New England Patriots: 53-man roster cut down analysis
By Hal Bent
![EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 30: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots stands on the sidelines against the New York Giants during a pre-season NFL game against at MetLife Stadium on August 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 30: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots stands on the sidelines against the New York Giants during a pre-season NFL game against at MetLife Stadium on August 30, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/313aebb85fb5cfd2a4e80d8078928eeacc128d5c547d2c6dc5a025d576672399.jpg)
WIDE RECEIVERS (6)
Phillip Dorsett, Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, Amara Darboh, Chad Hansen, Matthew Slater
The Patriots initially kept just three full-time receivers and special-teams player Slater. With Julian Edelman suspended until after Week 4, there is a lot of pressure on Hogan and the pair of former first-round draft picks to produce with quarterback Tom Brady until Edelman returns.
Riley McCarron was released as he never seemed ready for prime time. Instead, New England was active on the waiver wire snagging former Jets 2017 fourth-round draft pick Chad Hansen and former Seattle third-round draft pick Amara Darboh. McCarron is already on the practice squad for depth.
Darboh comes from Michigan and is a physical specimen at six-foot-two and 215 pounds, possessing blazing speed to go with his size. He can return punts and is clearly a project in the receiving game.
Hansen starred at Cal Berkeley (via Idaho State) before landing in New York. He projects to the outside with his surprising physicality getting the ball deep and along the sidelines.
Maybe his 12 receptions 196 yards and two touchdown performance against Texas still sticks in my head, but Hansen may find a role in New England as a wide receiver screen specialist and occasional deep threat.