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3 Patriots Veterans Fighting for Their Jobs After the NFL Draft

By Scott Rogust

These three Patriots veterans could be fighting for their jobs following the NFL Draft.
These three Patriots veterans could be fighting for their jobs following the NFL Draft. / Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

While the New England Patriots aren't admitting it, they basically began their rebuild at the start of the 2020 league year. Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski have reunited with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving head coach Bill Belichick with the opportunity to restock his team with his hand-selected players. Now, with 10 rookies headed to Foxborough via the NFL Draft, that means some veterans have a slim chance of keeping their spots on the roster.

With that in mind, let's identify three players who could eventually be cut before the start of the upcoming regular season.

3. TE Matt LaCosse

The Patriots selected two tight ends in the second round, leaving Matt LaCosse on the outside looking in.
The Patriots selected two tight ends in the second round, leaving Matt LaCosse on the outside looking in. / Mark Brown/Getty Images

The Patriots found out (later than the rest of us) that replacing Rob Gronkowski is nearly impossible. Veteran Ben Watson couldn't make an impact on the field, and neither could Matt LaCosse, formerly a member of the Denver Broncos and New York Giants. Before the draft, LaCosse ranked as the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart, but that spot is in danger after the team selected UCLA's Devin Asiasi and Virginia Tech's Dalton Keene in the third round. This is no knock on LaCosse, but the two rookies bring greater potential as pass-catchers than the veteran ever could. Thus, LaCosse will be shown the door before the start of the season.

2. S Terrence Brooks

Terrence Brooks could be shown the door, because they certainly won't cut Patrick Chung.
Terrence Brooks could be shown the door, because they certainly won't cut Patrick Chung. / Kathryn Riley/Getty Images

This decision is a tough one, but one safety has to be cut before New England's regular season opener against the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots used their first selection to pick Kyle Dugger out of Division II's Lenoir-Rhyne. Dugger has elite potential that could only grow under the defensive-minded Belichick, and he'll eventually crack the starting lineup. But which safety will be shown the door? It won't be Jason McCourty or Patrick Chung, which makes the obvious choice Terrence Brooks, who didn't start a single game for New England last season. Cutting ties with Brooks frees up nearly $2 million in cap space, while accounting for only $250,000 in dead cap. It's an easy move for the Pats.

1. WR Mohamed Sanu

Trading for Mohamed Sanu turned out to be a disaster for the Patriots.
Trading for Mohamed Sanu turned out to be a disaster for the Patriots. / Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Remember when everyone lauded the Patriots for trading for Mohamed Sanu instead of Emmanuel Sanders. Man, did that decision ever backfire for New England. Sanders lit up the stat sheet with the San Francisco 49ers, while Sanu was a liability for the Patriots. With Brady throwing him the ball, Sanu only caught 26 of 47 targets for a measly 201 yards and one single touchdown. Usually, Rutgers alums thrive under Belichick (i.e. the McCourty twins, Logan Ryan, etc.), but Sanu was an unfortunate exception. To make matter worse for the former Atlanta Falcon, the Patriots basically made him redundant with the addition of Marquise Lee. New England can save $6.5 million in cap space by outright cutting Sanu. Safe to say, he isn't long for the Patriots.