{"id":74662,"date":"2026-09-04T04:30:17","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T08:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/?p=74662"},"modified":"2026-09-04T09:51:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T13:51:29","slug":"comparing-the-2025-roster-to-this-years-roster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patsfans.com\/patriots\/blog\/2026\/09\/04\/comparing-the-2025-roster-to-this-years-roster\/","title":{"rendered":"MORSE: Comparing the 2025 Roster to This Year’s Roster"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that the 53-man roster is complete (or so we think), I will analyze this year\u2019s team compared to the team that went to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n

\"New
(PHOTO: \u00a9 Andrew Nelles \/ The Tennessean \/ USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Offense<\/strong><\/h3>\n

QB<\/strong> \u2013 Drake Maye nearly won the MVP last season with a 72% completion rate. \u00a0\u00a0He threw for nearly 4400 yards, 31 TDs, and 8 INTs.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0But that was last year against a week schedule of opponents.\u00a0 \u00a0This year will be much tougher, with a gauntlet to start the season with Seattle, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and Buffalo out of the gate.\u00a0 Last season was a huge jump in year two for Maye.<\/p>\n

Maye\u2019s maturity and leadership are evident by his command at the Line of Scrimmage.\u00a0 The biggest reason for optimism is that Maye will have his second year with the same Offensive Coordinator, Josh McDaniels.\u00a0 You have to go back to his High School days, when he had the same Offensive Coordinator in back-to-back seasons.\u00a0 Understanding McDaniels’ complicated system is difficult.\u00a0 McDaniels is asking Maye to speed up the offense and not get so deep in the play clock and allow Defenses to make last-second adjustments.\u00a0 \u00a0He is also asking him to do a better job at the line of scrimmage reading the defense.<\/p>\n

Tommy DeVito was a terrific pickup at the cutdown waivers.\u00a0 The coaches obviously liked him better than Josh Dobbs, whom they released.\u00a0 DeVito had a good Training Camp.\u00a0 I feel much better with DeVito as the #2 QB than with Dobbs.\u00a0 Behren Morton surprised me in Training camp.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t think much of drafting Morton, as I liked other QBs in that spot.\u00a0 However, Morton played pretty well in camp.\u00a0 I was surprised that Morton was kept on the 53-man roster.\u00a0 Advantage \u201926 team.<\/p>\n

RB<\/strong>– \u00a0Rhamondre Stevenson is ready for the start of the season.\u00a0 He has looked good in Training camp, especially his receiving skills.\u00a0 Stevenson overcame his early-season fumbling issue to have a fine season.\u00a0 He had a good season with over 600 yards rushing while missing 3 games.\u00a0 He averaged 4.6 yards per carry despite having the 6th-worst\u00a0Yards Before 1st<\/sup> Contact (1.9).\u00a0 This is a stat that reflects how bad the Offensive line was last season, starting two rookies on the left side.<\/p>\n

TreVeyon Henderson came in with a lot of hype as a 2nd-round selection.\u00a0 He delivered a solid rookie year that had a lot of faults in his game.\u00a0 Henderson had trouble following and setting up his blocks while running inside the Tackles.\u00a0 He also was subpar in his pass blocking.\u00a0 However, if he got outside, he was lightning with 4 runs of over 50 yards. Henderson benefited with a 3.1 YBC, which was 4th best in the league.<\/p>\n

The team started with Antonio Gibson as the 3rd<\/sup> RB, and he did an admirable job and was good as a Kickoff Returner.\u00a0 He tore up his knee returning a kick, and the team struggled trying to find a 3rd<\/sup> back that could return kickoffs.\u00a0 By the end of the season, the Patriots had the two slowest Kickoff return men in the league.\u00a0 We won\u2019t know who the Kickoff return men will be until the Seattle game.<\/p>\n

The team wasn\u2019t happy with what they had as the 3rd<\/sup> RB, so they traded with Arizona for Corey Kiner.\u00a0 The 5\u20199\u201d, 209-pound bowling ball is an interesting young player.\u00a0 \u00a0Will he be ready to play in Week 1 is a question.\u00a0 TreVeyon Henderson’s health is a question, and the team may elevate Lan Larison for the 1st game to ensure they have a 3rd back ready to play.<\/p>\n

