Good morning, and a happy Sunday, and here is your Patriots news for 06-07, along with this week’s NFL notes.
RIP Ray Berry, the first Patriots head coach to take them to a Super Bowl in 1985.
Down below, we’ll share some more thoughts on A.J.Brown and his fit with Josh McDaniels’ offense and with Drake Maye. Also, what’s going on with Christian Gonzalez, and if the Patriots are done making any major moves.
But first…
Hats Off To Vrabel, Wolf, And Cowden For Revamping The Roster
The Patriots have been through quite a metamorphosis since Bill Belichick was let go/parted ways…however you want to label it. Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf, and Ryan Cowden have done a magnificent job of overhauling the roster.
And kudos should be shared with Alonzo Highsmith and Matt Groh, who have all had a hand in finding the right personnel for the team. The collaboration between all of the parties is a significant factor in the success they’ve built
Below is the roster when Belichick left New England. In 2024, Jerod Mayo made only a few changes as he tried to find his way as a first-time head coach with a bunch of first-time coordinators.
Vrabel came in and said he wanted to change the culture. And last season, although they won 17 games and reached the Super Bowl, Vrabel made it clear the team was still early in the rebuild.
So this was the roster on the final day of the 2023 season. In just 2+ years, only 11 players from that team are still on the roster. And a few of them may not make it to the initial 53-man roster in September.
So, underneath the position, the numbers and players’ names in bold are the ones that are still here. The offensive and defensive lines and linebackers have been completely overhauled. Of the 26 players on the roster then, only three remain.
And then a quick snapshot of the current roster.
Quarterbacks (3): (0)
Mac Jones, Bailey Zappe, Nathan Rourke
Current: Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton
Running Backs / Fullback (5): (1)
Rhamondre Stevenson, Ezekiel Elliott, Kevin Harris, Ty Montgomery, JaMycal Hasty
Current: Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, Jam Miller, Myles Montgomery, Reggie Gilliam (FB), Jack Westover (FB), Brock Lampe (FB)
Wide Receivers (7): (2)
DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Demario Douglas, Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Reagor, Kayshon Boutte
Current: A.J. Brown, Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III, Cameron Dorner, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Dixon, Nick DeGennaro, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Jeremiah Webb, Jimmy Kibble
Tight Ends (3): (1)
Hunter Henry, Mike Gesicki, Pharaoh Brown
Current: Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, C.J. Dippre, Tanner Arkin
Offensive Line (10): (1)
Trent Brown (OT), David Andrews (C), Mike Onwenu (OT/G), Cole Strange (G), Atonio Mafi (G), Sidy Sow (G), Vederian Lowe (OT), Conor McDermott (OT), Jake Andrews (C/G), James Ferentz (C/G)
Current: Will Campbell (LT), Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Jared Wilson (C), Mike Onwenu (RG), and Morgan Moses (RT), Caleb Lomu, James Hudson, Lorenz Metz, Dametrious Crownover, Marcus Bryant, Caedan Wallace, Mehki Butler, Jacob Rizy, Andrew Rupcich, JonDarius Morgan, Ben Brown
Defensive Line (7): (2)
Christian Barmore (DT), Davon Godchaux (NT), Deatrich Wise Jr. (DL), Keion White (DL), Daniel Ekuale (DT), Sam Roberts (DL), Jeremiah Pharms Jr. (DL)
Current: Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Cory Durden, Eric Gregory, David Blay Jr., Travis Shaw, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III
Linebackers/Edge (9): (0)
Ja’Whaun Bentley, Jahlani Tavai, Anfernee Jennings, Mack Wilson Sr., Matthew Judon, Chris Board, Sione Takitaki, Marte Mapu, Ronnie Perkins
Current: Harold Landry III, Gabe Jacas, Elijah Ponder, Quintayvious Hutchins, Christian Elliss, Namdi Obiazor, Otis Reese, Robert Spillane, K.J. Britt, Chad Muma, Amari Gainer, Dre’Mont Jones, Bradyn Swinson, Jesse Luketa
Cornerbacks (6):(2)
Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, Myles Bryant, Marcus Jones, Shaun Wade, Alex Austin
Current: Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Karon Prunty, Marcellas Dial Jr., Channing Canada, Marcus Jones, Charles Woods, Kenneth Harris, Kobee Minor, Brandon Crossley
Safeties (5): (1)
Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Jalen Mills, Brenden Schooler, Josh Bledsoe
Current: Craig Woodson, Kevin Byard, Brenden Schooler, Dell Pettus, Mike Brown, Peter Manuma, Julian Ashby, John Saunders Jr.
