3 Players that could round out Patriots' roster ahead of training camp
The New England Patriots have the ability to add one player to their 90-man preseason roster if they so choose. The roster currently stands at 89 players (FB Jakob Johnson does not count against the roster count because of his addition through the NFL's International Pathway Program, and wide receiver Josh Gordon is also not included in this count due to his indefinite suspension).
Ideally, the Patriots would add a player before the start of training camp which kicks off next Thursday, July 25. That player would then benefit from going through a full training camp to learn the playbook, understand his fit in the system and acclimate himself to New England's culture.
So, if the Patriots intend to add another player to their roster, look for them to do so in the coming days.
That being said, let's take a look at the best possible fits to round out the defending Super Bowl champions roster.
1.) Allen Bailey, DL
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With the departure of both Malcom Brown and Trey Flowers, the team's current defensive line group is a bit weaker when compared to last year's. Here's one potential solution to fix that.
Allen Bailey is coming off one of the best seasons of his entire career in which he posted a career-high in sacks (six) and led the league in fumble recoveries with four. His combination of size and speed caused problems for the tackles that were asked to block him. This would force opponents to double-team him, but he would still manage to fight through.
Just take a look at this amazing display of athleticism against New England in 2017:
Bailey fights off a block from Shaq Mason and then hurdles Marcus Cannon's attempt at a cut block. Keep in mind that Bailey weighs about 290 lbs.
The greatest attribute that Bailey possesses is his versatility. He has the ability to line up at any position on the defensive line which essentially means he adds depth to the entire group.
If the Patriots can sign Bailey for cheap then adding the veteran defensive lineman should be a no-brainer.
2.) Donald Penn, OT
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Ironically, the Oakland Raiders released Donald Penn shortly after they signed former Patriot Trent Brown to a record-breaking contract early in free agency. Brown expects to take over Penn's spot at right tackle.
Should New England consider adding Penn to make this look essentially like a swap of offensive tackles?
While Penn would not assume Brown's 2018 role in the offense, he could add serious depth to both tackle positions as a backup.
Former first-round 2018 pick Isaiah Wynn is expected to start at left tackle for New England after coming off an Achilles injury that cut his rookie season short in just the second week of the preseason last year. While all signs point to Wynn being ready for the start of the season, it would not hurt to add extra insurance at the position.
Behind Wynn sits 2019 fourth-round pick Yodny Cajuste. Cajuste has the potential to be a great player for the team but it's far too early to put faith in the unproven rookie to backup one of the most important positions in football. If Wynn has issues with his Achillies early in the season it's unlikely the team would feel comfortable thrusting Cajuste into that role. For that reason alone, the team should consider bringing in a veteran offensive tackle like Penn for training camp.
Penn is a former three-time pro bowler with the most recent one coming in 2017. In this past season, Penn was placed on injured reserve after a Week 4 contest with a groin injury, bringing his 2018 season to an end.
Teams have shied away from signing the 36-year-old vet because of his age and last season's injury. If Penn is healthy then he could bring a veteran presence to the offensive tackle position that New England so desperately craves.
3.) Ryan Griffin, TE
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It's hard to argue against the fact that the Patriots tight end position is the weakest group on the roster. Ben Watson, Matt LaCosse, Stephen Anderson and UDFA Andrew Beck round out the group. Nothing to be overly excited about if you're a New England fan.
When Rob Gronkowski retired he left a huge vacancy at a position that has been regarded as one of Tom Brady's favorite targets. Since his retirement, the Patriots haven't made any significant moves at the position that has restored faith in the group. While adding Ryan Griffin won't change that fact drastically, the former Houston Texan would easily be one of the more talented tight ends on the roster.
Last season, Griffin put up 24 receptions for 304 yards. Those are not great numbers by any means, but he had more receptions and yards than anyone at the position for New England last year not named Ben Watson.
Griffin has shown flashes over his six-year career posting his best season in 2016 when he put up 50 receptions for 442 yards and two scores.
If you put Griffin with a quarterback like Brady and there is no doubt he could reproduce those types of numbers.
Now, had Griffin not been arrested for public intoxication and vandalism in April, it's more than likely he would still be on the Texans roster. If New England is able to look past this then Griffin would immediately bolster the position group.
