik Cunningham makes the roster in the "specialist" category, stretching New England's run of rostered UDFA's to 20 straight season. He'll be a weapon at both wide receiver and wildcat quarterback for the Patriots.
Chris Board is listed as a linebacker but will play a heavy role on special teams. Same goes for Damarcus Mitchell on the defensive line.
LAST THREE ON: Riley Reiff, Myles Bryant, Malik Cunningham
LAST THREE OFF: Joshuah Bledsoe, Mack Wilson, Anthony Firkser
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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