QB(3)--Brady, Hoyer, Stidham
--I think Stidham has too much value to try to sneak him through waivers but not enough to cut Hoyer.
RB(5)--White, Michel, Burkhead, D. Harris, Bolden
--All 5 deserve to make the roster with Burkhead the most liable to get cut.
FB(1)--Develin
--He is as important as ever without Gronkowski
TE(2)--LaCosse, Izzo
--I would not rule out a trade or a post-cut signing of another TE but I can't see them carrying more than 2 until Watson comes back.
WR(7)--Edelman, Gordon, Harry, Meyers, Berrios, Inman, Slater
--I toyed with Demaryius Thomas coming off PUP as he has been ramping up his workouts lately, but ultimately he will not have enough time to assimilate to the group. I would have kept Maurice Harris, but I think he has a significant injury.
OL(8)--Wynn, Thuney, Andrews, Mason, Cannon, Froholdt, Croston, Karras
--Skipper/Croston are fighting for one spot and I think they go with familiarity over Skipper.
DE(5)--Bennett, Calhoun, Winovich, Wise, Simon
--I'd have taken Rivers, but Curran said he's "going to be out a while" so Wise gets in. Calhoun seems to be fine which is good because he's had a great camp. Overall, a really good group.
DT(4)--Guy, Shelton, Butler, Cowart
--Mike Pennel is a tough cut, but the facts are that he has played with the backups constantly in camp if at all. Not a good sign. Shelton has been playing well and deserves to stay. Byron Cowart is an interesting player. He has really good pass rushing ability and if they are going to stay in these 2 and 3 down fronts he fits.
LB(5)--Hightower, Collins, Van Noy, Bentley, King
--A versatile and athletic group who has really good potential. Roberts is the odd man out because he is not versatile enough. Bentley has more pass rushing and coverage ability than him.
CB(6)--Gilmore, JMac, Williams, Jackson, JJones, Crossen
--This could be the best CB group in the league. Gilmore is the best cover corner in the league. Jackson is becoming a really good young player. Jones is a top slot corner. Williams is an interesting matchup guy who keeps getting better. Crossen's speed keeps him around as he can cover some of the faster WR's on their schedule plus his ST ability is becoming elite.
SAF(4)--DMac, Chung, Harmon, Brooks
--Harmon ultimately makes my 53 as Dawson has not shown enough to keep on the roster. Brooks showed out last night and deserves to stay over Melifonwu.
ST(3)--Bailey, Gostkowski, Cardona
--Bailey's cannon of a leg plus his KO ability wins out over Allen.
Reserve PUP--D Thomas, Meredith
IR: Rivers, M. Harris
NFI--Cajuste
Suspended--Watson
Traded: Dorsett to the Lions for a late round pick
Tough Cuts: Pennel, Roberts, Allen, Kendricks, Beck, Ferentz, Melifonwu
--I think Stidham has too much value to try to sneak him through waivers but not enough to cut Hoyer.
RB(5)--White, Michel, Burkhead, D. Harris, Bolden
--All 5 deserve to make the roster with Burkhead the most liable to get cut.
FB(1)--Develin
--He is as important as ever without Gronkowski
TE(2)--LaCosse, Izzo
--I would not rule out a trade or a post-cut signing of another TE but I can't see them carrying more than 2 until Watson comes back.
WR(7)--Edelman, Gordon, Harry, Meyers, Berrios, Inman, Slater
--I toyed with Demaryius Thomas coming off PUP as he has been ramping up his workouts lately, but ultimately he will not have enough time to assimilate to the group. I would have kept Maurice Harris, but I think he has a significant injury.
OL(8)--Wynn, Thuney, Andrews, Mason, Cannon, Froholdt, Croston, Karras
--Skipper/Croston are fighting for one spot and I think they go with familiarity over Skipper.
DE(5)--Bennett, Calhoun, Winovich, Wise, Simon
--I'd have taken Rivers, but Curran said he's "going to be out a while" so Wise gets in. Calhoun seems to be fine which is good because he's had a great camp. Overall, a really good group.
DT(4)--Guy, Shelton, Butler, Cowart
--Mike Pennel is a tough cut, but the facts are that he has played with the backups constantly in camp if at all. Not a good sign. Shelton has been playing well and deserves to stay. Byron Cowart is an interesting player. He has really good pass rushing ability and if they are going to stay in these 2 and 3 down fronts he fits.
LB(5)--Hightower, Collins, Van Noy, Bentley, King
--A versatile and athletic group who has really good potential. Roberts is the odd man out because he is not versatile enough. Bentley has more pass rushing and coverage ability than him.
CB(6)--Gilmore, JMac, Williams, Jackson, JJones, Crossen
--This could be the best CB group in the league. Gilmore is the best cover corner in the league. Jackson is becoming a really good young player. Jones is a top slot corner. Williams is an interesting matchup guy who keeps getting better. Crossen's speed keeps him around as he can cover some of the faster WR's on their schedule plus his ST ability is becoming elite.
SAF(4)--DMac, Chung, Harmon, Brooks
--Harmon ultimately makes my 53 as Dawson has not shown enough to keep on the roster. Brooks showed out last night and deserves to stay over Melifonwu.
ST(3)--Bailey, Gostkowski, Cardona
--Bailey's cannon of a leg plus his KO ability wins out over Allen.
Reserve PUP--D Thomas, Meredith
IR: Rivers, M. Harris
NFI--Cajuste
Suspended--Watson
Traded: Dorsett to the Lions for a late round pick
Tough Cuts: Pennel, Roberts, Allen, Kendricks, Beck, Ferentz, Melifonwu