Base Case - First 2026 53-Man Roster

[DaBruinz]

Not weird to me. Vrabel likes Britt and Muma more than Gibbens.

Likes Muma so much that he only play 24 whole defensive snaps in the 2 "gimmee games" against the Jets and Phins last year.
You ever stop and think that Gibbens would have been more expensive to keep than the guy already under contract? Especially since Gibbens would have been an RFA signing..

 

[DaBruinz]

No chance.

They could slide anyone but Gilliam to the practice squad and nobody is coming to steal them. Many teams don't even use a FB. Larison is a RB, a smallish one.. not a FB.

Westover wasn't good last season, Lampe can't stay healthy and isn't much of an athlete, this massive TE/FB UDFA is a also poor athlete... there's nothing here.

5'11 and 209 is "smallish" for a RB? Since when? I mean, it's not Rhamondre Stevenson, but Larison is bigger than Henderson who is 5'10 and 202. Larison is similar in size to Marshall Faulk who was 5'10 and 211.

WTF.. Lampe had ONE injury and you tag him with this BS of "Can't stay healthy" and further push the BS that he isn't much of an Athlete.. He'd run over you no problem. Why do you keep spewing this crap that has been debunked by numerous people. You did it with your BS claim about Wallace only being 6th round talent and you're doing it again with Lampe. 6'1-244 - 34" Vert, 9'4 BJ, SS 4.40, 3-cone- 7.43. Why don't you give us Gilliam's numbers.. OH.. You can't. Because he has no official numbers. What about Jakob Johnson?

No one is expecting Lampe to be Kyle Juszczyk or James Develin. But he's a better athlete as a FB than you're giving him credit for.



Michael Burton -



If we go by YOUR BS takes, then Gilliam isn't an athlete either and the Pats are worse off now than before at FB because they wasted a big contract on Gilliam.

 

[DaBruinz]

Why in the world would you think we plan a smash mouth offense? We will revolve around throwing the ball.
Hollins is 33 and I don’t see how he would get other field ahead Brown, Boutte, Dobbs and Williams.

You know Andy. For a guy who supposedly follows this team, you sure don't know jack about what they've done to improve their offense.

Signed one of the best FBs in the league in Gilliam
Signed one of the better blocking TEs in the league in Hill.
Signed an improvement at LG in AVT. Who, btw, is a very good run blocker.

Vrabel and Wolf both stated that the Pats wanted to be a violent team in the trenches on both sides of the ball. While the offense revolves around Maye, the TEAM can be a smash-mouth running football team to help open up the Passing game for Maye. Like it did in 2025 where the Pats offense faced the highest number of 8 man boxes in the league. |

But, yeah. You're right. There are no indications that they plan to be a smash-mouth football team.

And you wonder why you're the most blocked and ridiculed poster on this board despite being here for 20 some years.

 

[Wozzy]

5'11 and 209 is "smallish" for a RB? Since when? I mean, it's not Rhamondre Stevenson, but Larison is bigger than Henderson who is 5'10 and 202. Larison is similar in size to Marshall Faulk who was 5'10 and 211.

As long as 230-250 pound RB’s exist, 200 pounds RB’s will be considered smaller.

WTF.. Lampe had ONE injury and you tag him with this BS of "Can't stay healthy" and further push the BS that he isn't much of an Athlete.. He'd run over you no problem. Why do you keep spewing this crap that has been debunked by numerous people. You did it with your BS claim about Wallace only being 6th round talent and you're doing it again with Lampe. 6'1-244 - 34" Vert, 9'4 BJ, SS 4.40, 3-cone- 7.43. Why don't you give us Gilliam's numbers.. OH.. You can't. Because he has no official numbers. What about Jakob Johnson?

No one is expecting Lampe to be Kyle Juszczyk or James Develin. But he's a better athlete as a FB than you're giving him credit for.

If we go by YOUR BS takes, then Gilliam isn't an athlete either and the Pats are worse off now than before at FB because they wasted a big contract on Gilliam.

There’s no way in hell the Patriots roster two FB’s into a regular season… none. No GM is pining for a FB somewhere.

Secondly Westover played the FB position… he just wasn’t good at it and the team knew it which is why they worked hard this offseason to upgrade the position. They can stick any warm body out there, Tonga even… doesn’t mean you’ll get good or even great FB play.

I know Lampe is your cousin, all I have maintained since last offseason is he needs to show he can do the job, being your preseason binkie isn’t enough. He got hurt, I didn’t take a metal pipe to his knee. Get a grip.

