Patriots Training Camp: Candidates that could be cut

It’s opening day for Patriots training camp! Woohoo! I honestly don’t get that excited for training camp. I’ve actually only been once to training camp. It’s fun to watch the players come out onto the fields, watch a couple scrimmages. The worst part is sitting out in the sun, watching a bunch of grown men doing stretches while everyone cheers. Only in New England…

Every year, the Patriots cut one or two guys and even trade one or two guys that no one could have expected. I remember in 2003 when the Patriots cut Lawyer Milloy. In hindsight, it made sense as the Patriots were trying to cut back on the salary cap hit, but no one would have guessed Milloy before it happened. Last year the team traded Jamie Collins midseason. In 2015, the Patriots traded Logan Mankins before the season started. In 2010, they traded Randy Moss during the season.

Bill Belichick often gets rid of veteran players that are complacent. He likes to keep players on the edge, leading to some good speculation every year about who will he cut this season. Well, here is my list of three potential Patriots that have potential of being cut before the start of the regular season that fans would not expect.

TE Dwayne Allen

The Patriots acquired Allen during the offseason from the Colts for a fourth-round pick. After the Patriots acquired Martellus Bennett the previous offseason for the same price and fans saw how good the tandem was, they immediately figured Allen would have high potential to do the same with the Patriots. However, reports are saying that Allen has struggled throughout camp. He dropped multiple passes and missed more. The price wasn’t a lot for Allen, so it isn’t hard to move away from him if he continues to struggle. I don’t think Allen’s roster spot is as much as a lock as most would think and the struggle raises whether he could be cut.

FB James Develin

Develin plays a position that is being phased out of the NFL but also a position that Belichick loves. It makes it a little less likely Develin will get the axe, but the Patriots backfield is rather crowded. They added Rex Burkhead and Mike Gillislee to Brandon Bolden, Dion Lewis, James White and others. The Patriots roster doesn’t have enough spots for all these guys. It wouldn’t surprise me if they cut Develin.

WR Danny Amendola

Amendola has had ups and downs every year with the Patriots, catching 53 passes in 2013 for the Patriots, 27 in 2014, 65 in 2015 and then 23 last season. Amendola took a pay cut this offseason, making it easier financially to move on, however cruel that would be. But with Brandin Cooks now on the team and Malcom Mitchell emerging as a target while Julian Edelman has been a staple to the Patriots’ offense, Amendola could find himself the odd man out of the pack. Another candidate could be WR Chris Hogan, but Hogan isn’t as redundant as having Amendola on the roster. Amendola is a slot receiver and the Patriots have multiple slot receivers on the roster. Hogan is bigger and runs deep routes, which could be a good pairing with Cooks.