The Patriots’ 2026 NFL Draft is complete, with the team adding nine players. They’ve also signed 11 UDFA players and invited a few others to the rookie minicamp tryouts. But the roster-building part of the offseason is not done.
While the heavy lifting is done, rest assured, the team will continue to tinker with the roster right up until the first week of the season and beyond.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention (ad nauseam) that the rumored post-June 1st trade of A.J. Brown to the Patriots is still to come.
The Patriots released WR John Jiles and TE Marshall Lang after the UDFA signings.
So, without any further ado, let’s take a look at the current 90-man roster and what a very, very early Patriots’ 53-Man Roster would look like, with the caveat that they haven’t even begun on-field work yet.
Quarterbacks (2):
Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito
Out: Behren Morton (practice squad PS)
The Patriots needed a third quarterback, so they selected Morton, much to the chagrin of much of the fanbase, BTW, in the seventh round. Tommy “Cutlets” DeVito is the backup QB to Drake Maye this season. He may even be trade bait down the road next year if the market for him develops.
Morton had leadership skills and toughness. He led a team to the College Football Playoffs last fall, so he has had success. His arm strength isn’t the greatest, but he’ll be given the time to develop. And get plenty of scout team work. He won’t push DeVito for the backup job this year, but if he learns the offense, that will be just fine.
Running backs (4):
Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Reggie Gilliam, Jam Miller
Out: Brock Lampe, Lan Larison (PS), Elijah Mitchell, Terrell Jennings, Myles Montgomery
The first three names are locked in stone. However, there is an open competition here for the Patriots’ No. 3 job behind Stevenson and Henderson.
Miller has the straight-line speed and the short-yardage acumen to be a serviceable change-of-pace back. He struggles in pass protection and is only so-so as a receiver out of the backfield. But he was the leading rusher at Alabama, which is a big-time program, despite missing time with a collarbone injury early last fall.
I liked Larison a year ago, and was intrigued by him before he was injured. He makes it onto the practice squad here.
Wide receivers (6):
Kayshon Boutte, Romeo Doubs, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Dixon
Out: Efton Chism III (PS), Jeremiah Webb, Nick DeGennaro (PS), Cameron Dorner, Jimmy Kibble
This is where everything goes sideways. While everyone in the free world believes Brown is coming to New England on June 2nd, nothing is guaranteed. Just ask Maxx Crosby after he was done dirty by Baltimore… unless you believe that fallacy that he failed his physical.
So, with that in mind, I’m not listing Brown and keeping Boutte, who I don’t really want to see the team trade. But that seems like a fait accompli, at this point. The Patriots are obviously convinced they’ll get Brown, because they didn’t address WR in the draft at all. Let’s hope that decision doesn’t come back to bite them.
If and when they add Brown, then the WR room looks good (providing he’s healthy). If for any reason they don’t… then it is thin.
I included Dixon, a very small school receiver (He played in the NAIA, not the NCAA), without the benefit of on-field workouts, just because I love an underdog story, especially one who is 6’4, 215, with a ridiculous 40.5 inch vertical leap, and the fact that the Patriots gave him a contract with $252,000 in guarantees.
The same thing applies to DeGennaro.
Tight Ends (3):
Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Julian Hill
Out: Jack Westover (PS), CJ Dippre, Tanner Arkin
The Patriots drafted Raridon specifically for his athletic traits, and not so much for his on-field production, which basically amounted to one year with 32 catches. But he’s intriguing as a prospect, with big hands and a large catch radius. He has the athleticism to become a threat, but he admittedly has a long way to go.
The additions of Raridon and Hill should allow Josh McDaniels and the Patriots to use more multiple-tight-end formations than they did last season. It is a tough call to make about how effective this group will be until we see them on the field. But Hill, who has had limited production, could possibly blossom with McDaniels’ offense.
Offensive line (9):
Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu, Ben Brown, Dametrious Crownover, Caedan Wallace
Out: Marcus Bryant, James Hudson III, Mehki Butler, Lorenz Metz, Andrew Rupcich, Sebastian Gutierrez, Jacob Rizy (PS), JonDarius Morgan
The Patriots drafted two offensive tackles again this year, the first time that has happened in back-to-back years since the 1970s, using a first-round pick on Lomu and a sixth-round pick on Crownover.
However, this season, don’t expect to see much of either on the field, as Lomu will be backing up Morgan Moses at right tackle and Crownover is strictly a backup if he makes the team…Although I am strictly in the minority there.
