3 easy roster cuts for the Patriots after preseason finale vs. Commanders

There was a lot on the line for several Patriots players in the final preseason game of the 2024 offseason, mainly for those still competing for a spot on the 53-man roster, which will be announced on Tuesday.

From determining the starting quarterback and who would make up the receiving corps to determining the offensive line's lineup, the new regime had a lot of evaluation left to do in putting together the right group.

Unfortunately, the night didn't go so well for many of those needing standout performances to prove they were worthy of a spot on the team, a few of whom might have ensured they would be cut or play on another team for the season ahead based on their performances.

3 easy roster cuts for the Patriots after preseason finale vs. Commanders

1. C Nick Leverett

With David Andrews finishing the preseason on the sideline, it was another opportunity for backup center Nick Leverett to prove he was the best choice to fill that role for the Patriots 2024 roster. Unfortunately, it was another rough night for the offensive line, with some of the worst performances coming from Leverett.

He was responsible for what could have been a horrific play on Drake Maye's first drive, hiking a bad snap right outside of the end zone. A similar mistake happened not long after, and every quarterback's lack of protection saw contributions to that from Leverett throughout the game.

It was a shocking development from the backup center who had quietly climbed the depth chart during training camp this summer. This was his final chance to show he could manage that type of play for the season ahead, but this didn't provide much comfort ahead of roster cutdowns.

2. T Chukwuma Okorafor

Sticking with the offensive line, which was the worst-performing unit of the entire team, another lineman made the argument for him to make the 2024 roster difficult to make.

As the starting left tackle for the night, Chukwuma Okorafor racked up three penalties for illegal formation in the first half, prompting a response from head referee Shawn Hochuli. Although two were declined, one negated an impressive 48-yard touchdown from Drake Maye to K.J. Osborn.

It was a rough performance by Okorafor, who is vying for a spot on the roster, preferably as the starting left tackle. He might have lost the job if this was any indication of what's to come.

3. CB Azizi Hearn

On the defensive side of the ball, there were certainly some problematic performances that will mostly fly under the radar due to the offensive line dominating headlines. But one of the worst of the night was cornerback Azizi Hearn, whose late-game errors sealed the fate of the Patriots' preseason finale.

The cornerback was flagged twice for defensive pass interference on big plays, one of which led to the game-sealing touchdown for the Commanders. Another bad moment came when the backup quarterback almost brought him to the ground near the sideline.

With the cornerbacks being another stiff competition beyond Christian Gonzalez and Jonathan Jones, this might have been all the Patriots needed to see to cut Hearn before the roster cut deadline.

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