I am a Patriots expert as you all know and heading into the second preseason game I figured it was time to take my first shot the Patriots 53 man roster which will come out in the days following the last pre-season game in early September. ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss and Mike Rodak have given their predictions here. So you can compare the experts opinions with the real expert(myself).
QB(3)- Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett - This is the best depth chart for QB in the league as many teams would love to have Hoyer and Mallett as their backups after their success in the pre-season opener.
RB(5)- Benjarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, Sammy Morris
- I think Morris is on the bubble but Belichick will keep the veteran to help the two rookies(Ridley and Vereen) along with Kevin Faulk who will most likely begin the year on PUP/inactive list
TE(3)- Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Lee Smith- The top two are locks here while Smith has been getting pushed by undrafted TE Will Yeatman and he could very easily beat him out for that lost spot
WR(7)- Wes Welker, Chad OchoCinco, Deion Branch, Julian Edelman, Taylor Price, Brandon Tate, Matthew Slater - All of these seven had made cases to make the team and have earned a spot that Belichick will give as they all play a different role on the team.
OT(4)- Matt Light, Sebastian Vollmer, Nate Solder, Steve Maneri - The top three are obvious locks while Maneri just edges out Mark Levoir who the Pats try to sneak onto the practice squad after he clears waivers.
G/C(4)-Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Dan Connolly, Ryan Wendell -They only keep four here due to the surplus at receiver but keep Rich Ornhberger on the practice squad if he passes through waivers
DT(6) - Vince Wilfork, Albert Haynesworth, Mike Wright, Myron Pryor, Kyle Love, Gerard Warren
DE(5)- Jermaine Cunningham, Shaun Ellis, Andre Carter, Eric Moore, Mark Anderson- I think Anderson was the best pash rusher on the field in the first pre-season game and earned a spot on the team with the speed he showed off the edge
LB(5) Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes,Dane Fletcher, Gary Guyton, Rob Ninkovich - Tracey White is the casualty here as he is a special teams ace but serves little help on defense and will be a tough cut for Belichick
CB(5)- Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, Ras-I Dowling, Kyle Arrington, Darius Butler
- Butler only stays if Dowling's health doesn't improve. If he gets healthy and some reps in, then Tracey White stays and Butler gets cut.
S(4)- Brandon Meriweather, Pat Chung, James Sanders, Bret Lockett
- Lockett has had a better camp than Sergio Brown and grabs the last spot with Brown landing on the practice squad
Specialists(2) - Stephen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, long snapper to be named later
- I don't think Matt Katula makes this team after his performance in camp so far. I would not be surprised if Rob Ninkovich or another player on the roster took over the duties from Katula as he is not valuable unless he does the one thing he is paid to do correctly.
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