New England Patriots: examining the practice squad
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
2. OL Chris Barker
Barker never really had much of a chance at making the final 53-man roster. Tre’ Jackson and Shaq Mason were drafted this spring to be the guards of the future, which has structurally pushed the third-year pro out of contention for a guard spot this season.
At least Barker has the satisfaction of sticking around in New England. Fellow 2013 undrafted free agent Jordan Devey was shipped off to the 49ers this offseason.
Barker appeared in four games for the Pats as a rookie, but just one game last season. To put it simply, even the most die-hard Patriots fan would have trouble pointing out Barker in a lineup.
1. DT Jimmy Staten
The Seattle Seahawks selected Staten with the 172nd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, but the Middle Tennessee State product didn’t play a single snap for the Seahawks as a rookie. After being released in mid-August, Staten was immediately signed by the New York Giants, only to be cut loose at the beginning of September.
Oddly enough, Staten was in the midst of his graduation ceremony at MTSU when the Seahawks gave him a ring telling Staten that they were going to draft him in the fifth round (he was projected as a seventh-rounder).
Right now, Staten is serving as essentially the Patriots’ fifth defensive tackle behind Alan Branch, Sealver Siliga, Malcom Brown and Dominique Easley. His current status as a practice squad player could be put in danger when Chris Jones returns from the PUP.