No matter how the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster looks after Tuesday’s cuts, Sunday’s preseason finale against the Commanders proved the team is still a work in progress ahead of Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.

The Patriots should be looking to the waiver wire, where they have the third claim, to plug holes on their offensive and defensive line.

Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf has the most difficult decisions to make Tuesday on who to cut at wide receiver and cornerback.

Here’s our final crack at a 53-man roster projection.

QUARTERBACK (3)

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

The shoulder injury Brissett suffered in Sunday’s preseason finale could potentially complicate matters here. But let’s assume it was minor, since he stayed on the sideline in uniform for the remainder of Sunday’s game after leaving following just one offensive series.

Related Articles

Patriots rookie Drake Maye feels ready to start Week 1 amid uncertain QB situation

Patriots’ Jerod Mayo updates Jacoby Brissett’s status, possibly tips hand on QB competition

Patriots-Commanders: 7 things we learned in preseason finale loss

Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett injured right shoulder in preseason finale

Patriots rookie Ja’Lynn Polk has unique mindset on catching football

Brissett will likely start with Maye serving as a backup and Milton developing behind the scenes.

But if Brissett’s injury is serious, then that might require the Patriots to keep Zappe on the roster to back up Maye. Of course, the Patriots could always take the same risk they did last August by waiving Zappe, hoping no one claims him and then adding him to the practice squad.

There are some ugly backup quarterback situations around the NFL, but Zappe cleared waivers a year ago.

Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt has also worked with enough quarterbacks around the NFL that he could feel confident that one of those players will hit waivers if he’s in the need for another quarterback.

RUNNING BACK (4)

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

Stevenson and Gibson are the Patriots’ top running backs, but Hasty is a core special teams player, and Harris has looked like a quality backup this summer.

Stevenson is expected to handle early-down duties and some third downs, since he’s a proven receiver. Gibson has the size of an early-down back but is a better option in the passing game.

Harris has the size and playing style of an early-down backup. Hasty, at 5-foot-8, 205 pounds, can serve as a backup behind Gibson.

Jennings could be a strong practice squad add, assuming he clears waivers.

WIDE RECEIVER (7)

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

The Patriots have a difficult decision to make here between keeping Boutte, Reagor or both. We ultimately chose both.

The case to keeping Boutte is that he would have to pass through waivers if cut. That would allow any of the other 31 teams to claim him, which is a risk. Reagor would not need to pass through waivers. So, the Patriots could cut him and re-sign him to the 53-man roster or practice squad if there’s interest around the rest of the league.

The case to keeping Reagor is that he’s probably the more useful player right now. He can be an explosive kick returner and brings more speed to the offense.

Javob Baker and Polk are locks as rookies. Douglas and Thornton are locks as starters. Osborn started the third preseason game and is still competing with Polk for a top spot in the offense.

TIGHT END (3)

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

The depth here isn’t great behind Henry, who’s currently injured, and Hooper, who has been banged up this summer. But Bell is worth a roster spot on a team that is not among the most talented in the league.

Wilcox missed Sunday’s preseason game with an injury and has had some issues with drops this summer. There’s not a lot of risk in losing him to another team if he’s cut. And if the Patriots do lose him, then they can find another veteran tight end on waivers or as a practice-squad addition.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9)

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

This is a group that could use some upgrades on the waiver wire.

It’s hard to tell who would even start if the season started today. Lowe and Sow, both projected starters, are injured. So, the Patriots must keep a player like Jordan as insurance. Lowe’s injury could push Onwenu from guard to tackle. Sow’s injury could push Jordan, Leverett or Robinson into a starting role.

Anderson has been injured for a large chunk of the summer and never seemed in serious consideration to start. The Patriots tried to move Mafi to center, but he had trouble snapping and fell behind the competition at guard.

If the Patriots find a backup center on the waiver wire, then could Leverett be on the outs? It’s not out of the question after he had two bad snaps in Sunday’s preseason finale.

EDGE DEFENDER (5)

In: Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, Keion White, Deatrich Wise, Oshane Ximines
Out: William Bradley-King, Kobe Jones, Christian McCarroll, Jotham Russell

This group is currently very banged up. Uche, Wise and Ximines all missed Sunday’s preseason finale.

Would the Patriots consider keeping someone like Bradley-King for insurance purposes? It’s possible, depending on the severity of all three of those ailments. But Bradley-King also didn’t exactly excel this summer, so he might not be a popular waiver wire pickup. It could be worth subjecting him to waivers, believing you can pass him through and get him on the practice squad as depth.

Jones and McCarroll were just signed last week. Russell is 21 years old and still learning to play football as an Australian former Rugby Union player.

DEFENSIVE LINE (3)

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

The Patriots typically keep five defensive linemen, so there’s more work to be done here.

Hill, who impressed this summer, is the toughest cut, but he was playing deep into the fourth quarter of Sunday’s preseason finale, which typically is not a great sign for a player’s roster status.

Ultimately, the Patriots need some fresh faces in this group and have to hope that Barmore can return at some point this season after being diagnosed with blood clots.

Ekuale, Godchaux and Pharms earned roster spots. The rest can be exposed to waivers.

LINEBACKER (4)

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

Bentley and Tavai are starters. McMillan didn’t play in Sunday’s preseason finale, which seems to be a good indication that he’ll be on the 53-man roster.

If there’s only one spot available for Elliss or Giles-Harris, then Elliss wins it with his special-teams ability. He’s also been a bigger playmaker on defense throughout the summer.

One complicating factor is Elliss left Sunday’s game with a head injury. Chambers and Giles-Harris both should pass through waivers.

CORNERBACK (7)

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

Dial’s best path to a roster spot was through special teams. He’s been working recently as one of the Patriots’ top gunners opposite Brenden Schooler.

But Dial struggled in his final two preseason games on defense. He was torched by Eagles receivers in Week 2 of the preseason and then was flagged twice for defensive pass interference Sunday against the Commanders.

If the Patriots are looking for their best cornerbacks, then Dial is not currently included in that group.

Wilson started in place of Jonathan Jones in Sunday’s game. Gonzalez and Marcus Jones are also projected starters. Austin, Bolden and Wade have all had strong summers.

The biggest question here is who would be cut if the Patriots only want to keep six cornerbacks.

SAFETY (5)

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

Pettus sneaks onto the roster as an undrafted free agent after a strong summer. The Patriots don’t necessarily need the fifth safety, but out of players on the roster bubble who could potentially be lost on waivers, Pettus is a stronger candidate than some of the more experienced players.

SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

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

Slye missed two field goals in Sunday’s loss to the Commanders, but they were from 64 and 60 yards. Overall, Slye has been more consistent than Ryland throughout the summer.