NFL cutdown day has a certain finality to it. With rosters being trimmed from 90 to 53 players, it marks a key point in the transition from the offseason to the regular season. It also crushes the dreams of hundreds of players hoping to find a spot on a team.

And yet, it is not the be-all and end-all that it appears to be. Yes, it shows the painful reality that some roster hopefuls are simply not considered good or valuable enough. But it also is only one snapshot in an always-evolving process: no NFL roster is ever final, and what can be true one day doesn’t have to be the next.

Naturally, questions will therefore always remain coming out on the other side of the roster cut deadline. Some may look a bit different due to those very cuts, but others loom as prominent as ever.

For the New England Patriots, some prominent questions are still unanswered at this point in time.

Who will start at quarterback?

Arguably the biggest question in all of New England right now: will Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye serve as the team’s starting quarterback to open the 2024 season. The rookie has “outplayed” the veteran recently, according to head coach Jerod Mayo, but that does not automatically mean he will be QB1 heading into the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Unless the Patriots made a drastic decision — think: Cam Newton getting released in 2021 — cutdown day never could have provided an answer to the starting quarterback question. However, it does seemingly set the stage for what is to come: Mayo said that he is planning to announce the winner of the QB competition to the team once cuts are in the books.

What will the offensive line look like?

Throughout all of training camp, their offensive line looked like a potential Achilles’ heel for the Patriots. With 20 open practices and three preseason games in the books, little has changed from that perspective: the line remains unsettled.

Outside of the center spot held by team captain David Andrews, every other seemingly is still open for competition. The Patriots did remove some bodies from the equation when they cut players such as Atonio Mafi or moved Calvin Anderson to injured reserve, but those transactions brought no clarity beyond just how many O-linemen would find themselves on the initial 53-man squad.

With potential waiver wire pickups or free agency signings looming, even that number — nine, at the moment — is not set in stone. There are still plenty of loose ends to be tied up.

Where is the wiggle room?

Speaking of waiver wire pickups, the Patriots’ top decision makers repeatedly mentioned their club’s position on the waiver wire over recent media availabilities. The plan is to be aggressive, but whether it comes to fruition has to be seen.

Fact is, however, that the Patriots could have cut their roster beyond the 53-player limit in anticipation of any pickups (our final roster projection, for example, had just 52 in-house players make the team). That did not happen, leaving the question who would be next to go in case one or multiple players are added through waivers or free agency.

At first glance, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, tight end Jaheim Bell, offensive lineman Michael Jordan, defensive tackle Trysten Hill, cornerbacks Alex Austin and Marcellas Dial Jr., or safety Dell Pettus appear to be on the hottest of seats. What the future has in store for them over the next 24-plus hours will be fascinating to see.

Who will replace Christian Barmore (and until when)?

The Patriots seem to be cautiously optimistic when it comes to Christian Barmore after his blood clots diagnosis. The starting defensive tackle was placed on the non-football injury/illness list, but designated to return: once healthy, Barmore can come back to the 53-man roster this season.

Until that happens, though, New England needs to find a way to replace him. How they will do so is anybody’s guess given that the team kept multiple candidates aboard: Daniel Ekuale, Jeremiah Pharms Jr. and Trysten Hill could all contribute and try to told down the fort until Barmore’s return either in 2024 or at a later point.

Will one of them emerge as a 1-for-1 replacement (in role not quality), though? We don’t know yet.

Who will emerge as the core special teamers?

Early in training camp, Jerod Mayo stressed the importance of his players being able to fit into more than just one box. He said that in regards to the kicking game: the days of core special teamers in the mold of Matthew Slater seem to be over.

Still, somebody has to line up in the game’s third phase. The only lock to do so on all four coverage or return units seems to be Brenden Schooler, with fellow defensive backs Isaiah Bolden and Dell Pettus as well as linebacker Christian Elliss also strong candidates. Based on the roster as it presents itself at the moment, however, there is no telling who else may or may not play a similar role in the game’s third phase in 2024.