NFL rosters just got chopped down to 53 players on Sunday, and Monday’s all about who’s hitting that waiver wire. Hundreds of guys are out there for the taking, with teams having until 1 p.m. ET to put in claims. The New England Patriots, sitting at the 31st spot in waiver priority, have a full 53-man roster right now, but they’re absolutely still on the hunt for depth upgrades. Who could they snag to really shake things up?
Can We Please Get a Dynamic Returner and Some Secondary Help?
First up, Charlie Jones, WR/KR. The Patriots are set at wide receiver, no doubt, but finding a consistent kick returner this offseason? That was a struggle. They cycled through several options in preseason and none of them even hit a 30-yard return. Jones, on the other hand, has been an absolute electrifying returner for the Bengals for three years, including two kick return touchdowns! Is that enough to justify rostering seven wide receivers? Or will they stick with Kyle Williams as their guy? They gotta make a choice here.
Then there’s Kani Walker, a defensive back out of the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills. The Patriots kept six cornerbacks on their 53-man roster, with Charles Woods and rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada making the cut. But let’s be real, the group’s play was inconsistent throughout the summer. Walker was a bit of a surprise cut after a strong preseason and brings some serious size at 6’2 to the boundary. He could instantly beef up that secondary depth, which honestly needs it.
Beefing Up That Pass Rush and Finding Some Project Players
The Patriots’ pass rush group remains one of the weakest spots on the roster. They only kept Gabe Jacas and Quintayvious Hutchins to back up Dre’Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder. Adding pass-rush help should be priority number one. Adisa Isaac, a 2024 third-round pick, is expected to draw interest around the league. He’s dealt with injuries early in his career, sure, but he flashed some real potential with a strong preseason. He’s exactly the kind of high-upside player you grab off waivers.
Elsewhere along the edge, we have Sam Williams. The 27-year-old Williams racked up 9.5 sacks across three seasons as a rotational pass rusher for the Cowboys. He missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL and was suspended for three games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. That’s a red flag, for sure, but his physical, violent skill set is definitely appealing. If he can clean up the discipline, he could be a huge steal. And hey, the Patriots also got a first-hand look at two project players from the Eagles, DL Joshua Weru and Uar Bernard, during joint practices and a preseason game. These guys are new to the game, coming through the International Player Pathway Program, but who knows what kind of raw talent they could bring?
The waiver wire deadline is 1 p.m. ET, so we’re gonna know fast who the Patriots are bringing in to shake things up. These are the guys who could seriously beef up the roster where it counts, so we’re all gonna be glued to our phones waiting for those claims to drop!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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