Possible surprise cuts at each position for 2019

Every year, it seems like Bill Belichick cuts a surprising veteran, a fan favorite player, or even a superstar. In past years, it has been Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy and Willie McGinest. With the start of the preseason looming, you have to wonder if any long tenured Patriots will not be returning this fall. Here are my BOLD predictions for each position.

QB: N/A

This is impossible to choose. Brady’s a lock, Hoyer is a veteran backup and Stidham is the future. With Etling moving to WR, I don’t think a QB will be cut this summer.

RB: Rex Burkhead

With a crowded backfield and the additional drafting of Damien Harris, some RBs may be left out of the equation. Although many reports say they will keep 5 RBs, Burkhead seems like the most likely to leave town with his inconsistency and injuries

WR: Demaryius Thomas

Thomas, who is starting the season on the PUP list, is looking into a hectic WR situation. The Patriots have a few UDFA receivers playing well in camp (Davis, Meyers, Olszewski) and Thomas will have a tough way to fit in.

TE: Lance Kendricks

Signed just before camp, Kendricks is mainly known for his blocking ability. With LaCosse, Watson, and a combination of Izzo/Anderson, Kendricks needs to have a good week of camp and good preseason games to crack the 53.

OL: Ted Karras

An O-Line that gets Isaiah Wynn back from injury and the improvement of Dan Skipper and James Ferentz, I see Karras getting cut late in August. Mainly used on special teams and as a depth piece on offense, Karras hasn’t made the impact he needs to secure a spot.

DL: Derek Rivers

Although he has played fairly well this year at camp, Rivers has been nothing the past two years with injuries and needs to improve his game to make the team. A lot of people think that he should have been cut last year, but 2019 is the final straw for #95.

LB: Elandon Roberts

The signing of Jamie Collins didn’t help Roberts’ chances at all. Roberts has played fairly consistently in his 3 years in New England, but a stacked LB core is going to require a strong preseason showing for Roberts. I think he gets cut at the final cuts, but may get scooped up by a LB-needy team before Week 1.

CB: Duke Dawson Jr.

I get so much slack for this on Instagram. Dawson was hurt for the majority of last season. The CB position is the deepest on this team and Dawson needs to fit in, instead of fitting out. It didn’t look good for him when he returned healthy at the conclusion of 2018, but was a healthy scratch for the remaining games. With J.C. Jackson playing like the #2 CB and Jason McCourty returing, Dawson needs to lock everybody up or else he’s gonna find himself on a different team.

S: Duron Harmon

As much as this kills me to say, Harmon may be getting the hook this summer. Contract wise it makes sense to get rid of him now, but with the injury of Chung (he’ll be back by Opening Night) and Duron’s ability, he most likely will stay. But as it seems with star Patriots, a year too early rather than a year too late.

K: N/A

Gostkowski resigned this offseason and is keeping his job.

P: Ryan Allen

Allen only signed a 1 year deal over the spring and Belichick traded up to draft Stanford P Jake Bailey. So far in camp, Bailey has outpunted Allen, in terms of leg strength and hang time. Allen almost lost the spot last year and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was his final year.

LS: N/A

Joe. Cardona. What else can I say? 🐐