New England Patriots 2019 roster breakdown: #TBD OC Tyler Gauthier

The New England Patriots, who are currently in their middle of their 2019 training camp, have 90 players on their active roster at the moment. However, only 53 of them will be able to survive the cutdowns on August 31 and ultimately make the team. Over the course of the summer, we will take a look at the players fighting for those spots to find out who has the best chances of helping the Patriots defend their Super Bowl title.

Today, the series continues with one of New England’s undrafted rookie signings.

Name: Tyler Gauthier

Position: Center/guard

Jersey number: TBD (offseason #67)

Opening day age: 22

Experience: Rookie

Size: 6’5, 305 lbs.

2018 review: Coming off a junior season in which he started thirteen games and was named an honorable mention on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team, Tyler Gauthier returned for his senior year at the University of Miami. All in all, his final collegiate campaign was more of the same for the 6-foot-5, 305-pound lineman: he rarely left the field and was the starting center for twelve of the Hurricanes’ thirteen games.

His durability was not the only positive trait Gauthier displayed during the 2018 season. He also was solid as a run blocker and had his moments as a pass protector as well: while he did surrender nine hurries on the season, according to Pro Football Focus’ draft guide, he allowed just one hit and did not give up even a single sack. Gauthier therefore ended his college career on a high note, even though he was declared academically ineligible to play in the final game of the season.

Despite his combination of experience and productivity, Gauthier generated little momentum during the pre-draft process: he was neither invited to one of the exhibition games ahead of the draft nor to the scouting combine. Therefore, it was unsurprising to see his name not get called over the course of the NFL’s draft weekend. He did, however, get picked up during the subsequent free agency period.

2019 preview: New England brought Gauthier on board with its first wave of undrafted rookie signings, reuniting him with his former college roommates Braxton Berrios and Trent Harris. Like the two fellow Miami products, Gauthier is not guaranteed a spot on the team — too raw is he of a prospect, and too deep the Patriots’ interior offensive line. Realistically, the 22-year-old is therefore at best fighting for a spot on the practice squad.

In order to earn one of the ten spots on the developmental roster, Gauthier will have to show development in all parts of the game. So far during training camp this has not happened, though: he lost all three of his one-on-one reps over the first week of practices, and false-started on a fourth after which he had to run a penalty lap. While there is still plenty of time to turn things around, his start with the Patriots has not been encouraging.