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The Patriots lost to the Titans 23 to 7 in their final preseason matchup of 2023 on Friday night and while the final score doesn’t matter, the product we saw on the field certainly does.
Final cuts are due across the league by this coming Tuesday at 4 p.m. and several players were either fighting for a roster spot on Friday night... or holding onto one for dear life.
With the regular season just over two weeks away, here are six immediate thoughts from the Patriots preseason finale in Nashville:
6 - Malik Cunningham is not a wide receiver.
While the Malik Cunningham experiment has been a fun one for the Patriots, the quarterback-turned-wide receiver may need to stick to his traditional position. The former Louisville Cardinal had just one catch this preseason on nine targets and had a lot of trouble consistently getting open against NFL cornerbacks.
If Cunningham does find his way back onto either the Patriots roster or their practice squad, they're far better off developing him as a quarterback, not a pass catcher.
5 - Speaking of quarterbacks, Bailey Zappe needs to be much better if he wants to be a long-term backup.
I know he’s been working with a makeshift offensive line during the preseason games, but even during practice Bailey Zappe really struggled throughout this Summer.
The fourth-round pick in 2022 burst onto the scene as a rookie in place of Mac Jones winning two of his three starts. When he did so, a section of Patriots fans immediately wanted to crown him as QB1. Not so fast.
Zappe completed just 59% of passes this preseason and, in general, looked uncomfortable in Bill O’Brien’s offense. While Mac Jones is the starter of this Patriots team, I’m not sure how comfortable they should be if they have to turn to Zappe at some point this season.
4 - Kayshon Boutte, roster lock?
The rookie wide receiver out of LSU entered Friday night on the proverbial bubble but after playing just one offensive drive and taking just one rep as a kick returner, might have earned his spot on the team long before the team set off for Nashville.
Boutte’s upside is tremendous. Once considered to be a first round pick, he slid to the sixth round due to both character and injury concerns. While Boutte still has plenty to prove, New England may have picked up one of the steals of the draft.
3 - Calvin Munson is going to make the team.
Linebacker Calvin Munson, who is now on his third stint with the Patriots, showed out on Friday night and proved he’s worthy of a spot on the 53 man roster.
Not only has he been a shoe in special teamer for the entirety of the preseason, but he finished Friday’s game with an interception, 10 total tackles, and one TFL, proving that he’s also a serviceable linebacker in a pinch. He’ll be on the team come Tuesday.
2 - Mike Onwenu might come back as a tackle.
Patriots guard Mike Onwenu returned to the practice field this week after spending the summer on the PUP as he recovered from offseason ankle surgery. Upon his return, he might have to bump out to right tackle.
New England had been repping Riley Reiff at guard as of late, and many speculated the move could be setting up for an Onwenu shift outside. Well Reiff was injured on Friday night in Tennessee and has thrown yet another wrench into the problems along the offensive line.
Tackles Calvin Anderson, Conor McDermott, and Riley Reiff, who the Patriots brought in this offseason to add depth, are all out of commission. You have to think they’ll bump Onwenu outside if Reiff is out for a period of time.
1 - Marte Mapu is going to be awesome.
The Patriots selected linebacker/safety hybrid defender Marte Mapu in the third round of April’s draft. He was first-team All-Big Sky in 2022 and named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year.
After being eased into action this preseason due to a torn pectoral muscle, the rookie made his NFL debut on Friday and looked made for the big leagues. Starting the game at safety, he flew around the field and immediately looked like he belonged. Belichick loves his defensive chess pieces, and Mapu has a chance to be the next great one.
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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