New England Patriots: Final Predictions for 53-Man Roster Cuts

For the New England Patriots, and for the rest of the NFL, Saturday, September 2, is going to be huge. That's the day all teams must trim their rosters from 90 players to the regular-season limit of 53.

For the most part, Bill Belichick and Co. have probably already decided what the 2017 Patriots roster is going to look like. There's one preseason game left, against the New York Giants, but there is likely only a handful of roster spots up for grabs in the game.

For a team with championship aspirations like the Patriots, though, these final few positions are important. New England is going to be looking less at players it can develop for the future and more at players who can contribute on special teams or in specific situations. Guys on the roster bubble will need to show their worth in preseason Week 4.

With mere days remaining before cut day, let's take a look at our final predictions for the 53-man roster and notable casualties.

Notable Cuts

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

The Patriots are a team loaded with talent from top to bottom. This means that some really good players are going to miss out on making the final roster. Some, like receivers Devin Lucien and Cody Hollister, will be eligible for the practice squad. Others will likely end up on another team or unemployed entirely.

Notable players likely to be released on Saturday include:

D.J. Foster

LeShun Daniels

Glenn Gronkowski

Cody Hollister

Devin Lucien

Tony Washington

James Ferentz

LaAdrian Waddle

Max Rich

James O'Shaughnessy

Sam Cotton

Darius Kilgo

Josh Augusta

Brooks Ellis

Trevor Bates

Kenny Moore

David Jones

Justin Coleman

D.J. Killings

Quarterback

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Tom Brady

Jimmy Garoppolo

Jacoby Brissett

No surprises here. Tom Brady is perhaps the best to ever play the quarterback position and he's healthy. He'll be starting.

Some believe that backup Jimmy Garoppolo is good enough to be a high-end NFL starter—he's considered one of the top free-agent targets for 2018—so the Patriots will be happy with him at the No. 2 spot.

Assuming New England again carries three quarterbacks, Jacoby Brissett will be the No. 3.

Running Back

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Mike Gillislee

Rex Burkhead

Dion Lewis

James White

Brandon Bolden

James Develin

The Patriots backfield should be one of the deepest areas of the team in 2017. Holdovers Dion Lewis and James White should both see significant roles as runners and receivers. The Patriots brought in Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee in the offseason to help replace the departed LeGarrette Blount. Both have shown positives during the preseason.

Burkhead caught three passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in his Patriots debut. Gillislee made his debut a week later and rushed eight times for 38 yards and a touchdown.

If the Patriots keep a fifth tail back, Brandon Bolden will likely earn the job because of his special-teams value. Fullback James Develin was given a new two-year contract in the offseason. He should beat out Glenn Gronkowski for the starting job.

Wide Receiver

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Danny Amendola

Brandin Cooks

Chris Hogan

Malcolm Mitchell

Matthew Slater

Austin Carr

Julian Edelman's season-ending ACL tear definitely hurts the Patriots heading into the regular season. However, New England still has a ton of talent at the wideout position.

Returning favorite Danny Amendola should earn a bigger role with Edelman out. So should speedy 2016 addition Chris Hogan. Malcolm Mitchell, who amassed 401 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie last season, should also see his prominence in the offense grow.

The Patriots gave up a first-round pick to acquire Brandin Cooks from the New Orleans Saints in the offseason. Don't be surprised if he becomes the team's new No. 1 wideout.

Matthew Slater doesn't possess a major role in the offense, but he's likely to make the team as a special-teams standout. He's done so in each of the past nine years.

With Edelman out for the year, it wouldn't be too surprising to see New England look for veteran help from outside the team. If they don't, rookie Austin Carr could take the final receiver spot. He's been impressive in the preseason and has earned the respect of his teammates.

"He's been impressive," Garoppolo said of Carr, per Henry McKenna of Patriots Wire. "Kid's got good work ethic. He comes in every day and puts in the time. Good things have been happening for him."

Tight End

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Rob Gronkowski

Dwayne Allen

Jacob Hollister

Like at quarterback, there should be few surprises at the top of the tight end depth chart. Star Rob Gronkowski appears to be healthy again and will be the team's No. 1 tight end. He'll be joined by Dwayne Allen, a man the Patriots traded to acquire from the Indianapolis Colts.

The third tight-end spot will likely come down to James O'Shaughnessy and rookie pass-catcher Jacob Hollister. The rookie shined in his preseason debut, catching seven passes for 116 yards. It may be impossible to sneak him on to the practice squad, so New England may end up carrying the potential mismatch on the active roster.

