Lists and rankings are what the internet and social media were made for.
Sports are all about debate, especially on the radio and in bar rooms.
So, in this down period with Patriots training camp still two weeks away, the Bruins and Celtics not yet quite ready to make more splashy offseason moves and the Red Sox…well, who really knows what going on with Major League Baseball’s resurgent COVID issues coming out of the All Star break…what better time to unveil a meaningless but infinitely debatable sports list.
More specifically, what better time to unleash my annual summertime tradition of ranking the Patriots roster from top to bottom.
It’s an exercise that not even Bill Belichick undertakes. Sure, he’ll cut his squad down to 53 guys by September, lopping off the bottom feeders of the list. And he obviously has a depth chart of starters and backups at each position.
But ranking his roster across all positions?
Why would anyone in their right mind (I’m not!) feel the need to do that?
Well…It’s July. There was not a single meaningful sporting event yesterday. The weather has been less than perfect.
Why the hell not?
So here it is, the Patriots 2021 roster ranked from 1-90.
As with any proper list or ranking, feel free to agree to disagree and tear it to shreds as need be.
Enjoy!
1-CB Stephon Gilmore: A year removed from his DPOY, set to turn 31 and holding out, he’s still the post-Tom Brady best.
2-P Jake Bailey: A weapon, an All-Pro and maybe the best at his specific job on the team.
3-LB Dont’a Hightower: Even after a year away he should be a centerpiece of a high-end defense.
4-TE Jonnu Smith: Too high for a newcomer with a career high of 41 catches but all the talent is there.
5-G Shaq Mason: A steady-to-high end guard when healthy.
6-EDGE Matt Judon: Coming to New England after consecutive Pro Bowl campaigns with Ravens.
7-SPT Matthew Slater: Arguably the greatest special teamer in NFL history.
8-S Kyle Dugger: Counting on a Year 2 Jump to ballyhoo about for the 2020 top pick with all the tools.
9-S Devin McCourty: After a decade of Pro Bowl-caliber play, age may be starting to catch up to D-Mac.
10-OL Mike Onwenu: If he builds off his rookie season, this might be too low on the list.
11-RB James White: Still very good, veteran’s contributions rely on the QB he works with.
12-LB Kyle Van Noy: Even in Miami last fall, Van Noy showed he can make plays in a variety of ways.
13-LT Isaiah Wynn: Will the former first-round pick ever stay healthy to prove his real worth?
14-TE Hunter Henry: May not have elite upside, but will surely contribute to the passing game.
15-LS Joe Cardona: Just a long snapper, but a pretty darn good long snapper.
16-CB J.C. Jackson: A very good No. 2 cornerback with a knack for picks, but more than that?
17-T Trent Brown: Pro Bowl size and talent if he can stay on the field.
18-K Nick Folk: All he’s done since arriving in New England is make kicks, including some big ones.
19-C David Andrews: Solid as they come on and off the field.
20-RB Damien Harris: Runs hard and produces when given the chance but must stay healthy.
21-DL Lawrence Guy: Had to do it almost by himself up front last year but still very good.
22-S Adrian Phillips: After 100 tackles in his first Patriots season, could be better in 2021 with help.
23-QB Mac Jones: No. 15 overall pick is the best QB on the roster. It is what it is.
24- CB Jonathan Jones: Slot cornerbacks with a proven track record need love too.
25-WR Jakobi Meyers: Former undrafted player is the best WR on the roster. It is what it is.
26-SPT Justin Bethel: Lost in Slater’s shadow, a damn good special teamer.
27-OL Ted Karras: Capable, versatile backup who’s never met a day he didn’t like.
28-RB Sony Michel: When he’s healthy and runs hard he has produced.
29-DL Christian Barmore: Best football could and should be ahead given his physical tools.
30-DT Davon Godchaux: Could be an under-the-radar steal of free agency spending.
31-LB Josh Uche: Can his spring work in shorts translate to real football?
32-DB Jalen Mills: Jack-of-all-trades defensive back should be a Bill Belichick chess piece.
33-WR Nelson Agholor: Is veteran wide receiver in a mid-career resurgence? He better be.
34-QB Cam Newton: At least he’s still a big, powerful athlete as a runner.
35-PR/WR Gunner Olszewski: No one can ever take away that he was an All-Pro punt returner in 2020.
36-DL Deatrich Wise Jr.: Solid, unspectacular defensive line contributor.
37-TE Devin Asiasi: Too soon to give up on the second-year TE after solid spring showing.
