With the regular season closing in and roster cuts looming next week, the New England Patriots are starting to look more clearly like a team with a few strong answers - and a few nagging questions that still haven’t gone away.
The latest SB Nation Reacts survey made the biggest concern easy to spot. Even after the Patriots added Dre’Mont Jones in free agency and used a second-round pick on Gabe Jacas, 47% of respondents pointed to edge as the roster’s biggest problem area.
That lines up with the chatter from the comment section, where pass rush and edge depth came up again and again. One fan put it plainly: “I have to go with the pass rush. We have solid RBs & CBs, we have a good starting O-Line, and I’m not as concerned with depth as I am with starting effectiveness & force, and we’re lacking the ability to get to the QB.”
Another voter said he had been focused on edge until injuries changed the conversation on the offensive line: “i was edge concerned until the recent injuries to the injuries to the guards/c -- van roten is a good emergency signing, but can a guy hold upiin there who is 36 and has taken a pounding for 14 years?”
There was also concern about linebacker, with one fan writing: “I’m going LB followed by Edge. I have some faith that a couple of the young guys will be pleasant surprises on the Edge, so maybe some okay depth there.
Not feeling the same about LB. I remember being a little shocked when Chaisson signed with the Commanders and the amount he signed for, wondering why the Pats had not offered at least that much.
Losing him was pretty big and seems like an unforced error frankly.”
Another comment kept the focus on edge and Harold Landry: “Edge. Harold Landry isn’t doing anything right now.
Say on top of Jones and Ponder, Hutchins, Swinson, and Jacas all turn out to be better long term than Landry. When it’s time to bring Landry back, we’re going to have to give up a good young player just to justify Harold “Culture Guy” Landry.”
Still, edge wasn’t the only issue that drew attention. Offensive line depth picked up 24% of the vote after Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich were injured in the preseason opener. The Patriots responded by signing veteran Greg Van Roten to help fill the gap.
Linebacker depth followed at 21%, with the group behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss including Chad Muma, K.J. Britt, and rookies Namdi Obiazor and Khalil Jacobs. Muma struggled in the preseason opener, adding to the unease there.
Cornerback depth brought up the rear at 5%, though that position has been a talking point all summer because both Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis have missed time.
The Patriots are still trying to push through those concerns and get back to the Super Bowl. For now, FanDuel Sportsbook has them with the eighth-highest odds to do it, which is sixth-highest in the AFC.
In Other News...
Patriots Fans Just Got A Wild New Behren Morton Storyline
The Patriots got a little extra preseason theater from Behren Morton, the seventh-round pick who managed to show off more than one skill set in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Morton handled quarterback duties and also punted three times, averaging 44.3 yards, while adding some real late-game value by leading a winning drive capped by a touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro.
Mike Vrabel and teammates took notice of the way Morton kept finding ways to help, which is exactly the sort of versatility that can make a young player harder to ignore in August. Whether his path in New England stays tied to quarterback work, special teams, or a little of both, Morton at least gave the coaching staff something interesting to sort through after a performance that stood out for more than one reason. [Read more 🡒]
Scary Injury Briefly Stopped The Patriots Game And Drew An Update
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Philadelphia later provided a reassuring initial update, saying Jackson has strength and movement in all extremities and was being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. For New England, the football part of the night quickly took a back seat to concern for Jackson, whose status now remains the focus after the frightening scene. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Be Sending A Clear Message On Kayshon Boutte
Kayshon Boutte has stayed very much in the mix at Patriots practices, even as his name has started to surface in trade chatter. The Houston Texans interest picked up after receiver Jayden Higgins went down with an injury, but New Englands own recent moves have added another layer to the picture, with the team signing three free agents while Boutte remained on the field.
Those additions can be read as a sign the Patriots are not in a hurry to move him, at least not at a discount. League chatter suggests New England would want a fourth-round pick or better in any deal, a price the Texans may have viewed as too rich. For now, Boutte looks like a player the Patriots still value, which makes the next step in this situation worth watching. [Read more 🡒]