3 players Patriots will regret leaving off the 53-man roster in 2024

The Patriots have finally made all the roster cuts needed by the deadline on Tuesday and have since officially announced their 53-man roster for the 2024 season. Most of the cuts were far from surprising, based on their preseason performances and not standing out during training camp, but some of those released didn't seem to make much sense.

It's never easy for teams to assemble a final roster, and it's likely even more difficult since the NFL implemented the new rule of having just one cutdown day. In the past, teams had to cut their rosters throughout the summer, but now, they are allowed to carry up to 90 players until the final team needs to be made.

The Patriots had many holes to fill on the team, particularly on offense, and based on their initial roster, it's clear they made an effort to bulk up that side of the team.

But, within those decisions were some questionable cuts that they might regret down the road.

3 players Patriots will regret leaving off the 53-man roster in 2024

RB Kevin Harris

The Patriots running back room was jam-packed this offseason, with the top of the depth chart already apparent with Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. The rest of the room was up for grabs, and it looked like 2022 sixth-round draft pick Kevin Harris had performed well enough to lock it up.

He had another impressive training camp and matched that effort in the preseason with two touchdowns, one of which was a pass from Drake Maye during the finale game vs. the Commanders last weekend.

Based on all that we saw, and because he has been with the team for the last two years, it seemed like a fair assumption that he would likely be the third running back on the team. Unfortunately for Harris, however, another running back was also impressing and brought special teams ability, pushing him to be released on Tuesday morning.

Given how great Harris performed over the last several weeks, his release could become a regretful decision, especially since Alex Van Pelt wants a run-heavy offense.

DE Joe Giles-Harris

With Christian Barmore sidelined for the foreseeable future and Matthew Judon traded to the Falcons, the Patriots defense needs an improved pass rush to make up for their losses. One of the players who exhibited that effort was defensive end Joe Giles-Harris, who made a name for himself this offseason.

He had an excellent summer and further proved his value during the preseason games, even hauling an interception against the Commanders earlier this week. He was also the highest-rated player in that game by PFF with an 82.7, which is not something to just gloss over.

Because of how depleted the defensive line is, it seemed like Giles-Harris was a sure thing. But with so many cuts needed to be made, he was unexpectedly cut, much to the surprise of many Patriots fans and reporters.

The hope is he will return to the practice squad and have a fighting chance to prove he deserves a spot on the roster.

WR David Wallis

The receiving corps was a point of emphasis on cutdown day, as the room was full and there were a lot of questions regarding who was best suited for the 2024 offense. The Patriots inevitably kept seven pass catchers on the 53-man roster, with Kendrick Bourne starting the year on the PUP list.

This meant that Davis Wallis was released, despite his proven special teams excellence which will surely come in handy this season.

Although he might not have been a significant contributor in the passing game, New England doesn't have a clear-cut returner on the roster, and using various running backs, receivers, or cornerbacks is not ideal for anyone. So not keeping a guy like Wallis doesn't make a lot of sense.

He's presumed to be a prime candidate to return to the practice squad, giving the Patriots a chance to activate him if things go South in the return game this season.

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