How Does The Patriots Roster Look After The Draft?

So, how do we feel about the draft and how the roster is shaping up? However, if you think they’re done swinging deals, you’d be mistaken. They still have a boatload of cash and can swing a trade or two, depending on where they feel they need help.

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The Patriots have concluded the 2025 NFL Draft and made some very good additions to the roster. They also signed some intriguing undrafted free agents (UDFA), but the roster needed to be cut down because they were over the 90-man limit.

The team released six players on Monday afternoon, including OL Jake Andrews, Wide receiver JaQuae Jackson, tight end/fullback Giovanni Ricci, defensive lineman Marcus Harris, linebacker Titus Leo, and safety Mark Perry.

Andrews was unemployed for a long time; he was quickly signed by Houston. Best of luck there. There is a lot of crossover with New England there.

But Vrabel cut LS Joe Cardona on late Tuesday afternoon. He’s shown that he will cut veterans with deep ties to the old regime, so this isn’t a shock. To those who questioned why the team “wasted” a draft pick when they could have signed a long snapper as an UDFA, now you know why.

Earlier this spring, on our podcast, Derek Havens and I mused that there could be a 50 percent roster turnover this season. Now it could be even higher.

So, here’s a quick look at how the roster shakes out after the draft.

Quarterbacks (3):

Joshua Dobbs, Drake Maye, Ben Wooldridge (UDFA)

Vrabel said last winter that he wanted to surround Drake Maye with as many weapons as they could, and they definitely upgraded the skill positions around him. Josh Dobbs was signed as his backup. It is Maye’s team now.

Wooldridge was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana and, at the very least, provides a camp arm in the wake of the Patriots trading Joe Milton III to the Dallas Cowboys earlier this month.

Running Backs (6):

Antonio Gibson, TreVeyon Henderson (R), Terrell Jennings, Brock Lampe (UDFA), Lan Larison (UDFA), Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson and Gibson return as the 1-2 starters. Jennings made the roster last year, but with Larison and Lampe in the building and adding Henderson in the draft, as Paul Perillo says, “don’t buy green bananas.”

I love the addition of Henderson to this group. He’s a home run threat every time he touches the ball. And Larison, the UDFA, is a really intriguing back, another with a big-play threat. He’s worth a long look. Lampe is a fullback, something McDaniels likes in his offense.

Wide Receivers (12):

Javon Baker, Demeer Blankumsee (UDFA), Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism (UDFA), Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, John Jiles, Ja’Lynn Polk, Jeremiah Webb (UDFA), Kyle Williams (R)

The Patriots are likely to carry six, possibly seven receivers on the roster. Diggs and Hollins were just signed, so they aren’t going anywhere.

Rookie Williams, a third-round pick, is a lock given his big-play ability and draft position. Many believe Douglas is a lock, but I’m not so sure. It opens up a ton of camp competition between many players vying for one spot or two.

Tight Ends (7):

Jaheim Bell, C.J. Dippre (UDFA), Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Giovanni Ricci, Gee Scott Jr. (UDFA), Jack Westover

Henry and Hooper return this season. Bell was on the team last year but didn’t get to show much because Henry and Hooper were so valuable on an offense that was so short of impact players.

Now he’ll be locked into a huge battle with Dippre, Scott, and Westover. Dippre is a really good blocker. He wasn’t targeted much at Alabama, but was good when his number was called—Ditto for Scott.

Offensive Linemen (17):

Cole Birdow (UDFA), Garrett Bradbury, Ben Brown, Marcus Bryant (R), Will Campbell (R), Jack Conley (UDFA), Demontrey Jacobs, Vederian Lowe, Morgan Moses, Mike Onwenu, Layden Robinson, Tyrese Robinson, Wes Schweitzer, Sidy Sow, Cole Strange, Caedan Wallace, Jared Wilson (R)

The offensive line has a lot of bodies right now, but four of the five starters are now locked in, with left guard as the only position that needs to be filled. And there should be a ton of competition there.

Defensive Tackles (10):

Christian Barmore, Joshua Farmer (R), Eric Johnson, Wilfried Pene (UDFA), Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Jahvaree Ritzie (UDFA), Jaquelin Roy, Khyiris Tonga, Milton Williams

The interior defensive line with Williams and Barmore as starters is excellent. Then, adding in Farmer and space-eater Tonga is setting itself up nicely. Pharms will compete for a roster spot.