Specialists (3):(1)
Chad Ryland (K), Bryce Baringer (P), Joe Cardona (LS)
Current: Andy Borregales (K), Bryce Barringer (P), Julian Ashby (LS)
What a difference just two years makes. This roster is still evolving, but it is light-years ahead of where they were just a few years ago. And better than the roster that went to the Super Bowl in February.
Quick Hitters For the Patriots and NFL News
Julian Hill: Terrible news for Hill, the big blocking tight end that the Patriots signed in free agency. Hill suffered a knee injury during OTAs and will be lost for the season.
Hill was slated to play a big role in the running game, where his blocking prowess was expected to help the Patriots run the ball more consistently in 2026. The Patriots believed that Hill could also be counted on more in the passing game than he was in Miami, where he was to play alongside Hunter Henry.
Now the team will rely more on Henry, rookie Eli Raridon, C.J. Dippre, and UDFA Tanner Arkin. Another option is moving FB Jack Westover back to tight end this year. Westover lost his job to FA signee Reggie Gilliam. Westover took snaps at tight end in the last OTA session.
One blocking option in short-yardage and goal-line situations would be putting in Caleb Lomu as an extra offensive lineman. The offense has done this often in the past and would help give Lomu some game experience in 2026.
Christian Gonzalez: The Patriots’ cornerback has stayed away from OTAs thus far as he’s looking to get a massive payday with a new contract extension. His exercising of some leverage isn’t expected to continue this week with the mandatory team minicamp scheduled for June 9-11.
Reports indicate Gonzalez could be seeking an annual average value (APY) of at least $35 million. This would likely reset the cornerback market, surpassing Trent McDuffie’s $31 million APY.
Mike Vrabel was asked about Gonzalez’s absence and if he expects him back this week.
“If he is, then we’ll coach him, be ready to move on, and get him ready to help us and help himself,” Vrabel said. “Contracts are part of professional sports; I understand that. But I also know that those should remain private. Like any contract negotiation, you want to make sure that everybody feels like they get something out of it, and I’ll leave it at that.”
NFL insider Ian Rapoport said he expects a new deal with Gonzalez to happen before the season starts. “Before the season, I think there’s a good chance,” Rapoport said. “Next couple of days, I have not heard that.”
“I imagine he is gonna get a huge deal. I imagine the Patriots will make it work,” Rapoport added. “I just don’t know that it’s going to be imminent. He is a great player and he deserves all of the dollars. It’s just a matter of when that thing can get done and how high.”
Kayshon Boutte: The Patriots’ WR has been the subject of trade rumors even before the trade for A.J. Brown took place. But now, there may be other teams in the mix for Boutte.
Dan Graziano of ESPN said the Washington Commanders and the Las Vegas Raiders are two teams to watch in the near future.
“The Patriots have received calls on [Kayshon] Boutte and likely will continue to do so. And as always, unless and until we see a contract extension, we’re justified in wondering whether the player is in the team’s long-term plans. The Raiders and Commanders stand out as two teams that could still use help at wide receiver.”
Washington needs WR depth behind Terry McLaurin, and Boutte could be one of several WRs that the Commanders could target in a trade scenario. Those other players include Brandon Aiyuk, Keon Coleman, and free agent Stefon Diggs.
Edge Rusher Help: Minicamp has been moved up to this week. Harold Landry has been rehabbing his knee from the injury last season and still hasn’t taken the field. Second-round draft pick Gabe Jacas also has yet to take the field.
