5 Patriots who could surprisingly be cut before regular season

Who's left off the final 53-man roster that you wouldn't expect

Author:
Alex Valles
Publish date:
May 26, 2019 9:00 AM EDT

As OTA's kickoff, the Patriots roster currently stands at 90 players (FB Jakob Johnson does not count against the 90 man roster as part of the NFL's International Pathway Program). By August 31st, the team has to cut down their roster to 53 players.

Every year there are one or two cuts or trades that surprise a lot of Patriots fans. Last year it was Brandon Bolden who had spent the past six seasons with the team. Bolden went on to sign with the Miami Dolphins and ended up torching the Patriots for two touchdowns in their heartbreaking December 9th loss (Sorry to remind you). 2017's surprise came in the way of a trade when the team sent QB Jacoby Brissett to the Colts for WR Phillip Dorsett. Bill Belichick is often hard to predict which makes it that much harder trying to get a sense of who will be on the team's final 53. With that being said, let's take a look at who may be some of the last men left off the roster.

Now before we get started, keep in mind that these five players are "surprise" cuts. You should not expect each of these players to be released at the August 31st deadline, but given the team's offseason moves, these five players may be in jeopardy of losing their roster spot.

1.) Rex Burkhead, RB

After the Patriots selected Alabama running back Damien Harris with the 87th overall pick in the 2019 draft, all eyes turned to Rex Burkhead. Last year the Patriots entered the 2018 season with four running backs: Burkhead, Sony Michel, James White, and Jeremy Hill. After drafting Harris, resigning Bolden and adding Nick Brossette as an undrafted free agent, the team currently has six running backs on their roster. If they want to carry four running backs again, then two RBs will be looking for new teams come August 31st.

Brossette is likely a goner and all signs point to Burkhead to be the other odd man out. With that being said, given the injuries that decimated the RB group last year, I would expect the team to carry five backs heading into the 2019 season. After Hill went down with an ACL injury in Week 1 against the Texans last season, the team was forced to thrust Cordarrelle Patterson into the backfield to help shoulder the load. Depth at the RB position was a major concern for the team this past season. If the team is worried about a similar scenario playing out in this season then Burkhead's job should be more than safe.

2.) Brian Hoyer, QB

Brian Hoyer's chances of making the roster have much to do with how 4th round pick Jarrett Stidham performs in camp. New England tends to carry two QB's on their active roster. If that's their plan this upcoming season then Hoyer is likely to be released. Stidham is viewed by the team as a developmental project which may cause the team to keep Hoyer on as added insurance.

3.) Ryan Allen, P

When the team traded up in the 5th round of the 2019 draft to select punter Jake Bailey that all but spelled the end for Ryan Allen's tenure as a Patriot.

New England selecting a punter in the draft puzzled a lot of Patriots fans as you can make an argument that Allen was one of the most important players on the field in Super Bowl LIII. Allen constantly put the Rams offense in tough field position throughout the game. Bailey is unlikely to be sneaked on to the practice squad without being claimed by another team. New England definitely won't carry two punters on their active roster, which mean Allen's days as a Patriot may be numbered.

4.) Elandon Roberts, LB

Elandon Roberts has played a pivotal role in helping the Patriots win two of the past three Super Bowls. In 2017, Roberts started 14 games and in this past season, he started 11. So why is Roberts all of a sudden in danger of losing his job? Jamie Collins.

When the team signed Collins things got a lot more interesting at the linebacker position. The team carried five LB's entering last season. Before Collins was signed this offseason the projected LBs for New England this year were Dont'a Hightower, Kyle Van Noy, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Elandon Roberts and special teamer Brandon King.

The team appears to be high on Bentley and with Brandon King being recently signed as a standout special teamer, his job should be safe. That leaves a battle for the final spot between Roberts and Collins if the team chooses to go with five linebackers again. This will be one of the top position battles to watch as OTAs continue on and we inch closer to training camp.

5.) Phillip Dorsett, WR

The Patriots are entering the 2019 training camp with 12 wide receivers on their 90-man roster (Excluding Josh Gordon). The team carried only three wideouts heading into last season, which were Chris Hogan, Cordarelle Patterson, and Phillip Dorsett. Julian Edelman was serving his four-game suspension and Gordon was later acquired via a trade. The team is much deeper at the wide receiver position at this point compared to last year, so expect the team to go into this season carrying 5-6 players at the position.

Edelman, N'Keal Harry and Matthew Slater (ST) are locks to make the roster. After that nothing is guaranteed. Demaryius Thomas is likely to enter the season on the PUP and Gordon's future is still up in the air, so New England will have two or three spots to play with. Guys like Phillip Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers (UDFA), Braxton Berrios and Maurice Harris are all expected to be in competition for those final spots. Dorsett put up pedestrian numbers in the 2018 season but was serving primarily in a reserve role (32 receptions, 290 yards, and three touchdowns).

Though Dorsett has a great chance to make the roster given his rapport with Brady, the team may opt to go with a younger player with higher upside. Dorsett is another guy, like Roberts and Collins, that has something to prove in training camp.