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Base Case - First 2026 53-Man Roster

mgteich

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ADDED Gilliam and took out the #6 WR
ADDED Muma as Player 54

We'll see who is replaced in the next 4 months. I also have all the draftees making the 53. This seems to be Vrabel's style.

OFFENSE (24)
QB (3) Maye, Divito, Morton
WR (5) Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Williams, Boutte
RB (3) Stevenson, Henderson, Miller
FB (1) Gilliam
TE (3) Henry, Hill, Raridon
OT (4) Campbell, Moses, Lomu, Crownover
IOL (5) AVT, Wilson, Onwenu, Brown, Wallace

DEFENSE (25)
DL (6) Williams, Barmore, Durden, Farmer, Gregory, Taylor
EDGE/OLB (6) Jones, Jacas, Landry, Ponder, Swinson, Hutchins
ILB (4) Spillane, Ellis, Britt, Obiazor
CB) (6) Gonzalez, Davis, Jones, Woods, Prunty, Vildor
S (3) Woodson, Byard, Pettus

SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
ST (4) Borregales, Baringer, Ashby, Schooler

PLAYER 54 (someone I don't want to cut)
Muma
 
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We'll see who is replaced in the next 4 months. I included the required UDFA player. I also have all the draftees making the 53. This seems to be Vrabel's style.

OFFENSE (24)
QB (3) Maye, Divito, Morton
WR (6) Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Williams, Boutte, Dixon
RB (3) Stevenson, Henderson, Miller
TE (3) Henry, Hill, Riordan
OT (4) Campbell, Moses, Lomu, Crownover
IOL (5) AVT, Wilson, Onwenu, Brown, Wallace

DEFENSE (25)
DL (6) Williams, Barmore, Durden, Farmer, Gregory, Taylor
EDGE/OLB (6) Jones, Jacas, Landry, Ponder, Swinson, Hutchins
ILB (4) Spillane, Ellis, Britt, Obiazor
CB) (6) Gonzalez, Davis, Jones, Woods, Prunty, Vildor
S (3) Woodson, Byard, Pettus

SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
ST (4) Borregales, Baringer, Ashby, Schooler
Did you forget Reggie Gilliam or cut him intentionally?
 
Don't want to nit pik but believe the #3 TE is Raridon not Reardon...
 
OFFENSE (24)
QB (2) Maye, Divito
WR (5) Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams
RB (5) Stevenson, Henderson, Larison, Miller, Gilliam
TE (3) Henry, Hill, Raridon
OT (4) Moses, Campbell, Lomu, Crownover
IOL (5) Onwenu, AVT, Wilson, Brown, Wallace

DEFENSE (25)
DL (5) Williams, Barmore, Durden, Farmer, Taylor
EDGE/OLB (5) Jones, Landry, Ponder, Jacas, Hutchins
ILB (5) Spillane, Ellis, Muma, Swinson, Obiazor
CB) (6) Gonzalez, Davis, Jones, Vildor, Woods, Prunty
S (4) Byard, Woodson, Brown, Pettus

SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
ST (4) Borregales, Baringer, Ashby, Schooler
 
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Chism over Dixon
Larison over Miller

The ILB and CB depth are weak
Hutchins and Obiazor are not making this team
 
OFFENSE (25)
QB (3) Maye, Divito, Morton
WR (6) Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams, Dixon (1 UDFA to make it. Douglas traded (7/6th) Chism = PS
RB (3) Stevenson, Henderson, Miller
FB (1) Gilliam
TE (3) Henry, Hill, Riordan
OT (4) Campbell, Moses, Lomu, Crownover (Bryant = PS)
IOL (5) AVT, Wilson, Onwenu, Brown, Wallace

DEFENSE (23)
DL (5) Williams, Barmore, Durden, Farmer, Gregory,
ED (5) Jones, Jacas, Landry, Ponder, Swinson
LB (3) Spillane, Ellis, Britt, ????
CB) (5) Gonzalez, Davis, Jones, Woods, Dial
S (6) Woodson, Byard, Pettus, Prunty (plays both CB/S but is listed here)

SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
ST (4) Borregales, Baringer, Ashby, Schooler


Frankly I don't think this team is entirely done even after AJ Brown. I could see them trying to find a cheap depth LB option. And yes.. this has 2 draft picks going to the PS. Hutchings/Obiazor. Obiazor could potential get a spot though if he shows he is one of the top 2/3 STs options on this team.

Also a depth safety option wouldn't be out of line either.

