{"numbering":"no_numbering","slides":[{"title":"Patriots projected 53-man roster, 3.0","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/gallery/hero/Belichick_Bill_McDaniels_Josh_USATSI_13911149.jpg","credit":"USA TODAY Sports photo","published":1599258000,"caption":"

FOXBORO — It’s a strange year, for a variety of reasons. Cutdown weekend will be no different. Bill Belichick acknowledged as much on Friday.

Why? It’s complicated. New practice squad rules not only increased the number of p-squad spots (from 10 to 16), but the league also increased the pool of players deemed practice-squad eligible. Everyone’s eligible. Rookies. Vets. Everyone. All in the name of roster flexibility in the age of COVID-19.

Therefore, as Belichick noted, teams seem less willing to swing trades. Why trade away a vet who you like but isn’t going to make the 53-man roster, when you could cut him then coax him to sign on the practice squad? Why risk losing a young player to waivers when you could cut a vet and sign him back to your roster, telling him that because he’s been part of the program, because he understands your scheme, he has a better chance of extending his career with you than with someone else?

The practice squad size and eligibility rules could lead to some surprising decisions, and in our final roster projection we begin with one such call...

"},{"title":"QUARTERBACK (2)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Newton_C_Stidham_J_AP.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599269086,"caption":"

Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham

The Patriots haven’t kept three quarterbacks since 2011. Brian Hoyer wants to be in New England. The Patriots know it. There probably isn’t going to be a team willing to give Hoyer $9 million guaranteed to sign elsewhere, which is what happened last year when Hoyer went to Indy.

He won’t hit waivers. The Patriots could entice him to come back, perhaps to the active roster, quickly. If the team places a player (like Damien Harris or Beau Allen) on IR after the roster has been cut to 53, they won’t lose that injured player for the season. Hoyer then could pop back on and fill the resulting opening. Another new COVID-related rule: Players on IR only have to sit out a minimum three weeks and an unlimited number of players can be activated off IR this year.

"},{"title":"RUNNING BACK (5)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/taylor_jj_AP_20232557435328.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599269104,"caption":"

Sony Michel, James White, Rex Burkhead, Damien Harris, J.J Taylor

Keep an eye on Bucs back and special teams ace Dare Ogunbowale, who will be released. Can never have enough special teamers on a Patriots roster projection. But this looks like a strong group.

Taylor impressed enough in camp that running backs coach Ivan Fears called him “little Dion,” as in Dion Lewis. Lamar Miller could be back as a veteran p-squad add or a roster player if anyone injured lands on IR after the cut to 53.

"},{"title":"WIDE RECEIVER (6)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/byrd_damiere_ap.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599269246,"caption":"

Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Damiere Byrd, Gunner Olszewski, Jakobi Meyers, Matthew Slater

With Mohamed Sanu out of the picture, Byrd looks like the No. 3 man. But will that be a “starter” in this offense?

Three-receiver, one-back, one-tight end personnel packages were run 60 percent of the time across the NFL last year. I’d anticipate with Cam Newton at the controls they’ll be well under that mark in 2020, relying on their backs and tight ends. Some of the best offenses in football run “11 personnel” less than 50 percent of the time.

Gunner Olszewski has missed two practices recently, but a source told me "he's going to be fine." We'll see. The Patriots could use him as a punt-return option and an improving developmental wideout.

"},{"title":"TIGHT END (3)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/asiasi_devin_ap.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599269220,"caption":"

Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene, Jakob Johnson

Two rookie tight ends and a second-year fullback. It's a young group for tight ends coach Nick Caley, but there's athleticism and versatility here with all three. All three should be able to contribute in the kicking game -- though Asiasi looks like he has the physical skills to be a full-time starting tight end -- and all three can handle multiple responsibilities in the offense.

Caley reminded reporters recently that Johnson started his time with the Patriots as a tight end. Perhaps Ryan Izzo can return as a veteran option for the practice squad as there is yet another new COVID-related rule that states practice-squad players can be called up to the active roster up to 90 minutes prior to game time. That may help ease the transition for the club early in Asiasi and Keene's tenure, but neither player showed he wasn't able to keep up with the offense in the practice reps seen by members of the media.

Paul Quessenberry, the fullback out of Navy who hasn't played organized football in several years, would make sense on the practice squad. Always good to keep two fullbacks in house if that spot is going to be key to the offensive play. (That spot is going to be key to the offensive plan, in my estimation.)

