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The New England Patriots‘ 2016 training camp is underway. Players fight for practice repetitions and playing time to earn one of the 53 spots on the roster. They have until late August, when each team has to start making its roster cuts, to secure a role.
Until then, players have to secure their spots on the team; they need to do their jobs (well) or someone else will. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will take a look at the men fighting for those spots on the 2016 New England Patriots. Today, we’ll continue the series with guard Jon Halapio.
Name: Jon Halapio
Position: Offensive guard
Jersey number: 59
Age: 25
Experience: 2
Size: 6’2, 320 lbs.
2015 review: Halapio started the 2015 league year with the Denver Broncos, who originally signed the former Patriots sixth round draft pick in December 2014. After the Broncos released Halapio in May, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals, who released him during early September roster cuts.
Halapio was not signed by another NFL team and instead – for the second time in his career – joined the FXFL, where he spent the entire 2015 season. Just prior to training camp he returned to the NFL, when the Patriots signed Halapio to a one-year, $450,000 contract.
2016 preview: While the Patriots’ offensive line struggled in 2015, the team did address especially the interior over the course of the offseason by adding young talent to the already returning players. As a result, New England is now rather deep at all three interior spots. And that does not bode well for Halapio as the 25-year old guard currently sits at the bottom of his position’s crowded depth chart.
While he does have a little experience within New England’s offense from his previous four month stint with the Patriots (albeit under a different offensive line coach), his low ceiling makes Halapio an emergency injury option at best. Therefore, it seems likely that Halapio’s second tenure in Foxboro will be even shorter than his first – despite him still being eligible for the practice squad.
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Jon Halapio has not yet been able to solidify a role on an NFL team. He might be able to do just that and get his professional career back on track in the familiar environment of Foxboro, Massachusetts. However, considering the Patriots’ depth at the offensive guard position, it would be a major surprise if he did.