The Patriots Depth Chart is not as good as you want it to be
Lets start with Wide Receiver. To put it plainly. If Stefon Diggs can not return to #1 WR status quickly they are fucked.
Stefon Diggs – 31 year old blown ACL.
DeMario Douglas – Still hasn’t figure it out
Kyle Williams – Rookie
Kayshon Boutte – May not break camp
Kendrick Bourne – Self identified moron
Mak Collins - #4 WR Wildcard
Ja’Lynn Polk – Compete Question mark
Javon Baker – Should already be on the practice squad
In all likelihood the only difference from last year’s WRs to start this season is a rookie and a #4 guy who doesn’t wear shoes. I take that back. The biggest difference is Josh McDaniels. Which gives you hope they will function, but it doesn’t solve the talent issue.
Offensive line
Reports are Will Campbell looks good against the rookies at camp. Mouth pop. Let me ask you a question? What if some monster Defensive end snaps one of Will’s little arms? Do you know who will be back to starting at LT? Yep, Vederian Lowe. The Patriots invested heavily in the LT position with the #4 overall pick, but don’t confuse that for addressing their need properly. They are still under gunned on the offensive line with nothing close to a guarantee they’ll be great or even good. Again, McDaniels and his staff will have them functional.
Lt – Will Campbell – Vedarian Lowe
LG – Layden Robinson – Sidy Sow
C -Garret Bradbury – Jared Wilson – Cole Strange – Ben Brown
RG – Mike Onwenu – Wes Schweitzer – Tyrese Robinson
RT – Morgan Moses – Marcus Bryant – Demontry Jacobs
Confidence level in that group? 69%
Secondary
On paper this should be a strength. At the starting corner back position, it is. Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis should be a top duo in the league. After them? Oof.
Carlton Davis – Alex Austin – Miles Battle
Christian Gonzales – Marcellas Dial – Kobe Minor
Marcus Jones – Isaiah Bolden – DJ James
Not great, Bob. Carlton Davis never makes it through a season and Marcus Jones is small. It’s a physically demanding position that demands depth. Look at the Lions defense last year. Playing guys off the street because of 1 or 2 injuries is not where you want to be at the CB position.
The Patriots drafted a kid who is slotted for Free Safety but we don’t know that for sure. Craig Woodson sits way down the unofficial depth chart as it stands. New England has not had a true free safety since Devon McCourty and it has cost them over and over again. As it stands, Jabrill Peppers is still on the roster as the starting FS. We know that doesn’t work. Peppers and Dugger are in the box. Mapu seems to have some of the skills to do, but again nothing guaranteed.
Kyle Dugger – Marte Mapu – Dell Pettus – Craig Woodson
Jabrill Peppers – Marcus Epps – Jaylinn Hawkins – Josh Minkins
Oh, and allow me to remind everyone Drake Maye as 1 win and has already throw 2 game ending interceptions. So, lets keep him off the “sure thing” list until he’s earned shall we? And I’m no Joe Milton fan, but his unknown upside in the wake of unfortunate injury to Drake Maye is more enticing than falling back to obscurity with the journeyman astronaut, Josh Dobbs.
