FOXBORO — As Mike Vrabel trotted off the sector at halftime of his team’s preseason finale, he talked about to Amazon Prime’s Kaylee Hartung that he needed Drake Maye to have some “attention-getting moments” as a frontrunner.
Vrabel has been urging Maye to point out management at each attainable flip all through the younger quarterback’s second coaching camp. He clarified his halftime feedback throughout a press convention on Friday, explaining that he desires Maye to garner the eye of his teammates — in a mode that’s his personal — when he addresses them.
“We talked about his management,” Vrabel stated, “of no matter your character is, proper? As a quarterback, you need to, whenever you discuss to the gamers on that workforce or on the offense particularly, you need to do it in a way that will get their consideration…
“That is at all times what I’ve stated. Not asking you to speak like I do, or anyone else, however the best way that you just discuss to the gamers on the sector, you need to do it in a way that will get their consideration. ‘Hey, I would like you right here. I would like you to do that. That is what we have now to do.’ That was my reference.”
Every time Vrabel and his workers decide the 53-man roster — the deadline for cuts is Tuesday — Maye could have a possibility to steer a a lot smaller group. And Vrabel will probably be watching to see how he holds their consideration.
Let’s get to how that 53-man roster could look subsequent week.
Quarterback (2): Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs
No surprises right here. Ben Wooldridge has been released and may very well be a candidate to return on the apply squad.
Working again (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, Antonio Gibson, TreVeyon Henderson
This group is gifted however skinny. JaMycal Hasty may very well be the fourth right here, however as a late-camp signee, he feels just like the type of participant who may make his approach again onto the roster through the apply squad.
Huge receiver (6): Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III
Javon Baker doesn’t make the cut in this projection. As a wideout, he hasn’t produced this preseason. His path to the roster, in the event that they need to hold him, could be particular groups. He helped pressure a fumble as a gunner, and Vrabel talked about on Friday that he is grown in that function.
“I feel you take a look at your entire physique of labor,” Vrabel stated, “and I feel you attempt to consider all the things, not simply the particular groups, however what else can they do? And in Javon’s case, he is a large receiver, and I feel the extra that he does the particular groups, I feel the higher that he is gotten, and he’ll perceive how he can use his play power, his velocity, a few of the receiving instruments and fundamentals as a gunner, probably.
“You realize, we tried to get him some reps at nook yesterday on a punt return. He is performed on the kickoff for us. And you already know, these are new, particularly for a younger participant who’s performed receiver most of his life. So, I feel that the extra that he is performed it, the extra snug that he is gotten and we’ll proceed to guage him.”
Tight finish (3): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jack Westover
Westover may very well be left off right here in favor of one other bottom-of-the-roster participant at a unique place, however he is been the workforce’s fullback for the reason that begin of camp. Appears as if Josh McDaniels would love to have a fullback. Westover hasn’t been dominant in that function, however simply to maintain these packages alive — there aren’t many fullbacks on the market anymore — then maybe Westover could be stored.
Offensive line (8): Morgan Moses, Mike Onwenu, Garrett Bradbury, Jared Wilson, Will Campbell, Marcus Bryant, Ben Brown, Vederian Lowe
There’s a group of seven right here that feels locked in. After that? Uncertainty. The Patriots may use extra deal with depth, which is why Lowe makes it. But when that depth comes through commerce or the waiver wire, that might come as little shock.
Particular groups (3): Parker Romo, Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby
In back-to-back weeks Andy Borregales has missed kicks. In Minnesota, it wasn’t completely on him — the snap wasn’t excellent — however he was onto the sector late. In New Jersey, he merely pushed a 49-yarder large proper. Romo seems to be the extra ready-to-go choice.
Defensive deal with (5): Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Khyiris Tonga, Jeremiah Pharms, Joshua Farmer
That is one other group that is skinny, but when they need to hold some additional assist, they might in all probability accomplish that on the apply squad.
Edge defender (7): Harold Landry III, Keion White, Okay’Lavon Chaisson, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, Truman Jones, Anfernee Jennings
With fewer our bodies at defensive deal with, that will enable the Patriots to carry onto extra exterior linebackers. Ponder and Swinson really feel like developmental choices. Jennings has felt like he has a tenuous maintain on a roster spot, however he is clearly an active-roster-caliber participant. Whether or not his roster spot is with the Patriots or someone else is the query.
Linebacker (5): Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai, Marte Mapu
Mapu has struggled to remain on the sector persistently since his arrival as a third-rounder in 2023. However when he’s obtainable, it appears as if Vrabel desires Mapu to win a job. He was the non-public protector on the highest punt workforce in apply this week.
Tavai is an fascinating match as nicely. He hasn’t been wholesome sufficient to apply this summer time, however Vrabel gave him the praise of calling him “a soccer participant” on Monday. He may match each at inside or exterior linebacker.
“Yeah, there’s versatility to his sport,” Vrabel stated. “I feel, at all times, since he is been on this league, he is been capable of – he is a soccer participant. He is a defensive soccer participant. He’s instinctive, he is received good dimension, performs together with his palms, can play a number of positions within the kicking sport, and simply has to simply get again and hopefully attempt to be evaluated right here sooner reasonably than later.”
Cornerback (6): Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, DJ James, Brandon Crossley
Crossley is not a next-level athlete, and he isn’t an imposing determine on the surface (5-foot-11, 185 kilos). However he is had a nostril for the soccer all through camp, and one of many foundational tenets of Vrabel’s program is to have gamers who can create “ball disruption.” As a developmental participant, the undrafted rookie out of SMU has some intriguing qualities.
Protecting Crossley, who seemingly would not swimsuit up for a sport within the close to future given how he is been utilized in practices, is indicative of the truth that this roster merely does not have 53 ready-made gamers for the time being. In figuring out their preliminary roster, they’re going to should determine some younger items they hope may flip into contributors in some unspecified time in the future.
Security (5): Jabrill Peppers, Craig Woodson, Jaylinn Hawkins, Brenden Schooler, Kyle Dugger
It is a low bar, however Kyle Dugger might’ve been the best player on the field for the Patriots within the preseason finale. He may nonetheless be dealt to a team that views him as extra of a scheme match. However — as is the case with Jennings — he is nonetheless an NFL-caliber participant on a roster that would use as many as it may get its palms on.
Vrabel stated on Thursday night time he thought Dugger’s constructive qualities “confirmed up.”
“I feel he’s continued to reap the benefits of the alternatives and the reps,” Vrabel stated. “I feel he’s feeling extra snug. We talked a couple of lengthy rehab course of within the offseason that he dedicated to. It wasn’t a fast rehab course of. I imply, he had surgical procedure.
“I feel that he’s gotten higher. I feel he’s improved. I feel he’s feeling higher. Appears like he’s feeling higher on tape. That’s good to see. These are all constructive issues. Making a play, two interceptions (in preseason). I believed he flashed. I believed he triggered. I believed he tackled. I believed his size confirmed up.”
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