FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Prior to training camp, there was an initial 53-man roster projection for the New England Patriots. Then leading into Friday's preseason game, there was another projection, version 2.0.
After a few notable developments, here is version 3.0:
Quarterbacks (2): Tom Brady, Jimmy Garoppolo (cut: Ryan Lindley)
Quick-hit: For now, proceeding on the assumption that Brady will either win in court or have some type of appeal that keeps him on the roster.
Running backs (4): Jonas Gray, Brandon Bolden, James White, Dion Lewis (cut: Travaris Cadet, Tony Creecy)
Quick-hit: LeGarrette Blount doesn't count on the active roster due to his one-game suspension; still believe Cadet can help this team in a receiver-type fashion and on fourth down but he hasn't played this preseason because of a hamstring injury and thus lands on the outside looking in for now.
Fullback (0):
Quick-hit: James Develin's broken tibia could result in him being placed on short-term IR.
Tight ends (4): Rob Gronkowski, Scott Chandler, Michael Williams, Michael Hoomanawanui (cut: Asante Cleveland, Jimmay Mundine)
Quick-hit: Acquiring Williams in a trade with the Lions on Wednesday could have had Hoomanawanui in trouble, but Develin's broken tibia might create more security for him on the roster with a potential fullback-type role in mind.
Wide receiver (4): Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Reggie Wayne (cut: Josh Boyce, Chris Harper, Jonathan Krause, Zach D'Orazio)
Quick-hit: Brandon LaFell starts on PUP in this projection. Dobson might still be in trouble, and I'm keeping an eye on if Kenbrell Thompkins is waived by Oakland because his return could make sense.
Offensive tackle (4): Nate Solder, Sebastian Vollmer, Marcus Cannon, Cameron Fleming (cut: Chris Martin)
Quick-hit: Cannon has been in and out of the lineup in camp due to injury; Martin could be a nice fit on the practice squad.
Guard (4): Ryan Wendell, Tre’ Jackson, Shaq Mason, Josh Kline (cut: Caylin Hauptmann, Ryan Groy, Chris Barker)
Quick-hit: Kline might have been on the bubble from this viewpoint, but I thought he helped himself Friday night while Mason looks like he needs some more seasoning.
Center (2): Bryan Stork, David Andrews
Quick-hit: An undrafted free agent from Georgia, Andrews might make it to the practice squad, but I wouldn't risk it.
Defensive tackles (4): Dominique Easley, Malcom Brown, Sealver Siliga, Alan Branch (cut: Casey Walker, Zach Moore, Joe Vellano, A.J. Pataiali'l)
Quick-hit: Chris Jones opens the season on PUP and Walker and Moore would look good on the practice squad.
Defensive ends (5): Rob Ninkovich, Chandler Jones, Jabaal Sheard, Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom, (cut: Rufus Johnson)
Quick-hit: Could be the deepest position on the roster; I had Johnson on the team in the initial projection but hope to sneak him to the practice squad in this scenario.
Off-the-line linebackers (6): Jerod Mayo, Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins, James Morris, Jonathan Freeny, Darius Fleming, (cut: D.J. Lynch, Eric Martin, Dekoda Watson, Xzavier Dickson)
Quick-hit: Dane Fletcher opens the year on PUP, while there could be some initial juggling at this spot with backups/special teamers like Morris, Freeny and Fleming as different areas of the roster are considered.
Cornerbacks (4): Malcolm Butler, Tarell Brown, Logan Ryan, Bradley Fletcher (cut: Darryl Roberts-IR, Robert McClain, Dax Swanson)
Quick-hit: Butler, Fletcher and Brown performed well as the top trio on Friday. Swanson also looked good.
Safeties (6): Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Jordan Richards, Duron Harmon, Nate Ebner, Tavon Wilson (cut: Brandon King)
Quick-hit: Wilson has played well enough to earn a spot, but is probably the most likely candidate to fall victim to a numbers crunch as his limited snaps Friday was a notable sign to me. Perhaps a safety-needy team shows interest in a possible trade. Still, a total of 10 defensive backs seems right so he sticks in this scenario.
Kicker (1): Stephen Gostkowski
Punter (1): Ryan Allen
Snapper (1): Joe Cardona
Specialist (1): Matthew Slater