Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf will have some difficult calls to make on Aug. 27 at 4 p.m.

That’s when NFL teams must trim their rosters from 90 to 53 players.

If anything, roster battles at wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line and cornerback are only getting tighter after the preseason opener.

Here’s our latest attempt at a 53-man roster projection with one preseason game in the rearview and joint practices with the Eagles on the horizon.

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QUARTERBACK (3)

In: Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, Joe Milton III
Out: Bailey Zappe

The Patriots bizarrely gave Zappe a large showcase in their preseason opener against the Panthers. Zappe has proven he belongs in the NFL, but there’s no real future for him with the Patriots.

Brissett is set to start, barring something unforeseen before Week 1. Maye, the 2024 third overall pick, is the future of the franchise whenever he’s ready to play. And Milton, a 2024 sixth-round pick, simply has too much talent to let loose.

Milton has drawn some comparisons to former Patriots quarterback/wide receiver Malik Cunningham after Thursday’s preseason opener. Cunningham, like Milton, lit a fire under the Patriots in last season’s preseason opener using his arm and legs. Milton was 4-of-6 for 54 yards with a touchdown and carried the ball twice for 19 yards.

New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III, center, passes the ball in front of quarterback Bailey Zappe, left, during an NFL football training camp, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

But the two players are very, very different. Cunningham didn’t have an NFL-caliber arm, whereas most NFL quarterbacks don’t have a Milton-caliber arm.

If the Patriots can somehow harness Milton’s athleticism and arm strength, then he could be a tradeable asset down the line.

RUNNING BACK (3)

In: Antonio Gibson, Kevin Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson
Out: JaMycal Hasty, Terrell Jennings

Overall, this is a pretty good group of running backs, all of whom have had moments this summer.

Stevenson will start, and Gibson can serve as a change-of-pace/pass-catching back. Harris has suffered some drops and fumbles in training camp, but he’s Stevenson’s best pure backup on the roster.

Hasty is more of a third-down back than a bellcow and could potentially be carried on the practice squad as depth behind Gibson. Jennings, an undrafted rookie, carried the ball six times for 38 yards on Thursday night but is another practice squad option.

WIDE RECEIVER (6)

In: Javon Baker, DeMario Douglas, K.J. Osborn, Ja’Lynn Polk, Jalen Reagor, Tyquan Thornton
Out: Kawaan Baker, Kayshon Boutte, JaQuae Jackson, David Wallis
PUP: Kendrick Bourne

Bourne has yet to return to practice after tearing his ACL last October. That signals that there’s at least a chance that the veteran wide receiver could start the season on the PUP list.

It would also make the Patriots’ decision-making that much easier. If Bourne is on the Week 1 roster, then they could wind up keeping seven wide receivers. Javon Baker, Douglas, Osborn and Polk should be viewed as locks. Reagor has had a nice camp and could be a weapon on kickoffs. Thornton has also been a standout in training camp.

The Patriots cut JuJu Smith-Schuster on Friday. Boutte was the Patriots’ leading receiver Thursday night but also dropped two passes. Jackson caught the Patriots’ lone receiving touchdown, and Wallis looked impressive on punt returns.

This is one of the tougher positions to trim on the roster.

TIGHT END (3)

In: Jaheim Bell, Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper
Out: La’Michael Pettway, Jacob Warren, Mitchell Wilcox

Wilcox has been heavily involved in training camp, but he had a tough preseason opener, and he hasn’t been a consistent target for his quarterbacks this summer.

Bell showed enough promise against the Panthers to keep on the roster. Perhaps the Patriots could stash Wilcox on the practice squad to serve as depth.

OFFENSIVE LINE (8)

In: David Andrews, Nick Leverett, Vederian Lowe, Chukwuma Okorafor, Mike Onwenu, Layden Robinson, Sidy Sow, Caedan Wallace
Out: Calvin Anderson, Kellen Diesch, Liam Fornadel, Zuri Henry, Michael Jordan, Atonio Mafi, Charles Turner
PUP: Cole Strange
IR: Jake Andrews

If there’s a position where the Patriots could potentially use a player claimed off waivers, it’s at offensive tackle, which is why we have Anderson getting left off of the 53-man roster.

The Patriots’ best starting five on the offensive line might wind up being Okorafor at left tackle, Sow at left guard, Andrews at center, Robinson at right guard and Onwenu at right tackle until Strange returns off of the PUP list. We have yet to see Onwenu play tackle this summer, however, but it’s not too late. Onwenu recently said that he could still switch from guard.

