5 Patriots who are on roster bubble ahead of training camp
The wait is finally over. This is the week the New England Patriots start their quest for a league-record seventh Super Bowl title.
Training camp is an exciting time that brings us new faces, roster battles, and the first real look at the 2019-2020 team. With a makeup of young talent and seasoned veterans, New England hopes to pick up right where they left off last season.
Before that occurs the Patriots must cut-down their roster from 90 players to 53 before the start of the season. The pre-season will give the staff plenty of time to determine who will and who won't be a part of a team that looks to defend their Super Bowl Championship.
A roster loaded with depth and talent will surely make it difficult for the staff to make these decisions. With that being said, here are five players who are currently on the bubble heading into training camp.
1.) Obi Melifonwu, S
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New England picked up Obi Melifonwu in the middle of the season last year to help bolster their safety depth chart. However, Melifonwu failed to see any significant action as he appeared in just two games for the team posting three tackles.
Melifonwu has all the tools to be a great safety in this league, but he hasn't seemed to put it all together since the Oakland Raiders drafted him in the second round (56th overall) in the 2017 draft.
The former UCONN standout improved his draft stock in a major way in the Senior Bowl and NFL combine as he wasn't on many scouts radars prior. At the NFL Combine, the 6 foot 4 safety posted a 4.40 40 yard dash, 44-inch verticle, and an 11-foot 9-inch broad jump. Crazy numbers for a player at his size.
When he got to Oakland, he struggled with injuries and had trouble finding his fit on the Raiders defense. For those reasons, the team decided to cut their losses just a year after drafting him.
Mefifonwu possesses athleticism that you just can't teach which is why the Patriots chose to pick him up this past November. He can go up and get the ball with the best of them but where he needs to improve is his lateral quickness and change of direction. Often times you will see Melifonwu rely too much upon his athleticism instead of his technique and he gets burned for it.
If Melifonwu can take coaching and improve on his game from last year than he should have a fairly decent chance to make the roster. He will need to show that he can add value on the Special Teams units as he might be competing with guys like Nate Ebner and recently acquired Terrence Brooks for a final spot.
2.) Braxton Berrios, WR
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It seems wide receiver Braxton Berrios has become a fan favorite since the team drafted him last year. The former Miami Hurricane has been compared to the likes of Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman as he operates primarily out of the slot and does most of his damage over the middle. While he does a lot of the same things these receivers do, let's pump the breaks on those comparisons until Berrios is able to see some regular-season action.
New England selected Berrios in the sixth round (210th overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft, but the wide receiver was unable to participate in any regular-season games as he was placed on injured reserve just before the start of the season. A tough blow for a team that went into the 2018 season with just three receivers on their active roster.
The Patriots have a lot more depth at the wideout position heading into training camp this year compared to last. After drafting N'Keal Harry in the first round and adding Maurice Harris, Dontrelle Inman, and Demaryius Thomas in free agency, Berrios may have his work cut out for him in trying to make this team's final roster.
The good news for Berrios is the Thomas is expected to start the season on the PUP and there is no word on the return of Josh Gordon. Because of those factors, Berrios' chances of making the active roster increase exponentially. That being said, Berrios will be in direct competition with guys like Harris, Inman, and Meyers for a roster spot. With Julian Edelman, Phillip Dorsett, Matthew Slater, and N'keal Harry as locks to make the roster, that leaves just one or two spots up for grabs.
3.) Jonathan Jones, CB
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How is it that a guy who appeared in every game this past season winds up on the roster bubble?
That would be because of the return Duke Dawson and drafting of Joejuan Williams.
With the addition of Dawson and Williams, New England boasts one of the deepest group of corners in the entire NFL. Stephon Gilmore, Jason McCourty, JC Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Dawson, Williams, and Keion Crossen round out the group. With seven NFL caliber corners on the roster, there has to be at least one odd man out. It looks like that man could be Jones.
The Patriots obviously thought highly of both Williams and Dawson coming out of their respective drafts as they were both taken early in the second round. Dawson battled through injuries this past season which caused the team essentially medically redshirt the former Florida Gator. Williams, on the other hand, was highly sought after by New England as the team traded up 11 spots to get him. The 6 foot 4 corner is extremely versatile and has the ability to match up well with bigger receivers and tight ends.
It is extremely unlikely that the Patriots carry seven corners on their roster. Gilmore, McCourty, Jackson, and Williams are virtually locked to make the final 53-man roster. It also appears too early for the team to move on from Dawson and Crossen primarily contributes on special teams. That leaves Jones on the outside looking in.
Since Jones is only 25 years old and is set for free agency after this season, it might make the most sense to move him for a late-round pick.
4.) Elandon Roberts, LB
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Elandon Roberts has played a rather large role in the team's last two championship runs so why is he entering training camp on the roster bubble?
The signing of Jamie Collins and the return of Ja'Whaun Bentley could spell the end for Roberts. While Roberts performed admirably in his role this past season, Bentley was the starter before he went down for the season with a biceps injury in Week Three contest against the Detroit Lions. Before Bentley's injury, Roberts was expected to operate primarily as a reserve.
Things start to look even bleaker for Roberts when you couple this fact with the addition of a former Patriot All-Pro linebacker in Collins. There just might not be enough space on the roster to keep Roberts around when final cut-day comes on August 31st.
5.) Derek Rivers, DE
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It's do-or-die time for 2017 third-round pick Derek Rivers.
Rivers' tenure in New England has been marred by injury as he has missed several games each of the past two seasons. His rookie season was ended prematurely when he tore his ACL early in training camp in 2017.
While Rivers was healthy for the most part of last season, he only appeared in six games for the Patriots posting one sack and two tackles.
He has shown promise as a pass rusher dating back to college as he ranks number 5 in FCS history in sacks. The biggest problem Rivers is facing is seeing consistent playing time and making plays with the little playing time that he does receive.
If Rivers fails to stand out in this year's training camp then don't be surprised to see him looking for a new team at the end of August.
