{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"index":"","title":"Patriots projected 53-man roster, 2.0","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Belichick_Bill_AP_20241655761161.jpg","caption":"

Sunday marked the end of Patriots training camp practice. From here on out, reporters will only get a brief glimpse of team workouts. Stretching. Individual drills. That kind of thing.

That made Sunday the last opportunity for us to see Bill Belichick’s roster perform in competitive (or even just semi-competitive) situations until Week 1 of the regular season. Things will change between now and then. There will be injuries, in all likelihood. There will be players who heal and return to action. There will be players who emerge to seize roles that are still be up in the air.

But what we’ve seen is, essentially, all we have to go off. Twelve practices. No preseason games. And yet the roster seems to be coming into greater focus of late. Here’s our prediction as to how the roster will look when the team preps to play the Dolphins in two weeks.

","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo"},{"index":"1","title":"QUARTERBACK (3)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Newton_C_Hoyer_B_Stidham_J_AP_20239589696934.jpg","caption":"

Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer

Not only has Jarrett Stidham not threatened Cam Newton for the starting job, he continues to split the non-Newton reps with Brian Hoyer. That may be due in part to Stidham having to miss time with a leg injury.

But even if Stidham is fully healthy and soon becomes the clear No. 2, Hoyer would be valuable insurance.

Curran: Why Newton addition feels like Brady all over again

","credit":"AP photo"},{"index":2,"title":"RUNNING BACK (4)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Newton_C_Michel_S_AP_20240527115121.jpg","caption":"

Sony Michel, James White, Rex Burkhead, Damien Harris

Would be fun to see undrafted 5-foot-6, 185-pound rookie J.J. Taylor make the final roster.

But with Sony Michel (pictured) back in the mix after being activated from the physically unable to perform list, keeping a fifth back — particularly if that fifth back doesn’t have a big-time role in the kicking game, and it’s unclear if Taylor can win a return-man job — may be too tough to pull off.

","credit":"AP photo"},{"index":3,"title":"WIDE RECEIVER (6)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Olszewski_Gunner_AP_20240526944008.jpg","caption":"

Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Mohamed Sanu, Damiere Byrd, Gunner Olszewski, Matthew Slater

No Jakobi Meyers. No Jeff Thomas. No Devin Ross. This group could use some explosiveness, making either of the last two names mentioned in this paragraph potentially viable additions.

Gunner Olszewski looks like he could be the team’s top punt-returner. Byrd (pictured), meanwhile, might be the unit’s No. 3 wideout since he provides straight-line speed that no one else in this group appears to have.

Curran: What's the catch with Gunner?

","credit":"AP photo"},{"index":4,"title":"TIGHT END (3)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Izzo_Ryan_AP_20236567934718.jpg","caption":"

Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene, Jakob Johnson

Ryan Izzo (pictured) would make sense here as a veteran presence for Asiasi and Keene to lean on early in their rookie seasons.

He looks improved since last year, but — with teams having only 2019 tape to judge — he could make it through waivers and land back on the practice squad.

Curran/Perry: Answering key camp questions

","credit":"AP photo"},{"index":5,"title":"OFFENSIVE LINE (8)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Onwenu_Michael_AP_20243752456948.jpg","caption":"

Isaiah Wynn, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Jermaine Eluemunor, Korey Cunningham, Hjalte Froholdt, Michael Onwenu

The three reserves here provide the Patriots with flexibility. Cunningham is likely the team’s best bet at swing tackle. (Cajuste’s inability to participate consistently this summer hurt him in that positional battle.) Froholdt would be the super-sub on the interior.

And it looks like the Patriots would like to find out if Onwenu (pictured) has guard-to-tackle flexibility. His size can’t be taught, but he was considered a guard-only prospect coming out of Michigan and hasn’t played tackle since high school.

","credit":"AP photo"},{"index":6,"title":"SPECIALIST (3)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Folk_N_AP_20240665289404.jpg","caption":"

Joe Cardona, Jake Bailey, Nick Folk

Nick Folk (pictured) has been the team’s most consistent kicker since signing last week, and it hasn’t been all that close. Justin Rohrwasser could stick if the Patriots feel he’s worthy of a developmental spot on the practice squad.

Curran: Feeling like Folk will be kicker call for Pats

","credit":"AP photo"},{"index":7,"title":"DEFENSIVE LINE (5)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Wise_Deatrich_AP_20240608490426.jpg","caption":"

Lawrence Guy, Adam Butler, Byron Cowart, Beau Allen, Deatrich Wise

Allen’s health will have a say in how this group shakes out. If he can’t go, the team could use a true nose tackle. They’re loaded with 3-4 ends but no true “0-technique” who could play head-up on a center. That was often Danny Shelton’s role last year and he played a key role in Belichick’s front seven.

Perhaps Xavier Williams could man that spot if the Patriots feel the 6-foot-2, 309-pounder is stout enough for it. Deatrich Wise (pictured) has bulked up and been one of the team’s best defenders this summer.

","credit":"AP Photo"},{"index":8,"title":"OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Rivers_Derek_GettyImages-1158101025.jpg","caption":"

John Simon, Chase Winovich, Shilique Calhoun, Derek Rivers, Brandon Copeland

Special teams matter. Always try to keep that in mind here when putting together these projections. While Winovich and Rivers look like the most impressive athletes off the edge, it should come as no surprise if spots for Calhoun and Copeland are opened up because of their kicking-game experience.

Rivers (pictured) bouncing back to form — after missing all of 2019 and all of his rookie 2017 season — has been one of the feel-good stories of Patriots camp.

","credit":"Getty Images"},{"index":9,"title":"INSIDE LINEBACKER (4)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Bentley_J_AP_20230593726741.jpg","caption":"

Ja’Whaun Bentley, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Cassh Maluia

Jerod Mayo has his work cut out for him this year in the inside linebacker room. Not only does Bentley (pictured), a third-year player, look like the top choice to replace Dont’a Hightower, but the best of the rest are rookies.

If teams early on the Patriots schedule want to test New England’s youth at the second level, they may opt for heavy two-back and two-tight end packages more frequently.

Perry: Hightower's opt-out thrusts focus onto Bentley

","credit":"AP photo"},{"index":10,"title":"CORNERBACK (6)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Jackson_Michael_AP_20238633583489.jpg","caption":"

Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jason McCourty, Jonathan Jones, Michael Jackson, Justin Bethel

The Patriots gave up very little to acquire Michael Jackson in a trade with the Lions earlier this offseason. He’s shown legitimate man-to-man skill this summer, though, and looks like a capable fill-in with special teams upside if the Patriots would like some depth here.He’s missed practice time lately, though, which could hurt his chances.

Justin Bethel’s addition here falls under the “special teams matter” roster-projection theorem.

","credit":"AP Photo"},{"index":11,"title":"SAFETY (5)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2020/08/31/Williams_Joejuan_AP_20236654184969.jpg","caption":"

Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Terrence Brooks, Joejuan Williams, Cody Davis

The Patriots played Williams (pictured) as a safety during last year’s preseason. Any chance we would’ve seen more of the same this summer had there been exhibition games? The second-year corner might be able to help this safety group out after Patrick Chung’s opt-out.

Phillips and Dugger have been limited at times this summer, making any sort of depth here valuable. Davis is another kicking-game specific player who would make sense on the active roster come Week 1.

","credit":"AP photo"}]}

Patriots 53-man roster projection: Team comes into focus after camp