I give the nod to the 25 team at this point.<\/p>\n

FB<\/strong>– We didn\u2019t have a FB last year.\u00a0 Jack Westover was awful, and the team eventually replaced him with Khyris Tonga.\u00a0 Reggie Gilliam is a legitimate top Fullback in the league.\u00a0 His play the last few years in Buffalo was one of the reasons they dominated the running game. \u00a0\u00a0Big advantage to the 26 roster.<\/p>\n

WR<\/strong> \u2013 The Patriots’ wide receiver room is heads and shoulders better than the 25 team.\u00a0 AJ Brown is a legitimate #1 receiver that opponents need to account for and game plan for.\u00a0 Romeo Doubs is better than any other receiver outside of Stephon Diggs.\u00a0 The loss of Kayshon Boutte takes away Drake Maye\u2019s favorite deep target. \u00a0The trade opens up an opportunity for the continued development of Kyle Williams as a deep threat.\u00a0 Williams needs to be better with contested catches and route running.\u00a0 Mack Hollins is solid as a receiver and is a tremendous downfield blocker.\u00a0 Efton Chism continues to grow and is a willing blocker despite his small size.\u00a0 I expect a big year from Pop Douglas in the Josh McDaniels offense.\u00a0 The 26 receivers are better than the 25 group.<\/p>\n

TE<\/strong>– \u00a0\u00a0Hunter Henry is back and is a nice safety valve for Drake Maye.\u00a0 I expect him to perform the same as he did in 25.\u00a0 The only question is that he is a year older, and can he hold up over the season?\u00a0 Eli Raridon has to step up as a rookie.\u00a0 He has improved as the Training Camp evolved.\u00a0 The game is beginning to slow down for him.\u00a0 The team claimed Cameron Latu and has Tanner Arkin as backups.\u00a0 Don\u2019t understand why they are carrying 4 TE\u2019s on the 53-man roster<\/p>\n

OL<\/strong> – \u00a0The Offensive Line is so much better in 2026 than last year.\u00a0 Will Campbell was having a good season until his knee injury.\u00a0 He was a shell of himself in the Super Bowl, where he gave up a record-setting 14 Pressures.\u00a0 Jared Wilson has been moved back to Center, the position he was drafted to play.\u00a0 Having two rookies playing next to each other was an insane strategy (out of desperation), that blew up in the Patriots face in the Super Bowl.\u00a0 Now having Alijah Vera-Tucker in between the two second-year players should help both of them.\u00a0 Having that veteran to lean on is a huge benefit.\u00a0 The concern with AVT is his health and knocking off the rust from not playing at all last year.<\/p>\n

The Patriots also addressed their depth issues by signing Greg Van Roten, the former Giants starter, to serve as a backup.\u00a0 With Marcus Bryant going down in the Preseason game and placed on IR\/DFR, they went out and traded for young lineman Walter Rouse.\u00a0 \u00a0Interesting that Rouse is listed as a Guard in the 1st<\/sup> Depth Chart release.\u00a0 First-round selection Caleb Lomu was not ready to play and needs a red-shirt year to develop and get stronger.\u00a0 \u00a0Rookie 6th-round selection Dametrious Crownover shows promise, and they are carrying him on the active roster rather than exposing him to waivers.\u00a0 I also like the signing of OC\/OG Jake Kubas from the Giants.\u00a0 Kubas made the Giants’ 53-man roster in 2024 and played in 5 games with 3 starts.\u00a0 He was on their Practice Squad all of 2025.\u00a0 His PFF grade for this Pre-Season was 84.3, and his Run Blocking was 85.8.\u00a0 His 84.3 Grade was 13th<\/sup> best in the Preseason. \u00a0The 26 team has it all over the 25 team, which should help the run game as well as the passing game.<\/p>\n

\"Sep
(PHOTO: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images)<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Defense<\/strong><\/h3>\n

DT <\/strong>\u2013 Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are solid in the middle.\u00a0 They will need pressure from these two in the pass rush to offset the lack of pressure from the edge.\u00a0 The loss of Khyris Tonga is a big hit.\u00a0 He was instrumental in stopping the run and they haven\u2019t replaced him.\u00a0 Corey Durden made a big jump last season and is now thrust into the 3rd<\/sup> DT role.\u00a0 The former 2023 UDFA had played in 8 games prior to the Patriots claiming him at the cutdown day last season.\u00a0 He played all 17 games last season and contributed 30 tackles.\u00a0 Joshua Farmer and Leonard Taylor round out the group.\u00a0 The 25 team has a slight edge over the 26 team because of the loss of Tonga.<\/p>\n