FOXBORO, MA – MAY 11 -SATURDAY: Patriots guard Layden Robinson answers reporters’ questions following rookie minicamp at Gillette Stadium May 11, 2024, in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Paul Connors/Media News Group/Boston Herald)

Lowe started at left tackle on Thursday night with Okorafor at right tackle. But Okorafor started the summer at left tackle. Leverett is the Patriots’ back up center and could also be moved to guard. Wallace, a 2024 third-round pick, has seen some starting reps this summer.

EDGE DEFENDER (6)

In: Anfernee Jennings, Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, Keion White, Deatrich Wise, Oshane Ximines
Out: William Bradley-King, John Morgan, Jotham Russell

Ximines, who signed late in free agency, has come on strong in training camp and shined in the Patriots’ first preseason game with a strip-sack, QB hit, hurry, run stop and special teams tackle.

Six is probably too much edge defenders to keep, but all of these players are worthy of 53-man roster spots, and they all play different roles.

DEFENSIVE LINE (5)

In: Daniel Ekuale, Davon Godchaux, Trysten Hill, Jeremiah Pharms, Mike Purcell
Out: Josiah Bronson, Sam Roberts, Armon Watts
Reserve list: Christian Barmore

Barmore’s blood clot diagnosis likely opens up a spot for a fifth defensive tackle. Purcell, a veteran, is valuable depth behind Godchaux. Pharms was excellent on Thursday night with five pressures on just 14 pass-rush snaps. Ekuale is the top option to fill in as a starter in Barmore’s spot.

It was notable to see Watts playing deep into Thursday night’s game with Hill, Bronson and Roberts. With $500,000 guaranteed in 2024, Watts was a favorite to make the 53-man roster in the spring and early part of the summer. Now it looks like he could be competing for a spot with Hill, Bronson and Roberts.

New England Patriots defensive tackle Trysten Hill #97 and William Bradley-King go after Carolina Panthers quarterback Jack Plummer #16 during the first half of the pre-season game at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Hill has had more big moments in training camp. He also generated two pressures and provides pass-rush upside in Barmore’s usual role.

LINEBACKER (4)

In: Ja’Whaun Bentley, Christian Elliss, Raekwon McMillan, Jahlani Tavai
Out: Steele Chambers, Joe Giles-Harris
PUP: Sione Takitaki

Takitaki, like Bourne, has yet to be activated, indicating it’s possible that he starts the season on the PUP list.

Bentley and Tavai are the starters, and McMillan has missed two of three seasons with the Patriots but knows the defense well. Elliss has been a surprise standout in training camp and Week 1 of the preseason.

Giles-Harris has also had moments and is a darkhorse option for a roster spot.

CORNERBACK (7)

In: Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial, Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Marcus Jones, Marco Wilson
Out: Azizi Hearn, Mikey Victor, Shaun Wade

This is the most difficult position to trim on the entire roster. Gonzalez, Jones and Jones are locks. But there’s where the certainty ends.

Austin is long, fast and consistently makes plays in practice. Bolden is even taller and faster than Austin but isn’t as consistent defensively. He should be a special-teams standout, however. Dial, the Patriots’ lone defensive draft pick this spring, has positional versatility and contributes on special teams. Wilson has starting experience, which the Patriots might need if Jones or Jones misses time.

Foxboro, MA – New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin waves to fan as he arrives for training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)

But it was difficult to cut Wade, who started Thursday’s game and played well. Hearn also makes plays almost every day in practice, but this cornerback group is too deep for him to grab a spot.

SAFETY (5)

In: Kyle Dugger, Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu, Jabrill Peppers, Brenden Schooler
Out: Joshuah Bledsoe, Dell Pettus, A.J. Thomas

Mayo said Friday that safety is one of the deeper spots on the roster when Mapu returns from an injury that’s kept him out of most of training camp. Hawkins has played well in camp and brings valuable depth. Schooler, a special-teams ace, played significant defensive snaps Thursday night and could see more of a defensive role moving forward.

Pettus has been the Patriots’ best undrafted free agent in training camp, but it’s hard to crack this group. If Mapu isn’t ready to start the season, then perhaps Pettus could slip on.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

In: K Chad Ryland, P Bryce Baringer, LS Joe Cardona
Out: LS Tucker Addington, K Joey Slye

The Patriots signed Addington because Cardona is currently banged up. Ryland has been slightly better than Slye in the kicker competition, but it is mighty close.