When the New England Patriots took the practice field for Mike Vrabel’s first training camp in 2025, several position groups were a complete crapshoot due to a lack of depth across the board. It all worked out brilliantly, thanks in part to quarterback Drake Maye’s meteoric rise and the ability of several rookies (Will Campbell, Craig Woodson, Jared Wilson, TreVeyon Henderson, Andy Borregales, among others) to step in as key contributors.
One year later, not a ton has changed.
While the Patriots undoubtedly have more proven talent and roster cornerstones on their 2026 camp roster, similar depth concerns linger. Newcomers A.J. Brown, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Dre’Mont Jones, and Kevin Byard should help raise New England’s floor, but the team’s ceiling could come down to the many 53-man roster spots that remain there for the taking.
In that spirit, let’s break down the five position groups that carry the biggest question marks ahead of the Patriots’ 2026 training camp, which kicks off July 24.
Quarterback
The Patriots’ decision to cut ties with Joshua Dobbs this offseason wasn’t all that surprising. It’s definitely worth questioning their call to extend Tommy DeVito and trust him as Maye’s top backup, though.
This feels like a stretch, but Greg Bedard of Boston Sports Journal seems to think seventh-round rookie Behren Morton could be a camp sleeper.
“The Patriots wanted to get a QB into McDaniels' development pipeline, and so far, Behren Morton looks the part,” Bedard wrote for BSJ. “I'm also not sold on Tommy DeVito as the backup after an underwhelming offseason. Doubtful Morton can make a charge this season, but I don't rule it out.”
New England has assembled a championship-caliber roster around Maye, who was banged up by the end of last year’s long playoff run. If he misses any time whatsoever in 2026 due to injury, the Patriots’ decision to pass on signing a proven backup QB could end up being Vrabel’s biggest second guess of the 2026 offseason.
Cornerback
The No. 4 cornerback spot was a weak point on the Patriots’ 2025 depth chart, as camp standouts DJ James and Alex Austin failed to stick around. That issue remains this year, unless fifth-round draft pick Karon Prunty pans out as a surprise contributor.
The Patriots have one of the best starting cornerback groups in the NFL with Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis on the outside, and Marcus Jones in the slot. Davis, now entering his age-30 season, played all 17 games last year. Prior to that? His career high in a regular season was 14 games. If New England’s good injury luck runs out in 2026, unproven players like Prunty, Kindle Vildor, and Charles Woods could be thrust into action.
Cornerback is one of New England’s most vulnerable position groups in terms of depth, and the battle behind Gonzalez, Davis, Jones, and Prunty is anyone’s guess at this point.
Inside linebacker
Another surprise. New England’s linebacker group was a major red flag during the first month of the 2025 season, with starters Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss routinely getting cooked in pass coverage. To Vrabel’s credit, both players not only settled in as the season went on, but became critical pieces in the team’s march to Super Bowl LX.
Spillane was limited to just 13 games due to injuries, though, and he’s now entering his age-31 season. The Patriots will be counting heavily on both Spillane and Elliss, as the team added almost no real competition for them in camp. Veterans K.J. Britt and Chad Muma were brought in as depth options, but they will likely be competing more with rookies Namdi Obiazor and UDFA Khalil Jacobs than they will be pushing the Patriots’ starters.
This group leaves much to be desired. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots add another off-ball linebacker either via trade or the waiver wire.
Tight end
New England has three roster locks at the tight end/fullback positions in Hunter Henry, rookie Eli Raridon, and veteran fullback Reggie Gilliam. The team appeared to be planning to keep a third tight end prior to Julian Hill’s season-ending injury, so one roster spot could be up for grabs this summer.
The Patriots used a third-round draft pick on Raridon, and he could be poised for a major role as New England’s TE2 right out of the gate. But with Henry now pushing age 32, the roster could really use another veteran tight end on the depth chart right now.
Undrafted rookie Tanner Arkin could win himself a job — if the Patriots don’t decide to add external help to a group that’s extremely thin entering camp.
Interior offensive line
There’s been a lot of movement here, with Garrett Bradbury out via trade and Vera-Tucker in as the team’s new starting left guard. We know Mike Onwenu will be back at his familiar right guard spot after he agreed to a contract restructure this spring, and 2025 draft pick Jared Wilson will take over at center. The team still has Ben Brown as quality veteran depth. Those four players are roster locks.
The team kept five interior linemen on the initial 53 last year. Who could be the fifth man in 2026? That’s such a question mark right now that the team could look to carry an extra offensive lineman on the practice squad instead.
The returning Caedan Wallace should be the frontrunner for that fifth spot. The Patriots added a pair of UDFAs in Jacob Rizy and JonDarius Morgan. From there, mostly unknown players like Andrew Rupcic, Sebastian Gutierrez, and Mehki Butler will be vying for jobs.
Brown is about as good as it gets in the NFL in terms of an experienced top reserve on a team-friendly contract. He could need help in 2026, though, if the Patriots deal with injuries.
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