Neither will probably see the field during minicamp. And the next time the Patriots take the field will be training camp at the end of July. This leaves the depth on the edge perilously thin, with Dre’Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson, and Jesse Luketa.
One name that keeps popping up is a possible trade with the NY Giants for edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux for Kayshon Boutte. The Giants need help at WR and are signing wide receivers well past their prime (OBJ, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios).
A sticking point with New England would be that Thibodeaux is playing on the final year of his contract and will want to get paid. He’s getting paid $14,751,000, which is fully guaranteed for 2026.
Other rumors had the Patriots interested in dealing for Arizona edge rusher Josh Sweat, who is coming off a 12.5-sack season but requested to be traded after coach Jonathan Gannon was fired. Sweat is in the second year of a four-year, $76.4 million deal. His cap hit for 2026 is $16,385,000.
However, NFL insider Ian Rapoport said that the Cardinals are not trading Sweat anywhere.
In the meantime, the Patriots will be looking to get their two players on the field as quickly as possible and will continue to scan the waiver wire. Another possibility familiar to Mike Vrabel is Denico Autry, who played last year with Houston. He’s 35 years old and would be a one-year rental, but playing as a backup last season, he did chip in with 3.5 sacks.
Patriots No Huddle Podcast: Derek, Mike, and I met late on Monday night to discuss the A.J. Brown trade. We’ll be back this week with talk of minicamp and the Christian Gonzalez situation (and a possible trade?) on the PatsFans.com website. You can always check out our other podcasts on our YouTube channel.
Please check it out. And be sure to like, share, and leave us a review.
Russ Francis/Chuck Fairbanks: The former Patriots tight end and head coach should be in the Patriots team Hall of Fame, and the fact that Francis isn’t is an absolute travesty. Francis and the Raiders’ Dave Casper changed how teams used the tight end position.
We will continue to display this in our Sunday posts until it happens. Casper is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Francis’ numbers stand up well against Casper’s, yet he isn’t even in the team’s HOF.
The Patriots Offense With A.J. Brown Should Be Fun To Watch
On Monday, the Patriots and Eagles completed a trade that has been the worst-kept secret in the NFL. But now that the trade is finally done, we all look forward to Brown and Drake Maye working together on the field.
To say that Brown is happy to be in New England is an understatement. His comments from his first press conference seem to play that out.
“Just talking to my mom, and I was like, “Man, I’m still in awe. I’m trying to adjust, and walking up the hill with the uniform on, I was like, man, ‘This is real.’ And caught myself at one point in practice, wasn’t paying attention because I was like, ‘Dang, I’m a Patriot.’ And just trying to take it all in as much as I can. Obviously, I got back to work quickly, but it’s levels to it. And like I said, I’m enjoying it. Obviously, I know this ain’t heaven, but you know, it’s close to it.”
The wide receiver room currently consists of Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III, Cameron Dorner, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Dixon, Nick DeGennaro, Kayshon Boutte (for now), Kyle Williams, Jeremiah Webb, and Jimmy Kibble.
Brown brings the physicality to the WR room that they’ve lacked (other than Hollins). His YAC (yards after contact) and ability to break tackles are outstanding.
He excels running slants, posts, and go-routes, something Drake Maye excels in throwing. With Maye under center, the potential for play-action over the middle should bear plenty of fruit. For some reason, Jalen Hurts didn’t like throwing over the middle in Philadelphia. That won’t be an issue in New England.
Expect the Patriots to move Brown, Doubs, and Kyle Williams around the formation this season, hunting favorable matchups. Philly didn’t use Brown much in the slot, but this could be the time to dust that off and try to isolate him on a linebacker, which would be a mismatch.
And I say Williams here because it doesn’t seem like the team is going to keep Boutte, but they do have high hopes for him, despite his 2025 season showing only flashes of his potential.
But by being a big physical player and pairing him with the 6’2, 205-pound Doubs, the Patriots have a pair of red-zone threats that should bear fruit in 2026. The red zone was an area that the offense struggled in mightily for much of the season.
The passing game should be a lot of fun to watch in 2026.
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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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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)
