FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots open the 2023 NFL regular season against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 10 at Gillette Stadium.
They lead the NFL in defensive retention, losing only longtime captain/safety Devin McCourty to retirement. Thus, there is optimism that the unit will start at a higher point and build off a solid 2022 season. Outside linebacker Matthew Judon, who has totaled 27.5 sacks in his first two seasons in New England, plays with an edge that feeds the defense.
Meanwhile, quarterback Mac Jones leads a revamped offense under Bill O'Brien, who returns as the coordinator. The Patriots explored the possibility of adding free agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins, but they were never overly aggressive with a contract offer and he signed with the Tennessee Titans. That reflects, in part, coach Bill Belichick's belief that they have enough around Jones, with perhaps the biggest question being how the offensive line holds up.
Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Malik Cunningham
Cunningham, the undrafted free agent from Louisville whose contract included $200,000 in guarantees, worked at receiver in spring practices before sometimes switching to quarterback late in workouts. His dual skill set, and the potential for a dynamic option-based package to complement Jones, warrants a closer look on either the practice squad or roster. Trace McSorley is the odd man out.
RUNNING BACK (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, Pierre Strong Jr., Ty Montgomery
This spot looks light at the moment, with 2022 sixth-round pick Kevin Harris and third-year man J.J. Taylor potentially providing depth on the practice squad. Dalvin Cook headlines a notable group of veteran options available on the free agent market the team could consider for quality depth.
WIDE RECEIVER (5): JuJu Smith-Schuster, DeVante Parker, Tyquan Thornton, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas
Smith-Schuster barely practiced in the spring as part of a cautious approach due to a prior knee injury, while Thornton -- the speedy second-year threat from Baylor -- was managing a soft-tissue injury for the second half of the spring. So the Patriots are banking on a return to full health for both players, with one of the big questions being whether a young receiver -- sixth-round picks Kayshon Boutte (LSU) and Douglas (Liberty), or undrafted Ed Lee (Rhode Island) -- can earn a fifth spot.
TIGHT END (2): Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki
Gesicki could easily fall into the receiver category as a big slot, which is why a more traditional inline tight end could be a need. The Patriots will see how veteran Anthony Firkser, practice-squad players Scotty Washington and Matt Sokol, and undrafted free agent Johnny Lumpkin compete in camp to see if they might warrant consideration.
OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Trent Brown, Calvin Anderson, Cole Strange, David Andrews, Mike Onwenu, Riley Reiff, Jake Andrews, Sidy Sow, Atonio Mafi, Andrew Stueber
Onwenu, who has been recovering from offseason ankle surgery, has been an ironman at right guard through his first three seasons, but his status bears watching. There appear to be major questions at offensive tackle. Can the team count on Brown, who wasn't present for the first day of mandatory minicamp after being absent for most of the voluntary workouts in the spring? Are Anderson and Reiff realistic options to fill in if not?
DEFENSIVE LINE (6): Davon Godchaux, Christian Barmore, Deatrich Wise Jr., Keion White, Daniel Ekuale, Lawrence Guy
Guy skipped mandatory minicamp because of what is believed to be a contract-related situation. His status will be a notable storyline as camp opens, with he and Carl Davis Jr. being among the big-bodied tackles the team could turn to on first and second down. The Patriots would like to see Barmore, a 2021 second-round pick, reach his ceiling after an injury-filled second season. His emergence alongside Godchaux as a starter would be an ideal boost for the interior.
LINEBACKER (8): Matthew Judon, Anfernee Jennings, Josh Uche, Ja'Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Marte Mapu, Chris Board, DaMarcus Mitchell
Where Mapu fits after being selected in the third round -- he's a hybrid linebacker/safety -- is among the intrigue. The versatility of this group allows the Patriots to play multiple fronts and mix and match depending on the game plan for a specific week. Assistant coach Jerod Mayo refers to Bentley as one of the NFL's most underrated linebackers.
CORNERBACK (5): Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Jack Jones, Marcus Jones, Myles Bryant
Jack Jones' status, as he faces gun charges, could change the outlook of this group, which adds first-round pick Gonzalez, who could immediately slide into a starting role. If Jack Jones isn't part of the mix, it could open the door for one of the team's seventh-round picks -- Ameer Speed (Michigan State) or Isaiah Bolden (Jackson State) -- to make the cut.
SAFETY (5): Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips, Jabrill Peppers, Joshuah Bledsoe, Jalen Mills
McCourty had served as the primary communicator for a decade-plus, so there is a question about how the safety group transitions without him. Belichick noted how much further along Peppers is as he enters his second season with the team, while Mills -- who started 10 games at cornerback last season -- has been experimenting with time at safety as well.
SPECIALISTS (6): Bryce Baringer (P), Joe Cardona (LS), Chad Ryland (K), Matthew Slater, Brenden Schooler, Cody Davis
The Patriots became the first team since the 2000 Raiders to select both a kicker and punter in the same draft when they traded up for Ryland in the fourth round and had Baringer fall into their laps in the sixth round. Schooler led the club in special teams tackles last season (13) and is in position to eventually succeed Slater as the team's ace in the kicking game.