38-DL Henry Anderson: Experienced, versatile defensive lineman.
39-LB Ja’Whaun Bentley: In the right role, a complementary talent.
40-LB Anfernee Jennings: Second-year linebacker with improved proven talent ahead of him.
41-FB Jakob Johnson: Still developing as a fullback, but does look like he’s still developing.
42-WR Kendrick Bourne: Will have to prove his worth but the door is wide open at WR.
43-OL Justin Herron: Young backup offensive lineman with upside.
44-EDGE Chase Winovich: His hair and brand as notable as his impact at this still-early point.
45-LB Raekwon McMillan: 32 career starts in three years and past 100-tackle season nothing to scoff at.
46-CB Myles Bryant: Could be next in line of developmental undrafted cornerbacks.
47-WR N’Keal Harry: Flashes of talent aside, time in Foxborough seems to be running out.
48-TE Matt LaCosse: Veteran is not without talent, but doesn’t measure up in restocked TE mix.
49-QB Jarrett Stidham: Will the former fourth-round pick ever get a shot to prove his worth?
50-OL Alex Redmond: A late-arriving guard with 24 career starts under his NFL belt.
51-LB Terez Hall: Practice squad linebacker showed some thump in limited chances last fall.
52-SPT Brandon King: Injuries aside, has proven himself a more than capable special teams guy.
53-TE/FB Dalton Keene: Will need to find a role/position in his second season in New England.
54-DB Joejuan Williams: Has yet to find a role in New England as a second-round pick.
55-DL Byron Cowart: Didn’t realize he started 14 games last season until I looked it up.
56-RB J.J. Taylor: Undersized pass catcher has maximized limited early chances.
57-RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Oversized versatile rookie running back could be redshirt option.
58-RB/SPT Brandon Bolden: Respected veteran backup has been sneaky good at times in his career.
59-SPT Cody Davis: Solid special teams guy.
60-LB Ronnie Perkins: Athletic rookie in reloaded linebacker mix.
61-OL Korey Cunningham: In the backup offensive line mix.
62-WR Tre Nixon: Speedy late-round rookie receiver could surprise.
63-QB Brian Hoyer: Pretty much a mentor at this point in his long career. No shame in that.
64-WR Kristian Wilkerson: Maybe the best of the unknown rest at the lackluster WR spot.
65-LB Harvey Langi: A Belichick favorite going back to his BYU days.
66-OL James Ferentz: Has found a way to hang around as an NFL backup for a long time.
67-RB Tyler Gaffney: Was out of football and New England, but didn’t look too rusty this spring.
68-OL Marcus Martin: Started 14 games at center for the 49ers in 2015.
69-T Yodny Cajuste: Oft-injured former third-round pick is running out of time.
70-DL Carl Davis: Veteran was “available” when he arrived in New England last fall.
71-DL Montravius Adams: Started three games in his four previous seasons with the Packers.
72-DL/TE Rashod Berry: Being listed at two NFL positions is probably both impressive and a bad sign.
73-DL Tashawn Bower: Started three games last fall out of necessity more than anything else.
74-DB Adrian Colbert: Lifting exploits posted on social media are mildly impressive.
75-DL Akeem Spence: 57 NFL starts with six teams over seven seasons.
76-WR Marvin Hall: Late spring veteran addition to the WR competition with 37 career catches.
77-TE Troy Fumagalli: Veteran tight end with 14 catches in two seasons in Denver.
78-S Joshuah Bledsoe: Rookie safety with some versatility.
79-LB Cameron McGrone: Injured rookie LB out of Michigan who’ll have to wait a year to impress.
80-WR Isaiah Zuber: Practice squad WR got a cup of coffee on the roster last season.
81-WR Devin Ross: Oh hell, let’s go on a run of practice squad WRs.
82-WR Devin Smith: See above.
83-DB D’Angelo Ross: Practice squad DB got a cup of coffee on the active roster late last season.
84-DB Dee Virgin: See above.
85-DL Bill Murray: At least he has name recognition going for him!
86-OL Will Sherman: Given what Onwenu did last fall, maybe sleeping on this late-round line pick.
87-DL Nick Thurman: Could be higher on this list. Oh well.
88-K Quinn Nordin: Undrafted kicker showed a strong leg this spring, but still.
89-OL R.J. Prince: A king would have been ranked higher.
90-Michael Jackson Jr.: He’s bad. He’s bad. You know he’s bad. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)