FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots open training camp Wednesday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Patriots finished the 2020 season 7-9, their first sub-.500 year since 2000, which was Bill Belichick's first as head coach. After winning the AFC East title 17 of the prior 19 seasons, a third-place finish in the AFC East was something the Patriots aren't accustomed to, and that sparked a record free-agent spending spree to infuse the roster with much-needed talent.
How that talent comes together under Belichick, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, top defensive coaches Steve Belichick and Jerod Mayo, and special teams coordinator Cameron Achord will be among the NFL's top storylines this season. Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (2): Cam Newton, Mac Jones
Jones was already taking some top repetitions in spring practices, which reflects how far along he is mentally entering his first training camp. If he wins the starting job, would Newton want to remain as the backup? If not, Jarrett Stidham (opening on the physically unable to perform list) or Brian Hoyer would be the next man up, and if it is indeed a Newton-Jones combo to open the season, at least one of the other backups would seem to be an ideal option on the practice squad.
RUNNING BACK (5): Damien Harris, Sony Michel, James White, Brandon Bolden, J.J. Taylor
With rookie Rhamondre Stevenson opening camp on the non-football injury list, it opens the possibility he could stay there into the season. So for this projection, Taylor lands a fifth spot. In the event Stevenson is activated and everyone is healthy, the key question could be: "Would Taylor make it through waivers to the practice squad?" If the Patriots think his upside and dynamic playmaking ability are too promising to risk it, they would then have to consider alternatives such as moving on from White or Michel, both of whom might have trade value. Bolden is a core special-teamer, but seems more likely to spell players in front of him compared to others in that category.
FULLBACK (1): Jakob Johnson
The incumbent seems to be in solid position as his primary competition, Danny Vitale, was released in the spring and has decided to retire.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Gunner Olszewski, N'Keal Harry
Based on spring practices, Harry is going to face a notable challenge for a roster spot, with speedy Isaiah Zuber one of the primary candidates, and maybe that is partly why his agent publicly requested a trade on his behalf. But for now, Harry sticks, in part because of his draft status (2019 first round) and that the club will have $2 million in dead cap money if it moves on from him. Tre Nixon, the 2021 seventh-round pick, would ideally have time to grow behind the scenes on the practice squad.
TIGHT END (3): Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry, Devin Asiasi
Dalton Keene, the 2020 third-round pick from Virginia Tech, seems like a "tweener" -- not necessarily a pure tight end, but also not sturdy enough to be considered a fullback. Once he returns off the PUP list, perhaps the Patriots can continue to work with him on the practice squad as they explore ways to harness the skills that enticed them to trade up for him (with an emergency on special teams his best ticket to stick). With the expectation of multiple tight-end packages becoming a bigger part of the attack, keeping four players at the position is an option, and Matt LaCosse would have the inside track for a fourth spot.
OFFENSIVE LINE (8): Isaiah Wynn, Mike Onwenu, David Andrews, Shaq Mason, Trent Brown, Ted Karras, Justin Herron, Korey Cunningham
Swing tackle might be a "sneaky" spot to watch for an addition, unless the Patriots have conviction that Herron (a 2020 sixth-round pick from Wake Forest) is ready to fully assume that role, or they are comfortable moving Onwenu to that spot again. The depth on the interior appears to be solid with Karras, who started every game last season for the Miami Dolphins, as the top backup.
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Lawrence Guy, Davon Godchaux, Montravius Adams, Christian Barmore, Henry Anderson, Deatrich Wise Jr.
Byron Cowart, who was a starter in 2020 but might be best suited for more of a No. 3 rotation-type role at the big-bodied defensive tackle spot, didn't take part in spring practices. That could be a sign he is recovering from something physically, and potentially puts him in play for the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Carl Davis, Akeem Spence, Nick Thurman and Bill Murray would be considerations for the practice squad.
LINEBACKER (8): Dont'a Hightower, Matt Judon, Kyle Van Noy, Josh Uche, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Ronnie Perkins, Anfernee Jennings
Fifth-round pick Cameron McGrone, who is recovering from a torn ACL suffered in November while at Michigan, opens on the PUP list along with Chase Winovich, so for this projection, that's where they will stay. Harvey Langi, Terez Hall, Tashawn Bower and Rashod Berry have also played regular-season games for the team, reflecting how much more quality depth is on the roster.
CORNERBACK (5): Stephon Gilmore, J.C. Jackson, Jonathan Jones, Jalen Mills, Joejuan Williams
Is it too soon to give up on Williams? The 2019 second-round pick would ideally be waiting in the wings to take over for Gilmore and/or Jackson, both of whom enter the last year of their contracts. But he has yet to truly flash in a game, or in practices open to reporters. Thus, his spot on the roster is no certainty.
SAFETY (4): Devin McCourty, Adrian Phillips, Kyle Dugger, Myles Bryant
Joshuah Bledsoe, the 2021 sixth-round pick from Missouri, was limited in spring practices after undergoing wrist surgery, so there's a possibility he could be placed on the PUP list but still be a factor later in the season. If Bledsoe is fully healthy, he could bump Bryant or even Williams from the roster.
SPECIALISTS (6): Jake Bailey (punter), Nick Folk (kicker), Joe Cardona (long-snapper), Matthew Slater, Justin Bethel, Cody Davis
It's hard to imagine another team in the NFL would devote three roster spots to core special teams players age 30 or older, but that's how high of a priority Belichick places on the kicking game. Undrafted free-agent kicker Quinn Nordin could be groomed on the practice squad.