Edit: Forgot Mapu was traded too. I really don't know what the plan at LB is then. I don't like anyone past their starters.
 
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OFFENSE (25)
QB (3) Maye, Divito, Morton
WR (6) Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams, Dixon (1 UDFA to make it. Douglas traded (7/6th) Chism = PS
RB (3) Stevenson, Henderson, Miller
FB (1) Gilliam
TE (3) Henry, Hill, Riordan
OT (4) Campbell, Moses, Lomu, Crownover (Bryant = PS)
IOL (5) AVT, Wilson, Onwenu, Brown, Wallace

DEFENSE (24)
DL (5) Williams, Barmore, Durden, Farmer, Gregory,
ED (5) Jones, Jacas, Landry, Ponder, Swinson
LB (4) Spillane, Ellis, Mapu, Britt
CB) (5) Gonzalez, Davis, Jones, Woods, Dial
S (6) Woodson, Byard, Pettus, Prunty (plays both CB/S but is listed here)

SPECIAL TEAMS (4)
ST (4) Borregales, Baringer, Ashby, Schooler


Frankly I don't think this team is entirely done even after AJ Brown. I could see them trying to find a cheap depth LB option. And yes.. this has 2 draft picks going to the PS. Hutchings/Obiazor. Obiazor could potential get a spot though if he shows he is one of the top 2/3 STs options on this team.

Also a depth safety option wouldn't be out of line either.
Mapu is gone
 
Don’t see Miller making this team.
The LB situation is bad, really interesting to see what will they do. Weird they didn’t retain Gibbens.
 
Don’t see Miller making this team.
The LB situation is bad, really interesting to see what will they do. Weird they didn’t retain Gibbens.
It appears they like Ellis, Muma and Britt more than I think they should.
That’s it now Spillane, Ellis, Muma and Britt are the off the ball LBs.
Any other that make the team with be special teams guys.
 
And yes.. this has 2 draft picks going to the PS. Hutchings/Obiazor.
It really shouldn't come as a shock if players after pick 200 don't make the roster.

That said, FWIW, Bradyn Swinson (#146) was apparently the highest-drafted 2025 rookie leaguewide to get cut in the preseason.
 
First Roster Projection

QB (3) Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton
RB (3) Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Battle #1
FB (1) Reggie Gilliam
TE (3) Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Julian Hill
WR (6) AJ Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Demario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte
IOL (4) Mike Onwenu, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Ben Brown
T (5) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu, Battle #2
DL (6) Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Corey Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Leonard Taylor III
EDGE (5) Harold Landry, Dre'Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas, Elijah Ponder, Battle #3
LB (4) Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Battle #4
CB (6) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Charles Woods, Battle #5
S (4) Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler
ST (3) Andy Borregales, Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby

Primary Roster Battles

Battle #1: RB3 - Jam Miller, Lan Larrison, Elijah Mitchell, Terrell Jennings

Battle #2: OT4/5 - Marcus Bryant, James Hudson, Dametrious Crownover

Battle #3: EDGE5 - Quintavious Hutchins, Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa

Battle #4: LB3/4 - KJ Britt, Chad Muma, Namdi Obiazor

Battle #5: CB5/6 - Kindle Vildor, Karon Prunty, Kobee Minor, Marcellus Dial

I expect the team to carry 4 IOL and 5 OT due to minimal true IOL depth, with 1-2 of the backup tackles able to kick inside if necessary to provide guard depth. I would expect Efton Chism to replace Kayshon Boutte if he is dealt
 
Pop Douglass too.
Douglas is traded or cut
Muma will have a similar impact as Gibbens did
Miller will make the 53
Not sold on Britt either
It's only April
 
Patriots News 04-26, Meet The Patriots’ 2026 Draft Class
MORSE: Patriots Day Three of NFL Draft, UDFA Signings
Patriots Grab A Big Offensive Tackle in Round Six On Saturday
Patriots Take a CB With Their First Pick on Day 3
Wolf Cites ‘Untapped Potential’ After Patriots Select Notre Dame Tight End Raridon
Patriots Trade-Up Landed Them a Defensive Menace in Jacas
TRANSCRIPT: Eliot Wolf Night Two Press Conference 4/24
MORSE: Patriots Don’t Sit Back, Team Trades up to Get Their Guy
TRANSCRIPT: Caleb Lomu’s Interview with New England media 4/23
MORSE: Patriots Make a Questionable Selection of Caleb Lomu in the First Round
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