LinksNew England Patriots links 8/13/19 - Belichick: Roster bubble? “I don’t know what the bubble is”New Andre Tippett Jersey ,14commentsDaily news and links for TuesdayEDTTEAM TALKGame Preview: Patriots at Titans.Training Camp: Final open practice today at 10:30.Patriots re-sign OL Cole Croston; release rookie DB D’Angelo Ross.Paul Perillo’s Day 12 Blogservations: Isaiah Wynn saw his most extensive work of the summer at Monday’s practice; Injury update; Jon Bon Jovi and Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy were guests at practice; More.Erik Scalavino shares his training camp news and notes from Monday at Gillette: Ryan Allen taking mature approach to punting competition; More.Mike Dussault resets the Patriots roster bubble: It’s hard to remember a year the Patriots defense has been more stacked at defensive end/outside linebacker; More.Press Conference transcript: Bill Belichick.Media Availability transcript: Devin McCourty.Angelique Fiske gives us 4 takeaways from Duron Harmon’s ‘Patriots Off Topic’ interview.Meet the Rookies: N’Keal Harry. Harry’s passion for football drives him to fight for every ball thrown his way. (1.34 min. video)One-on-One: Brian Hoyer (1.34 min. video)WEEI Patriots Monday: Tom Brady - Duron Harmon - James White - Bill Belichick.LOCAL LINKSPhil Perry sends another Postcard from Camp: Full pads; Wynn is in; QBs in competitive 11-on-11 work; Marcus Cannon had to run a lap at one point during the 11-on-11 period, but he flattened Michael Bennett and Deatrich Wise in one-on-one work earlier in the day; More.Mark Daniels Training camp notebook: Isaiah Wynn takes big step forward; defense dominates.Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Training Camp Observations: Defense impressive again; During 1-on-1s Jonathan Jones flattened Berrios with a jolting hit but the WR came back and made a really nice over the shoulder catch after almost going down again on a hit from Duke Dawson; More.Ryan Hannable’s training camp observations, Day 12: Isaiah Wynn takes major step to being ready for Week 1; Maurice Harris had a rare drop; Joejuan Williams had perhaps his best practice of the summer; More.Evan Lazar’s Camp Notebook Day 12: Isaiah Wynn participates in contact drills; Nate Ebner, rookie CB Ken Webster and RB Rex Burkhead all returned to practice; More.Andrew Callahan offers his training camp observations: Tom Brady takes command, Isaiah Wynn makes progress, interceptions pile up and more.Joy Manning (BostonSportsChick) Pats camp notes and pics: While no longer wearing Gronk’s favorite number, Jakobi Meyers was still making all of the catches at camp; More.CBS Boston’s Patriots Practice Report: N’Keal Harry’s injury a disappointment as rookie tries to build rapport with Tom Brady; More.Mike Reiss reports the Patriots acquired third-year TE Eric Saubert from the Falcons on Monday for a conditional 7th-round draft pick.Phil Perry breaks down Isaiah Wynn’s first full-contact reps of Patriots campMike Reiss states that Isaiah Wynn’s importance to the Patriots is magnified by the drop-off on the depth chart after him. Matt Dolloff says that for Brandon Bolden, it’s about earning his leader status all over again with the Patriots.Isaiah Houde (PatriotsWire) Devin McCourty playfully ribs Michael Bennett about similarities to his brother.Steve Balestrieri (PatsFans) Patriots injuries now put tight end in murkier territory.Jacob Camenker passes along a report that TE Matt LaCosse has sprained ankle, won’t play on Saturday vs. Titans.Zack Cox relays Lance Kendricks explaining why he viewed his camp injury as a blessing in disguise.Mac Cerullo presents his latest 53-man roster projection: Rivers’ stock rises, more uncertainty at tight end.Tyler Sullivan breaks down the Patriots depth chart: Undrafted receiver Jakobi Meyers, second-year returner Braxton Berrios emerging.Nick O’Malley reminds us that Bill Belichick has no use for your roster bubble questions.D Coppola (BostonSportsExtra) Prime candidates for the Patriots defensive coordinator role next year.CBS Boston presents a Guide to Gillette Stadium: Home of the New England Patriots.Sierra Goodwill, Alex Barth and Evan Lazar talk about notable absences from practice and their standout players of the day. (5.02 min. video)Sierra Goodwill, Alex Barth and Evan Lazar discuss whether Brian Hoyer played himself into the backup QB position or off the team. (6.14 min. video)Mike D’Abate (Megaphone) Locked-On Patriots podcast: A very Brady deal; More. (23 min.)NATIONAL NEWSChris Trapasso (CBS Sports) Inside Tom Brady’s offense: Here’s how the Patriots fared using motion versus going without it.Mike Tanier (Bleacher Report) Gridiron Digest: Patriots reloaded and ready to dominate (again).Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Falcons trade tight end Eric Saubert to Patriots.Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Patriots sign Cole Croston, waive/injured D’Angelo Ross. Ross will revert to injured reserve if he clears waivers.Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady: Feelings about no 2020 franchise tag aren’t for others to know.Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady would prefer not to change helmets, but knows it’s a rule.Albert Breer (SI) Monday Afternoon QB: Jon Gruden on Derek Carr; Kliff Kingsbury on Arizona’s offense; Kellen Moore’s coaching.Jason La Canfora (CBS Sports) NFL insider notes: The year of the young QB-guru head coach, latest on CBA talks, and an underrated kicker trade.Kevin Clark (The Ringer) Move over, rookies: Midlevel veterans are having a moment. “The NFL keeps getting younger Womens Irving Fryar Jersey , but the oldest teams are winning Super Bowls...”Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) Daniel Jones wins Giants job, Tom Brady passes Patriots torch and more Week 1 preseason overreactions. Bucky Brooks (NFL.com) Preseason grades, Week 1. QB Jarrett Stidham: B. “Yes, the Patriots’ clever play design consistently produced open receivers, but Stidham deserves credit for routinely hitting the strike zone with his passes on nearly all of his attempts.”/Puh-leeze...Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) NFL preseason winners and losers: Raiders delightfully chaotic.Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Older players tell their teammates how much easier training camp is today. /“Back in my day...” “Uphill, both ways...” “Get off my lawn” ... etc...Andy Benoit (SI) Team previews: Le’Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder should give Jets more offensive firepower.Tadd Haislop (Sporting News) NFL predictions 2019: Final standings, playoff projections, Super Bowl 54 pick. Pats 13-3, beat Browns in divisional round, lose to Chiefs in Championship round, Cowboys win Super Bowl. Dave Birkett (Detroit Free Press) Why NFL coaches are having no luck challenging pass interference.Jared Dubin (CBS Sports) 2019 NFL Rule Changes: Pass interference, blindside blocks among major shifts and revisions.EXTRACURRICULARMike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Arbitrator rules against Antonio Brown.Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Antonio Brown acknowledges arbitrator’s ruling.Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) NFL strikes deal to distribute data to sports betting operations. /Any psi data included? Where do the Patriots stand as we head into the draft?"The 2019 NFL Draft is one week away, with the first round starting on Thursday, April 25th and lasting into the weekend. The New England Patriots have done a solid job of building a roster through free agency that allows them to have a lot of flexibility during the draft.The Patriots are tied with the New York Giants for the most picks in the draft with 12, while the Patriots have a league-high six selections in the first three rounds. No team is better suited to capitalize on this upcoming draft than the Patriots.So with that in mind, I went through the roster to determine New England’s biggest roster needs for the 2019 NFL Draft.Low Needs11. Running backThe Patriots have no need at the running back position with the five players likely to make the roster- Sony Michel, James White Color Rush Hjalte Froholdt Jersey , Rex Burkhead, Brandon Bolden, and James Develin- all locked up through 2020 or beyond. Develin is the only player over the age of 30, so there isn’t an aging player that needs to be replaced.10. CornerbackThe Patriots don’t have a great need at cornerback, either. Stephon Gilmore is under contract through 2021 and is coming off an All Pro season. Jason McCourty is under contract through 2020 and while he turns 32 years old this summer, he’s still playing at a high level and there are players already on the roster that are ready to take over. J.C. Jackson has a ton of potential, while the team invested a second round pick in Duke Dawson last year. The lone question mark is with Jonathan Jones, who is a free agent after this 2019 season. Jones is a core special teams player that helped out on defense. Perhaps Keion Crossen, who made the roster last year, could be stashed as a long-term Jones replacement. Still, that just reinforces that cornerback is a small priority when you’re looking to replace your fifth cornerback for the 2020 season.9. SafetyThe Patriots secondary is in great shape since the safety position is set, too. Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, and Duron Harmon form the best safety trio in the league, and the team claimed former second-round pick Obi Melifonwu off waivers to round out the position. McCourty is the only player that is positioned to enter unrestricted free agency after the 2019 season, but it’s probable that the team will find a way to retain him.Both McCourty and Chung are turning 32-years-old this summer, so there is a need to plan for the future at this position. But they’re both still playing at a high level where finding their replacement is not a pressing need.8. LinebackerThe Patriots linebackers are coming off a strong season, with Dont’a Hightower Youth Hjalte Froholdt Jersey , Kyle Van Noy, and Elandon Roberts playing at a high level. Add in Ja’Whaun Bentley, who was a promising rookie before his season-ending injury, and the linebacker position is in great shape with no one over the age of 30.Still, Van Noy and Roberts are slated to be free agents after the 2019 season and Bentley is far from a proven commodity. There is some reason to keep an eye at this position, but there isn’t a need for 2019 and only the smallest need for 2020 at this point in time.Moderate Needst-6. Defensive tacklet-6. Defensive endBoth defensive line positions are in similar shape. All players projected to make the roster at either position are under contract or as a restricted free agent through the 2020 season. They boast a proven veteran that plays at a high level in Lawrence Guy and the Michael Bennett. They have a couple of rotational veterans that deserve to be on the field in Mike Pennel and Adam Butler, and in John Simon and Deatrich Wise.But then there are a whole lot of question marks and camp bodies fleshing out the roster. Derek Rivers, Keionta Davis, and Trent Harris are all promising young players on the edge, but they shouldn’t prevent the Patriots from drafting a player if a quality option slides down the board. With Bennett already 33 years old, the Patriots could address the position in the draft and no one should blink.The same competition doesn’t exist at defensive tackle, although there isn’t an aging veteran that needs to be replaced. David Parry, Ufomba Kamalu, and Frank Herron should not stop the Patriots from taking a defensive tackle if a player is available.Still, there isn’t a huge need at either position since we’re looking at the fourth man on the depth chart. I would expect the Patriots to take a flier on a defensive lineman or two late in the draft.5. Interior offensive lineShaq Mason (signed through 2023) and David Andrews (signed through 2020) are already under contract, but Joe Thuney, Ted Karras, and Brian Schwenke are free agents after 2019. Hopefully the Patriots can sign Thuney Womens Hjalte Froholdt Jersey , but the team should operate as if Thuney will not be back after this season and find a suitable replacement in the draft.I wouldn’t be shocked if the Patriots used one of their third or fourth round picks on an interior lineman. In fact, I expect them to.4. QuarterbackTom Brady is ageless and Brian Hoyer is as good of a back-up as you’ll find in the NFL, but both are old and both are free agents after 2019. I don’t think anyone expects Brady not to re-sign, so his “free agency” is more of a formality and the reason why I don’t have this position in the “high needs” section.Do the Patriots need to find a long-term replacement for Brady? Absolutely. Do they have to do it this year? Not really. They can afford to wait for the 2020 NFL Draft if they don’t find a player of their liking.Still, I would draft a quarterback in rounds 3 or 4 every year between now and Brady’s retirement just to increase the odds of finding a franchise quarterback. Will Grier or Ryan Finley, come on down!High Needs3. Offensive tackleMarcus Cannon turns 31 years old in May. There isn’t another proven player at the position on the roster.Sure, the Patriots invested a first round pick in Isaiah Wynn last year, but he tore his Achilles and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Who else is on the roster? Is Cole Croston the third-best offensive tackle, or could we make a real argument that sliding Joe Thuney out from guard to tackle would be the best move if there were an injury?Injuries happen and the third offensive tackle on the Patriots roster has averaged 25% of the offensive snaps over the past five seasons. Tackle is a big need.t-1. Wide receivert-1. Tight endWho do you trust out of the Patriots’ receivers, other than Julian Edelman, who turns 33-years-old in May? Braxton Berrios is the only receiver under contract beyond the 2019, highlighting how big of a need this position is as New England enters the draft.And at tight end, Austin Seferian-Jenkins is the only player with real starting experience and he’s a free agent after 2019. Would you trust any of the other tight ends on the roster to start at the position in 2019? Do you have expectations for any of the tight ends to develop into starters in 2020?Both wide receiver and tight end are major needs for the Patriots. New England could add two players at each position in the draft and I wouldn’t feel like the team was wasting any resources. These are the two biggest needs for the team. We’ll see how the roster looks after next weekend.