The New England Patriots must slice their roster from 79 players to 53 by 4 p.m. ET on Saturday. As cutdown day approaches, here’s a closer look at each position battle:
QUARTERBACK
Locks: Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham
Near locks: Brian Hoyer
The Patriots theoretically could try to carry Hoyer on their practice squad, which now can include up to six players with unlimited NFL experience. But given Newton’s injury history, Stidham’s rocky summer and the ever-present threat of COVID-19, we’d keep all three. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise us if Hoyer, not Stidham, entered the season as New England’s No.