With the official start to training camp now less than 48 hours away it's time to start thinking about the construction of the 2015 Patriots. Over the next few weeks, the coaches will try to determine the right mix while making difficult decisions as they put together the roster. Over the years Bill Belichick has used different formulas making his cuts, and the overall composition of the roster varies from year to year.
With that in mind we offer the following chart with a position-by-position breakdown of how Belichick has chosen to open each season. The numbers are from opening day rosters, so obviously with Belichick there's constant tinkering that goes on each and every year. But this offers some guidelines to keep in mind when trying to determine how many players will be kept at each position.
| YEAR | QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | CB | S | K | P | LS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2001 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 | 4* | 7 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Note – Wide receiver Terry Glenn opened the 2001 season on the reserve/left camp list, leaving the Patriots with 52 players on the active roster. They also opened the 2003 and 2004 seasons with only 52 players.
* --Kevin Faulk was suspended for the 2008 season opener and wasn't officially on the roster.
