RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The New England Patriots kicked off the preseason with a head-to-head clash with the Indianapolis Colts.
Both teams met for a joint training camp practice before the exhibition matchup. With the starters getting significant work during the team periods, they were held out of Thursday night's game. Their absence provided the coaching staff with an opportunity to evaluate the current depth on the roster.
One game isn't going to tell the full story, but it is a massive step toward the eventual roster cutdown date. Who stays and who goes for the Patriots ?
If the season started today, here's what my 53-man roster would look like:
Quarterback (3)
Drake Maye
Tommy DeVito
Behren Morton
The situation is straightforward at quarterback. Drake Maye is the starter, Tommy DeVito is the backup and Behren Morton is the developmental project.
Running back (3)
Rhamondre Stevenson
TreVeyon Henderson
Jam Miller
With Terrell Jennings on injured reserve, the No. 3 role is going to come down between rookie Jam Miller and second-year running back Lan Larison. Although Larison saw plenty of action in the opener, particularly in the passing game, Miller had 14 carries for 55 yards, in comparison to Larison's seven carries for one yard.
Wide receiver (7)
A.J. Brown
Romeo Doubs
DeMario Douglas
Kayshon Boutte
Mack Hollins
Efton Chism III
Kyle Williams
Under different circumstances, Patriots rookie Cameron Dorner could make the wide receiver competition interesting on the backend. But as of right now, the Patriots seem pretty locked in on keeping all seven of their top receivers.
Tight end/fullback (4)
Hunter Henry
Eli Raridon
Tanner Arkin
Reggie Gilliam (FB)
Hunter Henry signed a two-year extension this week, and Eli Raridon is a rookie third-round draft pick. Tanner Arkin fills the blocking needs, and Reggie Gilliam is one of the best fullbacks in the NFL.
Offensive line (9)
Will Campbell
Alijah Vera-Tucker
Jared Wilson
Mike Onwenu
Morgan Moses
Caleb Lomu
Marcus Bryant
Ben Brown
James Hudson
There are some serious interior depth concerns for the Patriots. Both Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich went down with injuries in Thursday's preseason game. This listing could shake out differently if Brown misses significant time. James Hudson got the final spot on the offensive line due to his ability to swing to both the tackle and guard positions. That kind of versatility really matters when the depth is in question.
Defensive line (5)
Milton Williams
Christian Barmore
Cory Durden
Joshua Farmer
Eric Gregory
Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are the top defensive enforcers, with Cory Durden stepping up as a starting nose tackle. The team is hoping to see more growth from 2025 fourth-round draft pick Joshua Farmer as well.
Linebacker (4)
Robert Spillane
Christian Elliss
Chad Muma
Khalil Jacobs
The progress shown by rookie linebacker Khalil Jacobs in such a short time has been impressive. Chad Muma has seemingly been positioned as the No. 3 option behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss at practices. That means rookie Namdi Obiazor could be the odd man out.
EDGE (5)
Harold Landry III
Dre'Mont Jones
Elijah Ponder
Gabe Jacas
Bradyn Swinson
Edge rusher is one of the more concerning positions on the roster given the uncertainty surrounding Harold Landry's health. Dre'Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder have been big contributors, and Bradyn Swinson has clearly matured in his second year. Meanwhile, rookie Gabe Jacas is a powerful defender with exceptionally high upside.
Cornerback (6)
Christian Gonzalez
Carlton Davis III
Marcus Jones
Charles Woods
Karon Prunty
Channing Canada
The Patriots have one of the best cornerback trios in all of football with Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones. Charles Woods is a solid veteran option for the No. 4 role. The team has also had impressive contributions from rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada.
Safety (4)
Kevin Byard
Craig Woodson
Dell Pettus
Brenden Schooler
Craig Woodson was already an ascending safety, but then the Patriots added Kevin Byard, a legitimate All-Pro defensive back who led the NFL in interceptions last season. Of course, Brenden Schooler, the all-world special teams player, made the cut.
Every defensive backfield also needs an everyday, lunchpail-toting hammer like Dell Pettus on the roster.
Specialists (3)
K Andy Borregales
P Bryce Baringer
LS Julian Ashby
Kicker Andy Borregales missed three field goals in the preseason opener. He'll have to clean that up if he hopes to earn a spot on the roster. Punter Bryce Baringer was one of the best players in Thursday's exhibition game. His punts consistently pinned the Colts with bad field position.
Long snapper Julian Ashby's roster status will ultimately depend on his health. The team has recently been using Niko Lalos at the position.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots 53-man roster prediction after first preseason game
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