The New England Patriots may have ended a few underdog stories on Sunday, with the team cutting 10 players as a precaution for COVID-19.
The NFL mandated that teams operate with split squads if they roster 90 players before cutting to 80 players on Aug. 16. But because the Patriots cut to 80 before the start of training camp, they do not have to operate in split-squad format. So in order to meet as a full team, the Patriots have elected to cut: quarterbacks J’Mar Smith and Brian Lewerke, receivers Isaiah Zuber, Sean Riley and Will Hastings, linebacker Kyahva Tezino, defensive tackle Courtney Wallace, cornerback Lenzy Pipkins and safety Adarius Pickett and Malik Gant.
“You just hate to see so many young guys not get an opportunity,” Patriots safety Devin McCourty said Sunday night on his “Double Coverage” live stream. “(With) everything that’s happening now, you see a lot of teams cut down from 90 to 80 guys, you’re seeing guys get released who never really got an opportunity because of the pandemic, and that really sucks. …
“Especially for us. Our team is always … looking for the next guy that’s undrafted. The J.C. Jacksons, the Malcolm Butlers, the David Andrews — the guys that come in undrafted that no one thinks about and next thing you know, they’re starting playing in the biggest games of the year. So it is tough to watch some of these young guys have to get released before even getting a chance to step into the building.”
No doubt, it’s a rough outcome for those 10 players. Here are five quick thoughts on what this decision means for the Patriots.
1. Bill Belichick values the full-squad opportunities more than the 10 players he cut.
Clearly, Belichick wanted the opportunity for his team to meet fully when they can to do so. There’s also the element of time. NFL teams would typically be taking the field on Monday. Instead, they’ll just be taking their first of many COVID tests. With such little time — and no preseason games — the Patriots are acknowledging that they’ll already be stretched too thin with 80 players, let alone 90.
2. The veteran quarterbacks will be the only quarterbacks — surely for logistical reasons.
The Patriots already had their hands full when it came to their veteran quarterbacks. So unfortunately, they realized they didn’t have the manpower to spend time with a pair of rookie quarterbacks, Smith and Lewerke.
New England will spend the next few weeks readying Cam Newton, who hasn’t taken a snap in the Patriots’ offense and missed most of the virtual offseason. Meanwhile, they’ll work on developing Jarrett Stidham, who may still be in line to start in 2021, if he shows progress this year. The emphasis will be on bringing along him — and not the UDFAs.
3. Jeff Thomas is the only UDFA receiver to get through this round of cuts.
New England had four undrafted rookies: Thomas, Zuber, Hastings and Riley. Thomas is now the only one with a standing invite to training camp. Hastings, a slot receiver from Auburn, had a special connection with Stidham in college, but with Newton in town, Stidham is starting to look less likely to be the starter, which diminishes Hastings’ value. Thomas, meanwhile, seems to be a misunderstood young man, who faced a number of suspensions in college. His talent is undeniable. But can he be reliable?
4. All the rookie tight ends remained.
The Patriots will have four rookies at this position, more than any other spot. The entire position group could be new faces in 2020, with Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene being locks and undrafted rookies Jake Burt and Rashad Berry fight with Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse for a third spot (if that’s the number the Patriots decide to carry).
5. There’s still a chance that an UDFA rookie makes the roster. But that chance diminished sizably.
Fewer undrafted rookies will be on the roster at the start of training camp, which means fewer rookies have the chance at following in the footsteps of the many succesful undrafted rookies in New England, including J.C. Jackson, Malcolm Butler, Brian Hoyer, Brandon Bolden and so many others.
