Monday Roster 1.0

So I decided that first thing every Monday (yes, my schedule allows me to not wake up till noon on Monday, be jealous) until the cutdown to 53 on September 2nd, I will give my current state of the Pats roster as I see it, with a little analysis at each position. The roster limit is currently at 90, so a significant amount of the players will not be with the Pats this year. Sorry this is coming out so late, it took obnoxiously long to do, (the future ones will be much easier) and I had a lot to do today. In the future, expect these around noon on Monday.

Quarterback (3)
Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallet.
Pretty standard and obvious here. The only real battle is Mallet and Hoyer for backup, and Hoyer seems to be distancing himself.

Running Back (3)
Stephen Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen
3 RBs is lighter than the Patriots usually go, and there is a possibility with Vereen not making the most of his opportunity that Brandon Bolden also makes this team as the 4th RB.

Fullback (1)
Spencer Larsen
Being a little light on RB this year, and after signing two FBs in the offseason, I think they end up keeping one, and Larsen's contract is about 3X more expensive than Fiametta's, plus he has work as a linebacker and core 4 (punt, kickoff, kick return, punt return) special teams experience.

Wide Receiver (6)
Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman, Donte Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney
I think 6 make this team, but when Fells comes back, it will likely be a competition between Shiancoe and Stallworth to see who holds on to his spot. Personally, I like the idea of carrying 4 TE's, so I could see this slimming to 5 after week 6. Gaffney and Deoin Branch battle for that 3 WR/backup to LLoyd spot and I think Gaffney wins out.

Tight End (3)
Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Visanthe Shiancoe.
Daniel Fells and Jake Ballard open on PUP, which means they do not count against the 53 man limit. Also, this means they cannot practice until after week 6, at which time the team has 3 weeks to either put them on IR (likely for Ballard) or move them to the active roster and cut a player (likely for Fells).

Offensive Line (9)
Nate Solder (LT), Logan Mankins (LG), Dan Connolley (C/G), Brian Waters (RG), Sebastion Vollmer, (RT), Ryan Wendell (C/G), Marcus Cannon (T), Matt Kopa (T), Nick MacDonald (G/C).
This means I think Waters comes back and Mankins knee cooperates and heals by the start of the season. I think, as do a lot of people, that Waters is just skipping camp and will be back when it really matters. Let's hope so, because if he comes back, we could have a top 5 line in football. In this scenario, the surprise cut is Robert Gallery, but I have never been very high on him, and he has apparently not looked great in the extended time he has received this preseason.

Defensive Lineman (5)
Vince Wilfork (NT, 4-3 DT, 3-4 DE), Kyle Love (NT, 4-3 DT, 3-4 DE), Brandon Deadrick (4-3 DT, 3-4 DE), Jonathon Fanane (4-3 DT, 3-4 DE), Ron Brace (4-3 DT, 3-4 DE)
Kyle Love and Brandon Deadrick both came on last year and look to have good potential, Love especially. Fanene was the offseason acquisition ($12 mil, 3 year) that comes in for Shaun Ellis dollars and has looked good in camp. Ron Brace, the BC product, would be the surprise addition to this group, as he apparently has flashed in camp.

Defensive End / Outside Linebacker (4)
Chandler Jones (4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB),  Rob Ninkovich (4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB), Trevor Scott (4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB), Jake Bequette (4-3 DE)
All of these players seem like locks to me, and I don't really see any way any of these players doesn't make this team. Jones, Nink, and Scott all look to get extended playing time with Bequette coming on in pure passing downs. How much time he gets is still to be seen, but I see a lot of playing time in those first three's future.

Inside Linebacker (6)
Jerod Mayo (4-3 WLB, 3-4 MLB, 4-3 MLB, sub), Brandon Spikes (4-3 MLB, 3-4 MLB, 4-3 SLB), Donta Hightower (4-3 SLB, MLB 3-4 MLB, sub), Bobby Carpentar (sub, 4-3 WLB, Special Teams), Dane Fletcher (Special Teams, sub, 4-3 MLB, 4-3WLB, 3-4 MLB), Jeff Tarpinian (Special Teams, sub, 4-3 MLB, 4-3 WLB, 3-4 MLB)
As you can see, our linebackers have quite a lot of versatility. I think in 4-3, you see Jerod Mayo at WLB, Spikes in the middle, and Hightower at SLB. In 3-4, you have Mayo in the middle along with either Spikes or Hightower. Then, in sub, you have Mayo, Carpenter and then probably Hightower if you have a 3LB sub package. Tarpinian and Fletcher are pretty much just special teamers that will serve in backup roles.

Cornerback(5)
Ras-I Dowling, Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Sterling Moore, Marquise Cole
Dowling and McCourty look to be starting on the outside with Kyle Arrington in the slot. Sterling Moore looks to be on this team as the 4th corner and special teams. Marquise Cole should never see the field on Defense, and should be specifically special teams.

Safety (5)
Patrick Chung, Steve Gregory, Tavon Wilson, Will Allen, Nate Ebner.
5 Safetys is a lot to keep, but Will Allen with his CB versatility allows them to do this. Ebner also will never see the field on Defense, but has Larry Izzo-type upside on special teams. Gregory seems to have impressed others, drawing compliments from Devin McCourty, and seems locked into that starting role opposite Chung. Tavon Wilson is that 3rd Saftey/Big Nickel LB/S hybrid.

Specialists (3)
Stepehen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken.
Not much to say. Kicker, Punter, Holder.