After a busy few days of transactions, the New England Patriots have officially set their initial 53-man roster. Despite the first roster being put together, plenty of movement is still set to transpire over the next several days.
The Patriots will continue to tinker with the group through the trade market and waiver wire, although they are lower on the list this year sitting at the No. 31 overall spot. However, with a full initial roster, a corresponding move would have to be made for any player
successfully claimed — perhaps by moving players on the active roster to the injured reserve list, as they now have eligibility to return after a minimum of four games.
Additionally, New England will begin the process of putting their practice squad together.
For now, however, let’s analyze the team’s initial 53-man squad.
External adds
With the Patriots sitting 31st in the waiver order, the team traded late-round draft picks to make sure they added depth at running back and offensive tackle.
In the backfield, Corey Kiner will assume the third spot behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson after the Patriots acquired him from the Cardinals. Kiner has just 12 career regular season carries, but impressed this preseason.
Along the offensive line, the Patriots traded for Vikings offensive tackle Walter Rouse. With Marcus Bryant on injured reserve, New England’s depth at tackle was down to rookies Caleb Lomu and Dametrious Crownover.
Injured lists
Despite Mike Vrabel leaving the door open for Harold Landry (PUP) and Brenden Schooler (NFI) to be activated ahead of Week 1, both injured players will open the season on their respective injured lists. They will now be sidelined for at least the first four weeks of the season.
New England will have to turn elsewhere to replace Schooler’s special teams contributions as the kicking game continues to see extensive turnover. The depth along the edge then remains thin, with rookie Gabe Jacas and Quintayvious Hutchins the only options behind Dre’Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder.
IR rules
Elsewhere in the injury department, the Patriots again took advantage of the league’s new injured reserve rules, which allows each team to place up to two players on IR before the roster cut down deadline with the designation to return. New England designated offensive tackle Marcus Bryant, who was rolled up on in the second preseason game, to return.
Fellow offensive lineman Ben Brown and punter Bryce Baringer, both who were out with injuries, avoided landing on injured reserve.
UDFAs
The Patriots initial 53-man roster features three undrafted free agents: tight end Tanner Arkin, linebacker Khalil Jacobs, and cornerback Channing Canada.
Arkin, whose strength comes as an in-line blocker, held the third tight end role throughout the summer behind Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon. On defense, Jacobs was ascending up the linebacker depth chart before suffering an injury in the team’s second preseason game, while Canada is one of the surprises on the roster after an inconsistent summer in coverage but some success on special teams.
Cornerback depth
Canada’s current standing on the roster gives the Patriots six cornerbacks on the initial 53-man squad. That was a position to watch as the group struggled in the preseason finale to cap off an inconsistent summer behind Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones.
New England ultimately kept veteran Charles Woods and rookies Karon Prunty and Canada, with veteran Kindle Vildor among the team’s releases.
Other notes
Despite an up-and-down performance in the preseason, rookie quarterback Behren Morton is part of the 53-man roster. Morton will now be eligible to be the team’s emergency 3rd quarterback on game days, something the team used throughout last season with Tommy DeVito.
Defensively, Quintayvious Hutchins earned a spot over Bradyn Swinson after a strong end to camp. Hutchins is also known for his special teams ability in a similar fashion as rookie linebacker Namdi Obiazor. In the secondary, John Saunders Jr. was cut despite a strong summer that included five total interceptions. Saunders’ lack of involvement on special teams and the trade for Jaylen Reed likely hurt his standing, although the team will likely look to bring him back on the practice squad.
And while Bryce Baringer is the lone punter on the roster, his availability for Week 1 is still in question. The team could bring Matt Haack back on the practice squad.
