5 Most Prominent New England Patriots on the Roster Bubble

The New England Patriots will be bidding farewell to at least one prominent player on their roster. By the end of training camp 2016, someone with substantial name recognition will be on his way out of Foxborough. 

There isn't enough room to keep everyone—especially at positions like wide receiver and guard, where there are deep competitions taking place. Many of the roster spots are already locked up at those positions, leaving several players battling for one or two spots on the depth chart. 

For a few players, 2016 offers one last chance to make a big impression. For others, it may be their first and last chance to show the Patriots coaches that they belong in New England. Here is a look at some of those players.

Aaron Dobson

Stephan Savoia/Associated Press

Minicamp's biggest star is also its most dubious. Wide receiver Aaron Dobson has earned the title of "Mr. June" for the consistent playmaking ability he shows year in and year out during the spring workout program. Dobson would probably prefer his nickname to be Mr. Regular Season or Mr. Playoffs, but health (or lack thereof) has been his biggest barrier to making meaningful NFL contributions. 

The 6'3", 205-pound receiver has caught 53 passes for 698 yards and four touchdowns in his three-year NFL career, but 37 of those receptions, 519 of those yards and all four of those touchdowns came in his rookie year. Since then, a foot injury ruined his 2014 season before it even began, and a high ankle sprain ended his 2015 season.

To make Dobson's uphill battle even steeper, the Patriots have added several talented receivers to their roster. It will be hard for anyone to find room with so many spots already locked up. Dobson will compete with Devin Lucien, DeAndre Carter, Chris Harper, Keshawn Martin and Nate Washington for one or two spots at wide receiver. 

Nate Washington

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Washington is among the receivers competing with Dobson for a backup spot on the Patriots' roster. His circumstances, obviously, are different. 

Similarly, Washington is a boundary receiver, but he is a bit smaller at 6'1" and 183 pounds. That's where the similarities end. Washington has been productive throughout his NFL career, and has averaged 51 receptions for 750 yards and five touchdowns since 2009. With 47 receptions for 658 yards and four touchdowns in 2015, he hasn't shown any dramatic signs of slowing down on the stat sheet. 

That being said, it's going to be a deep battle at the position, and Washington will have to stand out to make the cut. The Patriots signed Washington this season on a one-year contract worth a little more than $1 million. They would not recoup any of that money if they released him, but they would only lose $80,000 on the salary cap in dead money, according to PatsCap.com.

Jonathan Cooper

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Wait a minute, didn't the Patriots just trade defensive end Chandler Jones to get guard Jonathan Cooper? Yes, but they also got a second-round pick out of the deal, so they won't come up empty-handed even if Cooper amounts to nothing. 

Cooper was a first-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2013, but the 6'2", 310-pound guard has been injured for much of the first three seasons of his career. The Patriots have enough question marks at guard that anything could happen at this point. There will be a surprise cut from the group: It's unlikely that Tre Jackson, Shaq Mason, Josh Kline and Cooper will all make the final cut.

Cooper is the only one of those four who was not with the team in 2015, and thus he is already working from behind. It will be hard for him to separate from the pack before the team puts on pads and starts hitting in practices, but he needs to be on top of his game when the time comes. 

Marcus Cannon

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

For the better part of five years, backup offensive lineman Marcus Cannon has been the sixth man on the depth chart. He has been the first one to hit the field when there's been an injury. 

He has also been ineffective in that role for at least the past couple of years. According to Pro Football Focus, Cannon ranked 44th out of 59 qualifying offensive tackles in pass-blocking efficiency in 2015. In the past two years, he has allowed 59 total pressures (37 hurries, 14 hits and eight sacks) on 749 snaps in pass protection. 

According to PatsCap.com, the Patriots would save roughly $2 million by cutting Cannon. The Patriots aren't in any pressing salary-cap trouble, with $9.5 million in cap space, but according to Spotrac.com, the Patriots' total investment of $21.6 million in their tackles is by far the highest in the league. Unless Cannon steps up his game, it may be time to move in another direction. 

Donald Brown

Elise Amendola/Associated Press

With LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis virtually locked into roster spots, there are essentially two openings on the Patriots depth chart at running back. Behind those two, there are four young running backs vying for a chance: Donald Brown, James White, Brandon Bolden, and D.J. Foster.

In that group, the Patriots have a proven pass-catcher (White) and a proven special teams ace (Bolden). In order to make the roster, Brown will have to prove he is a superior runner or that he is better than White as a pass-catcher or Bolden as a special teamer.

Brown has been up and down throughout his career, but he had by far his best season in 2013, with 102 carries for 537 yards (5.3 yards per carry) and six touchdowns along with 27 receptions for 214 yards (7.9 yards per catch) and two more touchdowns. Foster has the look of a young, explosive back who could be a dark horse for the roster, so Brown will need to prove he still has what it takes to contribute in the NFL.