New England Patriots: Final 53-man roster projection
Safety (5)
- Devin McCourty
- Patrick Chung
- Duron Harmon
- Nate Ebner
- Brandon King
Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Duron Harmon return to lead the Patriots’ three-headed monster at safety, a trio that is heavily relied upon to combat opposing offenses. Additionally, Nate Ebner and Brandon King will also see another year with the team.
After missing New England’s last two preseason games, and the Patriots trading for former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Marquis Flowers, King’s job on special teams may have been in question. Flowers finished second on the Bengals roster in special teams snaps last season with 308 while King played the fourth most on New England’s roster with 299. The addition of Flowers could be a sign that King won’t be healthy to start the season, otherwise, he’s a crucial member of New England’s special teams unit and virtually a lock.
Special Teams (3)
- Stephen Gostowski (Kicker)
- Ryan Allen (Punter)
- Joe Cardona (Long Snapper)
New England never opted to yield competition for specialists Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan Allen, or Joe Cardona. The team will deploy the same group they have for the past two seasons.