I’d say with no actual factual evidence whatsoever that no team in modern NFL history has ever carried two FB’s on the roster… not ever. The notion is silly.

 

[Bill Lee]

QB (2) Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito
RB/FB (4) Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Lan Larison, Reggie Gilliam
TE (3) Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Julian Hill
WR (6) Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas, Efton Chism III

C (2) Jared Wilson, Ben Brown
G (3) Mike Onwenu, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Andrew Rupcich
T (4) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu, Dametrious Crownover

DL (6) Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Cory Durden, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Eric Gregory, Joshua Farmer
DE/OLB (4) Dre’Mont Jones, Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Gabe Jacas
ILB (5) Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Namdi Obiazor, K.J. Britt, Chad Muma

CB (6) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Karon Prunty, Kindle Vildor, Charles Woods
FS (4) Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Mike Brown

ST (4) Brenden Schooler, Bryce Baringer, Andy Borregales, Julian Ashby

Total Players: 53

Created with PatsPicker at PatsFans.com


Basing this on the current roster, so no trades (A.J. Brown, Pop Douglas, etc.) Rupcich/Caedan Wallace is just a placeholder for a 5th IOL at the moment. Brock Lampe was originally on the roster before I saw the shortage of guards. Swinson is another end the roster player I had on at first.

Very early work in progress.

Even with no trades, that's quite a good roster.

Now, if Mike can keep it in his pants, we'll be in great shape for the rest of the off-season and start of next season.

 

[Toofy]

QB (2) Tommy DeVito, Drake Maye
RB (4) Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Reggie Gilliam, Lan Larison
TE (3) Hunter Henry, Julian Hill, Eli Raridon
WR (6) Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III, Demario Douglas
C (2) Jared Wilson, Ben Brown
G (3) Mike Onwenu, Jacob Rizy, Alijah Vera-Tucker
T (5) Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu, Dametrious Crownover, Caedan Wallace
DE (1) Dre’Mont Jones
DT (6) Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Leonard Taylor III, Cory Durden
ILB (4) Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, K.J. Britt, Chad Muma
OLB (3) Harold Landry, Gabe Jacas, Elijah Ponder
CB (6) Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Charles Woods, Marcus Jones, Karon Prunty, Kindle Vildor
SS (2) Dell Pettus, Mike Brown
FS (2) Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson
ST (4) Brenden Schooler, Bryce Baringer, Andy Borregales, Julian Ashby

Total Players: 53

Created with PatsPicker at PatsFans.com

 

[mgteich]

Is the thinking here that the Eagles will no longer demand Boutte or another WR in return for the trade?

I can see Morton getting the Foxboro Flu towards the end of camp and them starting the season with 2 QBs

That may give room for Douglas if indeed the Eagles drafting of Lemon means they won't demand Boutte or Williams in return.

We'll let the camp determine certain things but I wonder who we project as punt and kick returners this season. We put a lot on Henderson's shoulders last year period and might do well to let him focus on just being a 1a RB.

The nonexistent Foxboro flu?

No patriot player (certainly after round 2) in this century has been on IR his entire rookie year and came back to be a contributor.

 

[jmt57]

What Does An Early Look At The Patriots' 53-Man Roster Prediction Look Like? | PatsFans.com

Analyzing the Patriots' early 53-man roster projection post Draft and UDFA signings, covering A.J. Brown rumors, and key position battles.

www.patsfans.com

Interesting initial roster projection.

Steve has Jam Miller over Lan Larison (practice squad) at RB, Kyle Dixon over Efton Chism (also ps) at WR, DT David Blay making the roster (with Swinson and Pharms going to the ps), and CBs Minor and Dial also starting out on the ps.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

My 5 is Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Williams, Douglas.
I think Hollins is one and done here like he has been almost everywhere.

Hollins is a JAG so I'm not pounding the table for him but what makes you think Douglas is going to pass him? Hollins was our most used WR last year, Douglas played 26% of the offensive snaps. So Hollins is certainly starting in a pole position there - the offensive staff thought much higher of him last year. Further down the depth chart you go, more STs comes into focus and Hollins contributes more there. Both FAs after the year and hard to think we'd pay any money to keep Douglas so not sure his youth really gives him an advantage there. Douglas hit that playtime escalator so not like he's much cheaper to where I'd say that makes up ground for him either.