"},{"title":"OFFENSIVE LINE (9)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Eluemunor_jermaine_%20AP_19273080671416.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599271243,"caption":"

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

Plenty of questions about the back end of the depth chart here. In my opinion, Cunningham showed a little more in camp practices than fellow tackle Yodny Cajuste. Even though Cajuste was selected with a third-round pick a year ago, that doesn't guarantee his spot. He missed time early in camp and has had trouble staying on the field all the way back to his days at West Virginia.

Rookie Michael Onwenu can be a flexible guard-to-tackle option, and Froholdt looks like the interior utility man. Herron -- who set a record for starts at Wake Forest -- flashed at times in camp and could also have some versatility to play multiple spots, which helps land the rookie here.

"},{"title":"SPECIALIST (3)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Folk_N_AP_20240665289404.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599271202,"caption":"

Nick Folk, Jake Bailey, Joe Cardona

Bill Belichick said there's a "pretty close gap" between kickers Nick Folk and Justin Rohrwasser, but Folk did enough to separate himself from what reporters saw. He was the more consistent option -- not only with his accuracy but his trajectory as well. Rohrwasser was more erratic and hit a couple of line-drives in camp that might've been blocked in a live game situation.

"},{"title":"DEFENSIVE LINE (5)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/Allen_Beau_USATSI_13105743.jpg","credit":"AP Photo","published":1599271252,"caption":"

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

While this group is solid, they may be tested against the run early in the season. Not only is Dont'a Hightower -- one of the team's best run-defenders of the last decade -- out, but they have no real clear space-eating nose tackle if Allen is unavailable.

He hasn't been spotted at Patriots practice in weeks. That the Patriots haven't already placed him on IR may be an indication that his issue is not a long-term one, but he may be destined for IR after making the 53, forcing him to sit for at least the first three weeks of the regular season.

"},{"title":"OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/berry_rashod_AP_20233557919607.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599271200,"caption":"

John Simon, Chase Winovich, Shilique Calhoun, Derek Rivers, Rashod Berry

Interesting choices to make here. Keep Brandon Copeland, an accomplished special-teamer and veteran who can play off the line of scrimmage or on as a linebacker? Or let him go, as we've painted in this scenario, and hope you can bring him back?

Berry -- listed as a TE/LB on the roster -- had an impressive camp as an undrafted rookie. He's an explosive athlete out of Ohio State with good length and looks like an improving player. If he's not destined for the roster, he'd be a worth practice-squad spot.

"},{"title":"INSIDE LINEBACKER (4)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/bentley_jawhaun_AP_20231632835793.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599271215,"caption":"

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

Terez Hall made some punishing hits down by the goal line early in training camp, and he might be worth holding onto here. But in this situation, we're projecting that the Patriots bring him back as a member of the practice squad.

It's a young group for inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo, who was thrust into a significant role as a young player himself.

"Obviously, it’s not going to be perfect the first time around," Mayo said recently, "but I will say those aren’t really repeat-error guys. And I’d say that’s the thing: we don’t really believe in mistakes. We believe in those being learning opportunities, and I think those guys have taken advantage of that."

"},{"title":"CORNERBACK (5)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Gilmore_S_AP_20230580164513.jpg","credit":"AP Photo","published":1599271242,"caption":"

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

Tough room to crack if you're a rookie. Never mind an undrafted rookie. That's the situation in which Myles Bryant found himself, but he fought through down moments to get his hands on the football and make several splash plays throughout training camp. He should land on the practice squad and could earn a call-up should this group suffer an injury.

"},{"title":"SAFETY (6)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/article/hero/Dugger_K_AP_20230584318123_0.jpg","credit":"AP photo","published":1599271221,"caption":"

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

Another well-rounded group with vets and young players. Special-teamers across the board, which Belichick will appreciate.

"},{"title":"PRACTICE SQUAD (16)","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/slide/image/hoyer_brian_ap.jpg","credit":"","published":1599273977,"caption":"

Lamar Miller, Jeff Thomas, Devin Ross, Ryan Izzo, Paul Quessenberry, Paul Butler, Yodny Cajuste, Tyler Gauthier, Justin Rohrwasser, Xavier Williams, Bill Murray, Scoota Harris, Terez Hall, Brandon Copeland, Myles Bryant, D'Angelo Ross

In this scenario, Hoyer would re-sign after a player was placed on IR once the initial 53-man roster was set. The Patriots would also benefit from vets like Miller and Copeland being willing to take on a p-squad gig under the league's new COVID rules. Thomas and Ross could give the Patriots a jolt of speed should they want another fast player to use alongside Damiere Byrd -- or in place of Byrd, if the situation called for it.

"}]}

Patriots 53-man roster projection: Versatility matters