EDGE <\/strong>– \u00a0\u00a0This is a big concern for the 26 team.\u00a0 Harold Landry is out for at least 4 games (SEA, PIT, JAX, and BUF).\u00a0 This loss is huge.\u00a0 Dre\u2019Mont Jones is a better edge player against the run, but not as effective as K\u2019Lavon Chaisson.\u00a0 The Patriots’ pass rush was not good last year and is worse this year.\u00a0 They are depending on a big leap in year two for Elijah Ponder, who contributed 4 sacks in a little over 200 snaps last year.\u00a0 Can he step up and be an everyday starter on the Edge?\u00a0 Gabe Jacas is not ready for the NFL.\u00a0 He signed late because of an unauthorized knee surgery.\u00a0 He lost all that development time, and he may not be ready to play until mid-season.\u00a0 He has the physical skills but not the acumen to recognize plays and to react to what he is seeing.\u00a0 Quintayvious Hutchins made the team but really shouldn\u2019t have, but there was no one better.\u00a0 The backups are both rookies.\u00a0 \u00a0The Patriots also lost Anfernee Jennings, who was able to hold the Edge.\u00a0 Big advantage to the 25 team (and they were not good).<\/p>\n

LB<\/strong> \u2013 The starters are good in Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss, but the depth behind them is very questionable.\u00a0 Darius Muasau was picked up on waivers from the Giants.\u00a0 He replaces Jack Gibbens.\u00a0 Muasau was a two-year starter for the Giants.\u00a0 Rookies Namdi Obiazor and UDFA Erick Hunter are the backups.\u00a0 I like the acquisition of Hunter and am excited to see what he can do.\u00a0 He played in the America Bowl and the HBCU Legacy Bowl this year.\u00a0 The 6\u20192\u201d, 224-pound LB is more like a Big Nickel safety.\u00a0 He had 298 career tackles at Morgan State.\u00a0 He should make a big impact on Special Teams. I am going to give the 25 team the edge on linebackers because of their experience rather than having two rookies as backups.<\/p>\n

CB <\/strong>– \u00a0The Christian Gonzalez contract negotiations are hanging over the secondary.\u00a0 To Gonzo\u2019s credit, he has been out there day after day practicing unless he was hurt.\u00a0 This secondary is probably the best in the league.\u00a0 They are better than last year\u2019s secondary because of Kevin Byard.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Carlton Davis played the entire season, the 1st<\/sup> time he has done that in his career.\u00a0 There is a concern about the backup players.\u00a0 Karon Prunty and Channing Canada are rookies who should help as gunners on the Punt Team.\u00a0 However, they are very green in pass coverage.\u00a0 \u00a0Charles Woods played well last season filling in for Gonzalez when he replaced Alex Austin.\u00a0 However, Woods did not play well in the preseason, which is a concern.\u00a0 Woods ran a slow 4.59 40 at his Pro Day.<\/p>\n

S <\/strong>–\u00a0 Kevin Byard led the league with 7 INTs last season.\u00a0 He was also named a team captain in his 1st<\/sup> year with the team.\u00a0 His leadership was very evident in the clips from the Forged in Foxboro video the team produced.\u00a0 Craig Woodson had a great season as a rookie, and he kept getting better each game as the season went on.\u00a0 His play in the playoffs was outstanding.\u00a0 Dell Pettus, when given the opportunity to play, has played well and is more of an in-the-box strong safety.\u00a0 His contribution will be on Special Teams.\u00a0 The acquisition of Jaylen Reed was a sneaky good catch for the Patriots.\u00a0 He could grow into a nickel safety, similar to what the Seahawks do.\u00a0 Remember that Reed was a 6th-round pick last season by Houston, and he started in both of their playoff games.<\/p>\n

Special Teams<\/strong><\/h3>\n

P \u2013 <\/strong>none<\/p>\n

Bryce Baringer is on IR.\u00a0 The Patriots signed Mitch Wishnowsky, the former Bills punter.\u00a0 He is a veteran and should be a game-day elevation from the Practice Squad.\u00a0 The Patriots could activate Wishnowsky to the active roster and waive Tanner Arkin!<\/p>\n

K \u2013 Andy Borregales: I hope his kicking woes are behind him.\u00a0 Those could have been an issue with the long snapper.<\/p>\n