 

[p8ryts]

Hollins is a JAG so I'm not pounding the table for him but what makes you think Douglas is going to pass him? Hollins was our most used WR last year, Douglas played 26% of the offensive snaps. So Hollins is certainly starting in a pole position there - the offensive staff thought much higher of him last year. Further down the depth chart you go, more STs comes into focus and Hollins contributes more there. Both FAs after the year and hard to think we'd pay any money to keep Douglas so not sure his youth really gives him an advantage there. Douglas hit that playtime escalator so not like he's much cheaper to where I'd say that makes up ground for him either.

I became a Hollins fan. Made some very difficult plays, consistent, can be your move TE, blocked better than the TE's. Surprisingly, whoever loses the roster spot, we will feel bad about it because we were invested in them all last year.

 

[JoeSixPat]

The nonexistent Foxboro flu?

No patriot player (certainly after round 2) in this century has been on IR his entire rookie year and came back to be a contributor.

Actually, players on IR don't need to sit out the entire season. They must miss a minimum of four games in which they don't count against the 53 man roster.

Teams can return up to eight players from IR during the regular season, with a 21-day practice window allowed before activation.

If you look back over the past you'll see that the Patriots and other teams do actually make use of the IR rules to be able to shelve and stockpile certain players, especially if one thinks that a 3rd QB for example might not be as important as an extra OL early in the season.

 

[mgteich]

Actually, players on IR don't need to sit out the entire season. They must miss a minimum of four games in which they don't count against the 53 man roster.

Teams can return up to eight players from IR during the regular season, with a 21-day practice window allowed before activation.

If you look back over the past you'll see that the Patriots and other teams do actually make use of the IR rules to be able to shelve and stockpile certain players, especially if one thinks that a 3rd QB for example might not be as important as an extra OL early in the season.

My point was that rookie patriots UDFA's do not do well when they spend their rookie year on IR. They never come back to compete.

Yes, the patriots do put players on IR if they are OK with them being out for a few weeks (similar to the PUP list) or if they think that the player might be able to come back. This tactic is usually for veterans. UDFA's can simply be put on the Practice Squad if they are not good enough to make the 53.

The implication was that IR has been used for players who aren't quite good enough; the usual idea that we would redshirt the player. That strategy has never worked for the patriots.
===================

 

[DaBruinz]

As long as 230-250 pound RB’s exist, 200 pounds RB’s will be considered smaller.

There’s no way in hell the Patriots roster two FB’s into a regular season… none. No GM is pining for a FB somewhere.

Secondly Westover played the FB position… he just wasn’t good at it and the team knew it which is why they worked hard this offseason to upgrade the position. They can stick any warm body out there, Tonga even… doesn’t mean you’ll get good or even great FB play.

I know Lampe is your cousin, all I have maintained since last offseason is he needs to show he can do the job, being your preseason binkie isn’t enough. He got hurt, I didn’t take a metal pipe to his knee. Get a grip.

I’d say with no actual factual evidence whatsoever that no team in modern NFL history has ever carried two FB’s on the roster… not ever. The notion is silly.

No one said anything about rostering 2 FBs. I was debunking your BS that Lampe wasn't athletic and couldn't. Nice job reacting to something that wasn't said yet again and bloviating a bunch of garbage that has nothing to do with what was stated.

 

[Ring 6]

You know Andy. For a guy who supposedly follows this team, you sure don't know jack about what they've done to improve their offense.

Signed one of the best FBs in the league in Gilliam
Signed one of the better blocking TEs in the league in Hill.
Signed an improvement at LG in AVT. Who, btw, is a very good run blocker.

Vrabel and Wolf both stated that the Pats wanted to be a violent team in the trenches on both sides of the ball. While the offense revolves around Maye, the TEAM can be a smash-mouth running football team to help open up the Passing game for Maye. Like it did in 2025 where the Pats offense faced the highest number of 8 man boxes in the league. |

But, yeah. You're right. There are no indications that they plan to be a smash-mouth football team.

And you wonder why you're the most blocked and ridiculed poster on this board despite being here for 20 some years.

All of those moves also help the passing game (and hill is a reserve who is NOT one of the best blockers in the league).
We also added Doubs, and will be adding Brown.
We will both run and pass the ball.
Our identity will not be run first smashmouth and throw when we have to, we will continue to run to supplement and enhance the passing game.

You know when you do for the ad hominem attack, it’s clear proof you know your argument sucks and you are too intimidated to have an honest debate.
Sorry I freighted you.

