Patriots Set 53-Man Roster
The Patriots have set their first 53-man roster in a post-Bill Belichick era. The team announced the following moves:
Released:
- S Joshuah Bledsoe
- OT Kellen Diesch
- OL Liam Fornadel
- LB Joe Giles-Harris
- RB Kevin Harris
- RB Terrell Jennings
- LB Kobe Jones
- WR Matt Landers
- G Atonio Mafi
- DE Jotham Russell
- K Chad Ryland (story)
- S A.J. Thomas
- CB Shaun Wade
- WR David Wallis
- TE Mitchell Wilcox
- QB Bailey Zappe (story)
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- WR Kendrick Bourne (story)
- G Cole Strange
- LB Sione Takitaki
Placed on reserve/NFI list:
Placed on IR:
- OL Calvin Anderson
- S Marte Mapu (designated to return)
- DT Armon Watts
Atonio Mafi was a fifth-round pick by the Patriots just last year, and he ended up starting five of his 17 appearances as a rookie. It wasn’t pretty for the UCLA alumni, as Pro Football Focus ultimately graded Mafi as the second-worst qualifying guard in the NFL (among 79 qualifying players).
Kevin Harris was a sixth-round pick by New England in 2022, but the running back struggled to carve out a role through his two seasons with the squad. The South Carolina product was ultimately limited to nine appearances (one start), collecting 175 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
Minor NFL Transactions: 6/3/24
Monday’s minor NFL moves:
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR David Wallis
- Waived: OL Andrew Stueber
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Jaray Jenkins
- Waived (with injury designation): CB Luq Barcoo
The Patriots are letting go of 2022 seventh-round pick Stueber. In two years with the team, the Michigan-product has yet to appear in an NFL contest, spending his rookie season on the reserve/non-football injury list and his sophomore campaign on the practice squad. He’s replaced by Wallis, an undrafted rookie free agent out of Randolph-Macon College. Wallis had attended New England’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis and left without a deal, but he’ll get an opportunity now. In 42 games at the Division III level, Wallis caught 146 balls for 3,144 yards and 34 touchdowns.
Jenkins is an undrafted free agent from last offseason. Coming out of LSU, he signed with the Jaguars but was released from IR at the start of the season. He’ll now have a chance to make a depth impact in a Steelers receiving corps with question marks behind the presumed starters. He takes the spot of Barcoo, who hasn’t appeared in an NFL contest since 2020.