Post cut-down Roster

Quarterback (2)

Tom Brady, Ryan Mallet.

Surprise here with Hoyer being cut. Mallet has to improve, and fast. He is the only option if Brady goes down.

Running Back (4)

Stephen Ridley, Danny Woodhead, Shane Vereen, Brandon Bolden

Demps went to IR. Not all that surprising, give him a year to get into football shape and then see what he has next year with a full offseason in him.

Fullback (0)

Kettani is the only Fullback on the roster and likely is headed for another year on the practice squad.

Wide Receiver (4)

Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman
This is locked in here. No chance this plays out any other way. Edelman the Welker backup, Branch the Lloyd backup. Will likely run very few 3+ WR sets.

Tight End (4)

Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Daniel Fells, Visanthe Shiancoe

As many Tight Ends as wide receivers? Who woulda thunk it. I couldn't love it any more than I do. Please give me a 4 TE 1 RB set. Please. Please. I want to see someone try to defend it.

Offensive Line (8)

Nate Solder (LT), Logan Mankins (LG), Dan Connolley (C/G), Sebastion Vollmer, (RT), Ryan Wendell (C/G), Marcus Cannon (T), Ryan MacDonald (C/G/T), Donald Thomas (G)
What was expected here. Still waiting on Waters.
 

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), Ron Brace (4-3 DT, 3-4 DE), Marcus Forston (4-3 DT)

Forston the most surprising make on the whole prediction. Did NOT see this one coming.

Defensive End / Outside Linebacker (6)

Chandler Jones (4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB), Rob Ninkovich (4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB), Jermaine Cunningham (3-4 OLB, 4-3 DE), Justin Francis (4-3 DE, inside sub rusher), Trevor Scott (3-4 OLB, 4-3 DE), Jake Bequette (4-3 DE)

With a lot of other positions thin, looks like they keep 6 DEs. Bequette likely gameday inactive all season.

Inside Linebacker (7)

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), Niko Koutouvides (Special Teams, sub, 4-3WLB, 3-4 MLB), Tracy White (Special Teams, sub, 4-3WLB, 3-4 MLB), Mike Rivera (4-3 SLB, MLB 3-4 MLB, 4-3 MLB)

Koutouvides and Tarpinian cuts are surprising, especially given the fact that Tracy White hasn't practiced since the first week.

Cornerback(6)

Ras-I Dowling, Devin McCourty, Kyle Arrington, Sterling Moore, Marquise Cole, Alfonso Dennard

Keeping 6 here, and all of them are solid. Dennard v Moore for who will be gameday inactive. Likely Dennard at beginning of season.

Safety (4)

Patrick Chung, Steve Gregory, Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner.

With Ebner's unexpected emergence on defense (he was thought to be special teams only) they were able to only keep four here. Seems a little light to me.

Specialists (3)

Stepehen Gostkowski, Zoltan Mesko, Danny Aiken.

Not much to say. Kicker, Punter, Holder.