Locks:Malcom Brown, Dominique Easley, Alan Branch
Bubble: Chris Jones, Sealver Siliga, Joe Vellano
Long shots: Antonio Johnson, Vince Taylor
BREAKDOWN: Brown and Easley, the team's most recent first-round draft picks, represent perhaps the next great, young Patriots d-line, in the mold of Seymour/Warren/Wilfork more than a decade ago. Branch is a solid veteran whose massive size alone is worth keeping around. The next tier of tackles is intriguing, with versatile guys like Siliga, Jones, and Vellano who can play both tackle and end, depending on the personnel grouping. Johnson was a futures-contract signing after the Super Bowl and Taylor is a rookie free agent. It's not out of the realm of possibility for either to have a chance, but they'll have to make the most of every single snap they get this summer.
