The New England Patriots open training camp for the 2020 NFL season on July 28 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots finished 12-4, winning their 11th straight AFC East title and their 16th over the past 17 seasons. Coach Bill Belichick enters his 21st season hoping to sustain the nearly uninterrupted dominance he has enjoyed in the division since arriving in 2000, but the departure of quarterback Tom Brady means that for the first time in 19 years, the Patriots are in transition at the game's most important position.
Here is a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer
Belichick had traditionally preferred to go with two QBs, such as during the 2019 season when Stidham was given the nod as Tom Brady's top backup, over Hoyer, coming out of training camp. But given the dynamics in play with the coronavirus pandemic, this is the type of year where an added layer of insurance is smart business.
RUNNING BACK (5): Sony Michel, James White, Damien Harris, Rex Burkhead, Brandon Bolden
The entire group returns intact from 2019, with Michel working his way back from offseason foot surgery. Among the hot-button questions: Can Harris, the 2019 third-round pick from Alabama, emerge to share top duties with Michel? Will slippery-quick J.J. Taylor, an undrafted free-agent from Arizona, turn heads like Dion Lewis did in 2015?
FULLBACK (1): Danny Vitale
This is an underrated competition, with Jakob Johnson and free-agent signee Vitale the top contenders. Undrafted free-agent Jake Burt (Boston College) is also in the mix, with rookie tight end Dalton Keene -- a third-round pick from Virginia Tech -- potentially providing some versatility to line up in the backfield at times.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Julian Edelman, N'Keal Harry, Mohamed Sanu, Damiere Byrd, Jakobi Meyers
Edelman was the only pass-catcher age 32 or older to hit the 1,000-yard receiving mark across the NFL last season, which sparks a question: Can the Patriots keep relying on him to beat the age-based odds? That's one reason the Patriots would benefit from Harry, the 2019 first-round pick (32nd overall), making a big second-year leap. Byrd was the team's first free-agent signing of the offseason and adds much-needed speed. The final one or two spots could go to a variety of options, but in an unconventional year, familiarity in the system might give Meyers and/or Gunner Olszewski the edge.
TIGHT END (3): Matt LaCosse, Devin Asiasi, Dalton Keene
Trading up for both Asiasi and Keene in the third round of the draft helps provide clarity at a position that wasn't a major factor for the team in 2019. The Patriots finished last in the NFL in tight-end receptions and targets in 2019, according to ESPN's Stats & Information. So it's less a question of whether Asiasi and Keene are on the team, and more about how quickly they might be able to help.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Isaiah Wynn, Joe Thuney, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Marcus Cannon, Yodny Cajuste, Hjalte Froholdt, Michael Onwenu, Justin Herron
The ability to activate an extra offensive lineman on the 48-man game-day roster might be a factor in keeping as many as 10 offensive linemen, with Onwenu (sixth round) and Herron (sixth round) earning spots based on their 2020 draft status, and center Dustin Woodard (seventh round) potentially in that mix as well. Jermaine Eluemunor and Korey Cunningham, both of whom were acquired in before-the-2019-season trades, could be on the outside looking in.
DEFENSIVE TACKLE (4): Lawrence Guy, Beau Allen, Byron Cowart, Adam Butler
This might be one spot the Patriots consider a free-agent signing with their newly-found salary-cap space. Allen was signed to fill the void created by Danny Shelton's free-agency departure, which is notable because Shelton played well in 2019 and Allen was a backup in Tampa Bay.
DEFENSIVE END/OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (5): John Simon, Chase Winovich, Anfernee Jennings, Deatrich Wise Jr., Brandon Copeland
Because the Patriots play multiple fronts, the pieces could look different depending on how things go in training camp. For example, the Patriots shifted toward more 3-4 alignment-type players last season based on Shelton's emergence at nose tackle and linebacker Jamie Collins' unexpected arrival. That ultimately had Michael Bennett edged out of a significant role. But one thing is for certain regardless of how it unfolds this season: The team needs its younger personnel -- starting with Winovich (2019 third round) and Jennings (2020 third round) -- to develop at a good pace.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Dont'a Hightower, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Josh Uche, Cassh Maluia
Uche, the second-round pick from Michigan, can bend as a pass-rusher on the edge in sub-packages, so he might play off the line at times, but top defensive coaches Jerod Mayo and Steve Belichick will surely want to tap his dynamic pass-rushing skills as well. It wouldn't be surprising if Jennings and Copeland also cross-train at this spot.
Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore is surprised by his family with gifts to congratulate him for joining the Madden 99 club.
CORNERBACK (5): Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Jason McCourty, Joejuan Williams
This entire group returns from last season, with Williams -- the 2019 second-round pick from Vanderbilt -- cross-training at safety in a bid to increase his value. It might be wise to keep an eye on D'Angelo Ross, who spent his rookie season on injured reserve after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent out of New Mexico, as he had quickness and change-of-direction that caught the eye as possible under-the-radar insurance for Jones on the interior.
SAFETY (4): Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Adrian Phillips, Kyle Dugger
Phillips, one of the team's top free-agent signings early in the offseason, has potential to play a linebacker-type role in sub packages while carving out an important spot on special teams. Dugger, the team's top 2020 draft pick (second round, No. 37), should also be given every opportunity to earn a significant role in the kicking game, which could put veteran Terrence Brooks' spot in jeopardy and make it harder for free-agent signing Cody Davis to stick.
SPECIALISTS (5): Justin Rohrwasser (kicker), Jake Bailey (punter), Joe Cardona (long-snapper), Matthew Slater (coverage), Justin Bethel (coverage)
Few teams devote as many roster spots to special-teams-only players -- outside of kicker, punter and long-snapper -- as the Patriots. All eyes will be on how Rohrwasser handles the situation after the Patriots drafted him in the fifth round, and don't have anyone in camp to challenge him.