Longsnapper \u2013 Julian Ashby. The best thing I can say about Ashby is that you don\u2019t notice him because all he does is make good snaps.<\/p>\n

Comings and Goings<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Patriots added TE Shane Zylstra to the Practice Squad and waived S Eric Butler and WR Jimy Kibble from IR.\u00a0 That fills the Practice Squad at 17, meaning EDGE Xavier Holmes has not been added to the Practice Squad.<\/p>\n

Zylstra<\/strong>, 29, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 out of Minnesota State-Mankato (D2).\u00a0 He set program records with 227 receptions, 4,297 yards, and 54 touchdowns.\u00a0 The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder joined the Detroit Lions practice squad after being released by Minnesota prior to the start of the 2021 season. In his career, he has spent time on the practice squad and the 53-man roster during his four seasons with the Lions. Overall, he has played 35 games with six starts and has 18 receptions for 136 yards and 4 touchdowns. Zylstra was signed by the Buffalo Bills as an unrestricted free agent on May 12, 2026, but was released on Aug. 29, 2026.<\/p>\n

Patriots announced they have signed S Elliott Davison to the Practice Squad while releasing DT Jalen Hunt.<\/p>\n

Davison<\/strong>, 24, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the New Orleans Saints on April 4, 2025, out of the University of Texas-San Antonio. The 6-foot, 200-pounder spent the 2025 season on the New Orleans practice squad. He went to training camp with the Saints this past summer but was released on Aug. 30, 2026.<\/p>\n

The University of Texas San Antonio product is 6\u2019, 190-pounds and ran a 4.48 40, 37\u201d Vertical Jump, 7.02 3-Cone Drill at his Pro Day.\u00a0 He spent 2025 on the Saints Practice Squad, signed a futures contract in 2026, and was cut after camp.\u00a0 In his last year at UTSA in 2024, he had 58 Tackles, 2 INTs, 4 PBUs, and a Fumble Recovery.<\/p>\n

Signing a 5th<\/sup> TE seems excessive to me.\u00a0 I would have rather seen Xavier Holmes signed or another EDGE player.<\/p>\n

The Patriots are the 5th<\/sup> youngest team in the NFL now.\u00a0 Take a look at our Linebacker room.\u00a0 Spillane and Elliss are solid starters, but the backups are Namdi Obiazor (6th-round rookie), Darius Muasau (starter last year for NYG), and Erick Hunter (UDFA).\u00a0 We also have Khalil Jacobs (UDFA) on IR.\u00a0 At edge, our starters are Dre\u2019Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder (UDFA,2nd yr), with Quintayvious Hutchins (7th Rd rookie) and Gabe Jacas (2nd round rookie).\u00a0 Two rookies as backup Cornerbacks (Prunty and Canada) and two 2nd-year safeties, Woodson and Reed.\u00a0 On offense, we are starting two 2nd-year O-linemen.\u00a0 We are very young.<\/p>\n

Patriots Depth Chart <\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Walter Rouse listed as a guard<\/li>\n
  2. Efton Chism III listed behind AJ Brown and Kyle Williams behind Pop Douglas<\/li>\n
  3. Kick returners listed as Williams and Chism – Theo Diesenhaus<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    No TreVeyon Henderson at the beginning of practice that is open to the media.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Analyzing the Patriots’ 2026 roster, this in-depth comparison highlights improvements in offense and defense, as well as concerns at various positions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":62649,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_pfeai_meta_description":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[10],"tags":[1980,22492,23269,130,24007,23466,24211,2211,1604,256,1679,305,23931,8,23603,24209,22588,23700,24897,24205,319,1909,24108,23738,24043],"class_list":["post-74662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-patriots-news","tag-aj-brown","tag-christian-barmore","tag-christian-gonzalez","tag-cornerback","tag-defensive-line","tag-drake-maye","tag-edge-rusher","tag-harold-landry","tag-hunter-henry","tag-josh-mcdaniels","tag-kevin-byard","tag-linebacker","tag-offensive-line","tag-patriots","tag-pop-douglas","tag-quarterback","tag-rhamondre-stevenson","tag-robert-spillane","tag-roster-comparison","tag-safety","tag-special-teams","tag-super-bowl","tag-training-camp","tag-treveyon-henderson","tag-wide-receiver"],"yoast_head":"\nMORSE: 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