Metz is an international player pathway program exception to the 90-man roster. Due to circumstances (picking at the bottom of rounds) and burning up draft capital in Rounds 1-2, the Patriots didn’t draft an interior OL man.
Defensive Line, Edge (11):
Dre’Mont Jones, Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Harold Landry III, Gabe Jacas, Elijah Ponder, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Leonard Taylor III, David Blay Jr.
Out: Quintayvious Hutchins, Bradyn Swinson (PS), Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (PS), Jesse Luketa,
The Patriots drafted two defensive edge rushers, which leaves a need at nose tackle. The Patriots didn’t replace Khyiris Tonga, which wasn’t ideal, but UDFA David Blay Jr., my 53rd player on the roster, sneaks on. He’s a bit undersized and can’t eat double-team blocks, but he does a decent job of penetrating. But the defensive line isn’t in bad shape.
Harold Landry’s rehab will bear watching. He barely played down the stretch after his knee injury in October. If he isn’t ready, the depth of the edge group is very thin, and possibly Hutchins makes the roster, or they try to add a veteran edge rusher.
Linebackers (4):
Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, K.J. Britt, Chad Muma, Namdi Obiazor
Out: Otis Reese, Amari Gainer
This is arguably the weakest position on the roster, and they didn’t address it until the 6th round. Spillane and Elliss are the starters, but after that…things get dicey. Obiazor was productive at TCU with 80+ tackles three straight years, but as a converted safety at 229, can he hold up in the running game?
This will be a position to watch in the next phase of free agency and when the waiver wire gets active, as both Spillane and Elliss missed time with injuries last season.
Cornerbacks (6):
Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, Kindle Vildor, Charles Woods, Karon Prunty
Out: Kobee Minor (PS), Marcellas Dial Jr.(PS), Brandon Crossley, Channing Canada, Kenneth Harris
The Patriots made a surprise pick of Prunty in the fifth round, which in essence seemed like a Belichick-type pick. Many draft sites didn’t even have a headshot of the player, who has good size at 6’1, and has good athleticism for the position. But the Patriots had him in for a Top-30 visit and obviously liked what they saw.
Was he a massive reach or a steal? We’ll see, but for now, he sticks.
Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, and Marcus Jones give the Patriots an outstanding starting group. Depth remains a question mark for now. Dial tore his ACL last summer, so we’ll see how his rehab has gone.
Safeties (4):
Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler
Out: Mike Brown, John Saunders Jr.
The Patriots signed Kevin Byard during free agency, and he and Woodson give the Patriots an excellent 1-2 combination. I would have liked to see this position addressed in the draft (a familiar refrain), as the depth isn’t there. Brown could also make the roster, as Schooler is primarily a ST’s ace.
Special Teams (3):
Andy Borregales, Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby
Out: Niko Lalos
I was very surprised that the Patriots didn’t bring in a punter to provide camp competition and insurance for Baringer, who was inconsistent last season. That could possibly still happen closer to the beginning of training camp.
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“Somebody asked me what success looks like, and I said, ‘Yeah, you can judge it by wins and losses during the season, but success for me in the offseason is going to be that the players believe in what we’re doing, and they believe in the message, they believe in the teaching, and they believe in the connections that we’re making.’” — Mike Vrabel
Follow me on Twitter @SteveB7SFG or email me at [email protected]
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🔍 Questions Answered in This Article
What does an early look at the Patriots' 53-man roster suggest for the quarterback position?
Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito are locked as the #1-2 QBs. Behren Morton is expected for the practice squad
Which position is considered the weakest on the Patriots' early 53-man roster projection?
Linebacker is arguably the weakest position on the roster. Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss are projected starters, but depth is a concern, especially given their injury history last season.
How does the early 53-man roster projection address the Patriots' wide receiver situation?
The projection includes Kayshon Boutte, Romeo Doubs, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, and Kyle Dixon. The article notes the team's apparent conviction in acquiring A.J. Brown, despite not drafting a WR.
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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)
Barringer inconsistencies – right on. He has a good leg, but he’s very inconsistent. That is not OK for punting. I was watching him practice kick, and I know squat about punting, but his technique seems to ‘rangey’ in terms of bodily motion, including his ball drop. It’s not short/compact. Interesting to see if he evolves, or if they bring in competition. The DT spot… there’s to big a drop after Milton and Baremore. Losing Tonga and not really replacing him would be an err to me. Why? because there’s to much need for Milton and Baremore to play 17… Read more »