O'Shaughnessy provides more special-teams value than Hollister, so if the Patriots don't keep Bolden at running back, O'Shaughnessy would likely beat out Hollister. In this scenario, though, Bolden is on the squad.

Offensive Line

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Nate Solder

Joe Thuney

David Andrews

Shaq Mason

Marcus Cannon

Cameron Fleming

Ted Karras

Anthony Garcia

Jamil Douglas

The Patriots should return their starting offensive line of Nate Solder, Joe Thuney, Shaq Mason, David Andrews and Marcus Cannon in 2017.

The one thing worth watching here is that starting left tackle Solder is dealing with an injury and is at risk of missing the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, though, believes he shouldn't be ruled out.

Cameron Fleming has started in place of Solder in the preseason, and he should provide O-line depth along with Ted Kassas and rookie Anthony Garcia. LaAdrian Waddle and Jamil Douglas could be in a battle for the final spot.

Defensive Line

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Lawrence Guy

Trey Flowers

Alan Branch

Malcom Brown

Vincent Valentine

Deatrich Wise

Keionta Davis

Adam Butler

Defensive end Trey Flowers led the Patriots with 7.0 sacks in 2016. With the Patriots recently cutting Kony Ealy, he'll likely be joined at end by former Baltimore Raven Lawrence Guy. The interior duo of Alan Branch and Malcolm Brown should again anchor the starting front.

Vincent Valentine should once again provide depth along the line.

What's notable is that the Patriots could bring three rookies into the season. Deatrich Wise has been solid in camp and in the preseason, and he could earn a spot at end. The Patriots recently added pass-rusher Keionta Davis, and they really need help in the pass-rush department. He could also earn a job at end.

"We've done quite a bit of work on him," Belichick said of Davis, per Tyler Sullivan of 247Sports. "I worked him out at Chattanooga myself in March. I mean, he's a good player. I don't think he's any secret."

Undrafted rookie Adam Butler, who at 6'4" and 300 pounds can play both end and tackle, has generated a lot of buzz in camp and the preseason. Don't be surprised if he's earned himself a job come Saturday.

Linebacker

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Dont'a Hightower

David Harris

Elandon Roberts

Kyle Van Noy

Harvey Langi

Marquis Flowers

Injuries have thinned the Patriots a bit at both defensive end and linebacker. However, two of last year's starting linebackers, Dont'a Hightower and Kyle Van Noy, appear poised to return.

Shea McClellin was another 2016 starter who remains on the roster, but injury has kept him out of much of camp and the preseason. He could be a candidate for injured reserve. If so, he could be replaced in the starting lineup by former New York Jet David Harris.

To be fair, though, Harris has seemed to have lost a step this preseason. He can't be considered a lock to make the final roster. If he's out, the Patriots could look for outside veteran help to replace his experience at the position.

Elandon Roberts did some good things as a depth linebacker last season, and he should return in that role. He should be joined by undrafted rookie Harvey Langi, who has impressed in the preseason.

The wild card at linebacker is Marquis Flowers. New England recently traded with the Cincinnati Bengals to bring him into the fold. The team wouldn't likely do so this late in the preseason if it didn't believe he had a legitimate shot at making the final roster.

Secondary

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Stephon Gilmore

Malcolm Butler

Eric Rowe

Devin McCourty

Patrick Chung

Duron Harmon

Jonathan Jones

Cyrus Jones

Jordan Richards

Yet another position group with few surprises at the top, the Patriots secondary should also be a team strength. New England brought in Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore to start opposite standout Malcolm Butler. He will. The Patriots trio of safeties—Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon—returns after a solid 2016 campaign.

Eric Rowe should slide into the nickelback role when the Patriots utilize three corners (they often play a three-safety nickel). Jonathan Jones and former second-round pick Cyrus Jones should provide depth at corner, with Cyrus Jones having helped his falling stock with some decent preseason work as a returner.

The wild card here is third-year safety Jordan Richards. The Stanford product has struggled to earn a significant defensive role during his time in the NFL, and he hasn't been especially consistent in this preseason.

However, the Patriots have given him some looks as a linebacker-safety hybrid—in large part because of the injuries at linebacker—and that role may keep him on the active roster.

Specialists

Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Stephen Gostkowski

Ryan Allen

Joe Cardona

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski and punter Ryan Allen each experienced their ups and downs during the 2016 season. Gostkowski, for example, missed five field goals and three extra points during the regular season. However, New England didn't bring in competition for either player, so both will be on the roster in Week 1.

Joe Cardona should return to handle long-snapping duties.