2026 Patriots Roster Cuts Thread

[n1997y]

No but Woods has convinced me he is worse than Austin.

It’s a tight race

 

[reflexblue]

Wasn’t he on IR all last year? So maybe a year on the PS?

I don't remember, but he played well at some point otherwise i wouldn't have been surprised by him being cut

 

[Family]

The cuts seem odd and random, other than there are no surprises.

 

[n1997y]

I don't remember, but he played well at some point otherwise i wouldn't have been surprised by him being cut

Dial was one of my binkies when he was first signed. IIRC he lost a year to IR so his development was stalled. I’ve been hoping he can get back on track and thought he showed a little this year, but clearly not enough with Vildor and Prunty flashing. I’m still hoping he can get onto the PS and make enough progress to be a roster contender at some point.

 

[Family]

Another example of unfounded projection.

All it shows is they thought more of Kiner.

If they have a very high opinion of Kiner, as some th8ngs I’ve seen suggest they should, they can still think highly of Larison and Jam even if it’s not as highly.

SMH.

Sorry they don't trade for a young back when they have two young backs they are happy with. I don't care who plays what roles.

Especially with the lack of depth elsewhere.

 

[mgteich]

It’s a tight race

OUR DB'S

CB: Gonzalez, Davis, Prunty, Vildor
NB: Jones
FS: Byard
SS: Woodson, Pettus
6th CB, FS, dime back: Reed
ST: Schooler

Maybe we need another on the 53, perhaps not.

 

[n1997y]

OUR DB'S

CB: Gonzalez, Davis, Prunty, Vildor
NB: Jones
FS: Byard
SS: Woodson, Pettus
6th CB, FS, dime back: Reed
ST: Schooler

Maybe we need another on the 53, perhaps not.

Is Pettus a lock? Could Saunders make the 53? Don’t recall seeing him cut, at least not yet.

 

[TommyD4207]

Is Pettus a lock? Could Saunders make the 53? Don’t recall seeing him cut, at least not yet.

I would be fine with Saunders over Pettus if that's how it shakes out.

A lot of secondary binkies are gonna be hitting the street, it looks like.

 

[mgteich]

Is Pettus a lock? Could Saunders make the 53? Don’t recall seeing him cut, at least not yet.

Pettus isn't a lock.

We could keep only 3 safeties plus Schooler, leaving Pettus and Saunders both on the outside. Eith or both could make the 53.

My personal choice for the 53 is Pettus with Sauders on the PS.

 

[DaBruinz]

I pointed out to someone that 105 days passed between Bill's firing and the draft.

Surely that would be enough time to reassess.

Not sure what they need to "reassess". They have their notes on the players. I guarantee you that WOLF was already running his own system and just putting Bill's guidelines on after the fact. Which is probably why there was a lot lost in translation. Wolf is an organizer. He's not a talent assessor. And when he had to to it, he completely s**t the bed.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[n1997y]

My personal choice for the 53 is Pettus with Sauders on the PS.

Not to argue, rather because I’ve not really paid close attention to Pettus so I’d like to know more.

What is it that makes you prefer Pettus? As I said I’ve not looked at him closely.

I remember looking at Saunders when we got him from Miami and thinking that he looked good enough to be a future contributor. Seems he has gotten some mentions this preseason too.

 

[DaBruinz]

Not certain we want to anoint V/S/C as great drafters. For now, I will consider them average. Win some lose some, with the potential for losing more.

I didn't anoint anyone as anything. I said that Wolf's drafts were hot garbage. I gave credit to V/S/C for the excellent draft they had last year. I think that This year's draft will turn out to be better than expected. Particularly if Lomu because the starting RT next year and Jacas develops the way I expect. There are questions with Prunty, Miller, Behren, Crownover, and Hutchins. I think that Prunty has the potential to be the #2 CB in the future. Crownover could be an Onwenu replacement depending on what the Patriots have him focus on.

The potenital is there for a good, but not great draft from 2026. The next two are going to be underwhelming because of the acquisitions they made.

 

[DaBruinz]

Not that slow.

We need a replacement for A. Gibson. Hopefully this is the guy.

We don't need a replacement for Gibson. We have 2 in Henderson and Stevenson already. Kiner is more of a physical back.

 

[DaBruinz]

I don't remember, but he played well at some point otherwise i wouldn't have been surprised by him being cut

Dial spent all of 2025 on the IR.
He last took game snaps in December of 2024.

 

[DaBruinz]

Sorry they don't trade for a young back when they have two young backs they are happy with. I don't care who plays what roles.

Especially with the lack of depth elsewhere.

Yeah. Why would they add a DIFFERENT Style running back to the team just because they have 2 young guys.. One of whom got hurt in the last game.

 

[DaBruinz]

The cuts seem odd and random, other than there are no surprises.

Why do you think that they are "odd and random"? Do you understand that today was a day off for the players? So they have to be notified first before we hear about it. It's not like they have 37 employees all dialing at the same time at 9am this morning to notify the players.

I swear. It's like you've never seen this process play out. Despite it being identical every year.

 

[imahobgoblin]

Agree. I like Kiner's highlights but the 49ers, Vikings, and Cardinals have released him so he is not a McCaffrey type. Short area guy, not really fast, but might be a good McDaniels 3rd down guy.

No, he is not a receiver. He is 5'9" and 209. Thats a bowling ball. He is meant to chew yards in the 4th and go under the DL to get tough yards.

 

[manxman2601]

Treat this one with caution. I haven't seen it from anyone else.

 

[mgteich]

Not to argue, rather because I’ve not really paid close attention to Pettus so I’d like to know more.

What is it that makes you prefer Pettus? As I said I’ve not looked at him closely.

I remember looking at Saunders when we got him from Miami and thinking that he looked good enough to be a future contributor. Seems he has gotten some mentions this preseason too.

fair enough

Pettus is an excellent STer, so much so that I considered him an OK roster play as an STO and perhaps #4 safety. Last year, for most of the year, Pettus was OK as the only backup at safety, the #3 safety.

Pettus is someone who has been a good performer for us. I don't see enough in Sauders to switch, especially since we have 4 other safeties (including Schooler).