Patriots Release 2020 NFL Draft Bust

The New England Patriots added a lot of new names to the roster and they had to make enough room for everyone. Some of the players had to go, and the list includes the Patriots 2020 NFL draft bust.

Justin Rohrwasser.

Head coach Bill Belichick decided to release the 2020 fifth-round selection in the first wave of cuts. Rohrwasser joined the Patriots as a replacement for Stephen Gostkowski. However, he struggled with injuries and his training camp performance destroyed his chances to make an impact.

Veteran kicker Nick Folk re-signed with the team and had a brilliant season. Roberto Aguayo joined the Patriots practice unit late last season.

Rohrwasser has strong legs and NFL teams could really use that. He needed more time to recover and gain confidence. Will other NFL teams give him a chance to show his true talent?

The Patriots didn’t stop with the 2020 NFL draft bust

Belichick cut two other second-year players on Tuesday.

Cassh Maluia is one of them. New England has enough depth in the linebacker group and Belichick had to cut some of the players. The Patriots got Maluia in the sixth round of the draft, right after Rohrwasser. The California native had some nice flashes and many thought he’d be able to make an impact. However, his progress got stuck in the middle od nowhere.

Maluia appeared in nine games and played on special teams. He didn’t record a tackle. Belichick liked his aggressiveness and speed, and maybe he will get a chance to play with another team.

Michael Pinckney had to go too. The Patriots added him to the practice unit in 2020. The NFL hit him with a six-game suspension for violating the PEDs policy. New England signed him to a futures deal but the arrival of Raekwon McMillan and Kyle Van Noy changed his fortune. Dont’a Hightower will return, too. So, yes, New England had enough linebackers.

The Patriots may not add a kicker in the 2021 NFL Draft. But they may invite an undrafted free agent. Belichick won’t spend his draft picks on kickers.