With less than one hour to go, the New England Patriots have added more players to their cutdown list. After already parting ways with 12 players earlier today, the team also waived undrafted rookies Myles Bryant and De’Jon Harris (via NESN’s Doug Kyed) as well as second-year man D’Angelo Ross. All three are now subject to the waiver wire, while the Patriots’ roster stands at 62.
CB Myles Bryant
Bryant had a very good training camp for an undrafted rookie with no on-field offseason to build on — registering three interceptions over the course of the open training camp practices. Given the quality ahead of him on the depth chart, however, it is no surprise to see the versatile 22-year-old get released. He should be a prime practice squad candidate, but making it through the waiver wire projects to be a challenge.
Bryant originally arrived in New England coming off a four-year career at the University of Washington — one that saw him grow from walk-on to a starting defensive back fairly quickly. After serving as a backup early during his career, he earned the starting nickel back job in Year Two and became a fixture in the Huskies’ defensive backfield over the three seasons that followed, appearing in 39 games and registered four interceptions.
LB De’Jon Harris
Harris had a solid start to the full-pads portion of training camp, but he is the odd man out at linebacker. The other players surrounding him — Ja’Whaun Bentley, Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche — are all locks to make the team and fill the move/inside roles, after all, which might have contributed to the Patriots’ decision to part ways with Harris. The team might try to get him back via the practice squad, though, to offer depth behind a young off-the-ball linebacker corps.
Coming to New England as a rookie free agent earlier this year, Harris joined the NFL coming off a solid stint at Arkansas. He appeared in a combined 48 games for the Razorbacks — 36 of which as one of the team’s starting inside linebackers. During those games, he proved himself a reliable presence at the heart of the team’s defense that led the SEC in regular season tackles in both 2018 and 2019.
CB D’Angelo Ross
Just like he did before the season-ending injury he suffered during his 2019 rookie season, Ross again faced an uphill battle this summer to make the Patriots’ roster due to the depth and talent ahead of him on the cornerback depth chart. The New Mexico product therefore spent training camp fighting for a potential depth spot at the position.
However, it seems as if his best bet of staying in New England comes via the practice squad — if he clears waivers. Ross has shown some positive traits, so the Patriots might try to bring him back to offer another developmental player at the deepest position on the team.