Edge Rushers (7):

K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, Truman Jones, Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder (UDFA), Bradyn Swinson (R), Keion White

The edge is looking better this season after adding Landry and Chaisson in free agency and getting somewhat of a steal in Swinson in the draft to go along with Keion White. Jennings remains an early down edge setter.

Linebackers (6):

Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Monty Rice, Cam Riley (UDFA), Robert Spillane, Jahlani Tavai

Spillane will be the guy taking over for Ja’Whaun Bentley in the middle. Ellis, Gibbens, and Tavai (who might be versatile enough in Vrabel’s defense) round out the top four with Rice and Riley competing for a roster spot.

Cornerbacks (10):

Alex Austin, Miles Battle, Isaiah Bolden, Carlton Davis III, Brandon Crossley (UDFA), Marcellas Dial, Christian Gonzalez, D. J. James, Marcus Jones, Kobee Minor (R)

Adding Carlton Davis III this spring was huge for the Patriots’ defense. He and Christian Gonzalez give them one of the top cornerback tandems in the NFL. After that, there will be some spirited competition.

Safeties (10):

Kyle Dugger, Marcus Epps, Jaylinn Hawkins, Marte Mapu, Josh Minkins (UDFA), Jabrill Peppers, Dell Pettus, Jordan Polk (UDFA), Craig Woodson (R)

The Patriots once again have a very deep group of safeties. Dugger, Peppers, Hawkins, Pettus, and Mapu return. They added Epps in free agency and Woodson in the draft, who many believe was a reach. But then there is this:

@PhilAPerry
Apr 26

Among 123 safeties with at least 90 coverage snaps in the slot last season, Woodson was 7th in QB rating allowed (49.6), per @PFF
* 15 targets
* 9 receptions, 91 yards
* 1 interception

Special Teams (5):

Julian Ashby (R), Bryce Baringer, Andres Borregales (R), John Parker Romo, Brenden Schooler

Sorry to see Joe Cardona go; he represented the team and his country impeccably. And wish him the absolute best in whatever comes next. But now it makes sense why the Patriots selected Ashby in the draft.

Now comes the hard work. Learning your new teammates and the playbook. I can see 9-10 rookies making the roster. What say you, PatsFans? On Sunday, I’ll take a far too early look at the 53-man roster.

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About Steve Balestrieri

A former US Army Special Forces NCO and Officer, Steve has been following the Patriots since their days at Fenway Park. Steve has worked in the film industry and wrote as an Military Editor at SpecialOperations.com, 1945.com as a reporter for the Millbury Daily Voice, Millbury-Sutton Chronicle, and the Grafton News. He's also a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA)

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Tags: Bradyn Swinson Brock Lampe Drake Maye Efton Chism Jared Wilson Kyle Williams Lan Larison Marcus Bryant New England Patriots Patriots Patriots edge rushers TreVeyon Henderson Will Campbell

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4 Comments

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JimK

1 year ago

Dippre/TE looks the part on highlight file. He’s also 6’5″ and build to block. In the Fantary football mentality, I don’t think some people realize how important it is to have a TE that can inline block but also need to be accounted for by a defender in coverage. Inline blocking is a real TE’s primary job priority. Kelci/KC isn’t doesn’t really play TE. He’s a WR. Lan Larison looks like he’s got a shot. He’s got the size/weight. Catches the ball. Good in the open field. The pats signed most of the UDFA on day3 of the draft. The… Read more »

SteveB7SFG

Reply to JimK

1 year ago

Thanks Jim, all great points
Appreciate the read and your thoughts

JimK

1 year ago

I saw NBC Boston (Perry) saying the Pats are dumping the old regime and may turnover 1/2 the roster in one year, which would be unusually high. The theme and driver of both being a “new culture”. I think that’s a bit overstated and assumptive in that: (1) the media is looking at the roster now when it’s bloated with new undrafted free agents and is at ~90 players? You can’t do math on turnover now…..make that statement in August when the 53 man squad is set plus practice squad is delineated. Compare that to the 53 that ended the… Read more »

SteveB7SFG

Reply to JimK

1 year ago

Great points again JimK, I think you can make a point that 10 or so rookies are not only going to make the team, but play important roles in 2025. Maybe not all starters but still playing a significant amount of snaps. RE: Captains in 2025, I could see Spillane, and Morgan Moses definitely being on the list. Maye too. but we’ll see.

Thanks!