 

[Ring 6]

Hollins is a JAG so I'm not pounding the table for him but what makes you think Douglas is going to pass him? Hollins was our most used WR last year, Douglas played 26% of the offensive snaps. So Hollins is certainly starting in a pole position there - the offensive staff thought much higher of him last year. Further down the depth chart you go, more STs comes into focus and Hollins contributes more there. Both FAs after the year and hard to think we'd pay any money to keep Douglas so not sure his youth really gives him an advantage there. Douglas hit that playtime escalator so not like he's much cheaper to where I'd say that makes up ground for him either.

Hollins is 33 and won’t gave a role when Brown is traded for.
Douglas is 25(?) and has a skillset unique to the other receivers.
Agreed neither is moving the needle but keeping the 33 year old to ride the pine doesn’t make much sense.

 

[Hugepatsfan]

Hollins is 33 and won’t gave a role when Brown is traded for.
Douglas is 25(?) and has a skillset unique to the other receivers.
Agreed neither is moving the needle but keeping the 33 year old to ride the pine doesn’t make much sense.

Age difference doesn't really mean much to me because I feel I've seen enough of Douglas. He's in the last year of his deal. I'm fine keeping him for that, but no real interest in keeping him beyond that. So despite the youth I don't view him as any more or less a long term piece than Hollins.

That does make sense about a unique skill set. It's also one that I don't think they even use anymore though. Douglas wasn't doing those scatback type of slot things that would be his skill set. Just feels like if there was ever an injury to the top 4 of Brown/Doubs/Boutte/Williams once we get Brown (or Williams' development stalls), they'd be better off putting Hollins in. He also provides some kind of pseudo depth at TE because he can be used as a blocker and he can play some STs too as needed (especially if there are injuries at other spots that play there). I just think he adds a little more in that role over Douglas as a backup along with being a better player if pressed into action. Hopefully neither plays much WR for us.

 

[Ring 6]

Age difference doesn't really mean much to me because I feel I've seen enough of Douglas. He's in the last year of his deal. I'm fine keeping him for that, but no real interest in keeping him beyond that. So despite the youth I don't view him as any more or less a long term piece than Hollins.

That does make sense about a unique skill set. It's also one that I don't think they even use anymore though. Douglas wasn't doing those scatback type of slot things that would be his skill set. Just feels like if there was ever an injury to the top 4 of Brown/Doubs/Boutte/Williams once we get Brown (or Williams' development stalls), they'd be better off putting Hollins in. He also provides some kind of pseudo depth at TE because he can be used as a blocker and he can play some STs too as needed (especially if there are injuries at other spots that play there). I just think he adds a little more in that role over Douglas as a backup along with being a better player if pressed into action. Hopefully neither plays much WR for us.

The difference is Douglas has shown flashes and has the potential to take a big step and become valuable beyond 26. However small that chance it’s greater than Hollins.

 

[Zuma]

- Jam is a better running back then Lan
- Swinson will take snaps at ILB in camp
- Douglas' future in the slot is not with the Patriots
- Nobody has ever seen Jack Gibbens and Chad Muma in the same room
- Crownover will be the primary backup at RT in 2026
- Williams will have less then 300 yards receiving in 2026 (if Boutte is on the team)

EDIT: these deep thoughts are what I believe will happen...not necessarily what I want to happen in all cases

 

[Wozzy]

No one said anything about rostering 2 FBs. I was debunking your BS that Lampe wasn't athletic and couldn't. Nice job reacting to something that wasn't said yet again and bloviating a bunch of garbage that has nothing to do with what was stated.

They measure athleticism every year at the combine and pro days. You saying it’s not true is akin to flat earth “science.” It’s not my opinion, it’s science.

And I thought I already made this clear, they could put anyone out there at FB… last year with Westover proved that. Do you want a great FB who is actually a threat in the passing game, who can run the ball occasionally, who is a devastating blocker… or just a warm body? Lampe is a jag.

 

[p8ryts]

- Jam is a better running back then Lan
- Swinson will take snaps at ILB in camp
- Douglas' future in the slot is not with the Patriots
- Nobody has ever seen Jack Gibbens and Chad Muma in the same room
- Crownover will be the primary backup at RT in 2026
- Williams will have less then 300 yards receiving in 2026 (if Boutte is on the team)

EDIT: these deep thoughts are what I believe will happen...not necessarily what I want to happen in all cases

Okay on Crownover but don’t agree with the rest.