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Breaking down the Patriots roster

The Patriots will be shooting for their 12th straight season of at least 10 wins this year. John Tlumacki/Globe Staff

The Patriots' offseason essentially boils down to one name, one move: signing cornerback Darrelle Revis. In recent years, despite a lack of variety or reliable targets for Tom Brady, New England's offense has proven to be more than good enough — it was the defense that was problematic. The unit showed signs of improvement last year, only to lose three core players to injury, then have its best corner (Aqib Talib) knocked out of the AFC Championship game. Now that Revis is in the fold, will he really be the difference-maker so many think he can be? That question will start to be answered on Sept. 7 in Miami, but it is most important that the answer is in the affirmative in January . . . or Feb. 1 in Phoenix.

A breakdown of the Patriots' roster and a synopsis of how it's changed since last season (contract status in parentheses; * denotes players suspended for first four games):

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WIDE RECEIVER

Danny Amendola (2017); Aaron Dobson (2016); Julian Edelman (2017); Brandon LaFell (2016); Matthew Slater (2014); Kenbrell Thompkins (2015); *Brian Tyms (2014)

It isn't the addition of LaFell and Tyms that makes this group better — it is the hope Dobson and Thompkins have taken the Year 2 step forward after working with Brady, and that Amendola can stay healthy long enough to be the player New England hoped he would be when he was signed last year. Playing 16 games last season for the first time in his career, Edelman rose to the occasion and was rewarded with a new contract. If training camp is any indication, he remains a favorite target for Brady.

Change since last year: Better

RUNNING BACK

Brandon Bolden (2014); FB James Develin (2014); Stevan Ridley (2014); Shane Vereen (2014); James White (2017)

Not much changed, save for the addition of fourth-round pick White. Lauded for his maturity, smarts and vision, White's size (5 feet 10 inches, 206 pounds) could prove problematic because he's undersized for the position. The Patriots want Ridley to be the primary ball carrier, but it is imperative he holds onto the ball. When healthy, Vereen is dynamic out of the backfield or split wide. The hard-working Develin has earned the respect of Brady and teammates.

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Change since last year: Same

QUARTERBACK

Tom Brady (2017); Jimmy Garoppolo (2017)

This will be the fourth straight year the Patriots have gone with just two quarterbacks — though one half of this duo is different. After making impressive strides during training camp, rookie Garoppolo gave the team enough confidence to make him Brady's only backup. After making do last year with pass-catchers that differed game to game (in part to injuries), Brady could have more consistency from that group this year, or at least see his hard work teaching the youngsters last year pay off.

Change since last year: Same

OFFENSIVE LINE

Marcus Cannon (2014); Dan Connolly (2014); Jordan Devey (2015); Cameron Fleming (2017); Josh Kline (2015); Nate Solder (2014); Bryan Stork (2017); Sebastian Vollmer (2016); Ryan Wendell (2015)

The best lineman the Patriots had, Logan Mankins, was traded, and the team's longtime line guru, Dante Scarnecchia, retired. This will be a major test for Dave DeGuglielmo in his first year in charge of the offensive line. ,He'll try to mold a group that will give Brady confidence in the pocket and open holes in the run game. For the first time in a long time, it's not clear who the starting five will be on opening day.

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Change since last year: Worse

TIGHT END

Rob Gronkowski (2019); Michael Hoomanawanui (2015); Timothy Wright (2015)

To get the offense at its best requires two players: Brady and Gronkowski. The latter has played just 18 of the Patriots' past 32 regular-season games because of injuries, surgeries and recoveries. He may not be at his very best early in the season as he returns from ACL surgery, but Gronkowski draws attention whenever he is on the field. Wright, acquired recently from Tampa Bay, can be the "move" tight end New England likes to have in its offense.

Change since last year: Same

DEFENSIVE LINE

Michael Buchanan (2016); Dominique Easley (2017); Bruce Gaston (2016); Chandler Jones (2015); Chris Jones (2016); Zach Moore (2017); Rob Ninkovich (2016); Kelcy Quarles (2016); Sealver Siliga (2014); Joe Vellano (2015); Vince Wilfork (2016)

This bunch looks better mostly because it has some depth. Last year, there was precious little at defensive tackle behind the two starters, and when both Wilfork and Tommy Kelly went down, the jobs were thrust upon Vellano and Chris Jones, at the time both inexperienced rookies. Returning from a torn Achilles', Wilfork looks strong. Easley has been brought in as an interior pass rusher, but he will be brought along slowly as he returns from a torn ACL and learns his responsibilities.

Change since last year: Better

LINEBACKERS

Jamie Collins (2016); Darius Fleming (2015); Dont'a Hightower (2015); Jerod Mayo (2017)

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It's difficult to grade this group. Having four pure linebackers doesn't look good, but do the Patriots really only have four? In the preseason, Chandler Jones and Ninkovich were lined up as outside linebackers when New England was in a 3-4, so if they are swing players going between defensive end and linebacker, this group looks a lot better. Going with just Collins, Hightower, Mayo and the untested Fleming, it looks thin. Collins will be intriguing to watch this year, however — an athletic wunderkind, he could be asked to do myriad things on the field.

Change since last year: Unknown

CORNERBACKS

Kyle Arrington (2015); *Brandon Browner (2016); Malcolm Butler (2016); Alfonzo Dennard (2015); Darrelle Revis (2015); Logan Ryan (2016)

Adding Revis to your roster is like adding butter to anything — it just makes things better. Still one of the best corners in the league last year, even as he was regaining some confidence in the wake of his 2012 ACL tear, this year Revis is well past the injury, playing for a contract, and playing to show the youngsters at his position he's still the top dog. Butler was a revelation during training camp, and Ryan flashed early, then seemed to plateau. One of those two will likely start while Browner serves his four-game suspension.

Change since last year: Better

SAFETIES

Patrick Chung (2014); Nate Ebner (2015); Duron Harmon (2016); Don Jones (2016); Devin McCourty (2014); Tavon Wilson (2015)

Last year, you knew you'd get strong play out of McCourty but you couldn't say the same about whomever he was paired with. This year, same thing. The Patriots paired every safety with McCourty during training camp, and even started mixing Arrington and Ryan in late in the preseason. Wilson could be the surprise winner of the other safety spot, at least to start the season.

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Change since last year: Same

SPECIALISTS

P Ryan Allen (2015); K Stephen Gostkowski (2014)

For the first time in Bill Belichick's tenure, he enters the season without a dedicated long snapper; the duties will likely fall to Ninkovich. Gostkowski hit a career-best 60-yard field goal and his kickoffs were still sailing out of the end zone during the preseason, so his leg seems as strong as ever. Allen quietly had a good rookie season for the Patriots.

Change since last year: Same