6 Patriots Who Could Be Cut Before Playing a Snap

It's a new era for the New England Patriots.

We've known for months Jerod Mayo would be the new head coach after Bill Belichick moved on. However, seeing him on the sidelines for training camp made it feel official.

In addition to having a new head coach, the Pats are again turning to a new signal-caller. This time, it's Drake Maye who they selected third overall from North Carolina. New England wants him to be the face of the franchise but the presence of Jacoby Brissett means they don't have to force him onto the field.

The majority of their news will follow players such as Maye but others on the roster find themselves fighting to prove themselves in camp. Here we look at six such players who are new to the franchise and could be released before taking a regular-season snap with the Patriots.

6. Dell Pettus, Safety

A standout safety for Troy, Dell Pettus was a two-time All-Sun Belt honoree. He had 315 tackles, with one interception, and two forced fumbles for the Trojans. His performance was impressive but the 5-foot-11, 200-pounder is a long shot to make the team.

Kyle Duggar and Jabril Peppers have the top spots locked down, with Peppers recently signing a three-year extension. Jaylin Hawkins offers plenty of experience with 58 games and 25 starts under his belt as a reserve and while the rest of their options aren't household names, Pettus finds himself with a lot of ground to cover in order to climb the depth chart.