The Patriots are set to take on the Browns in their 2026 preseason finale on Thursday, and just three days later, they'll need to cut down their roster. It's never an easy thing to do, but this time around, with the changes the NFL made, going from 90 players you've had all summer long to 53 in one swoop will prove to be even more difficult.
That puts a lot of pressure on those actively competing for a spot in the locker room, as they'll have one last chance to make the right impression and determine their fate in New England.
Some will need to continue the trajectory they've been on over the past few months, while others will need to step it up and stand out above their teammates to sway the minds of the coaches making the biggest decisions.
Will we finally see some of the most competitive roster battles decided on Thursday night? We will have to wait and see, but for now, here are the top 6 players to watch.
These 6 Patriots players can't afford to have a bad performance vs. the Browns
RB Lan Larison
Arguably the more fascinating roster battles of the summer, the running back room could become the strongest offensive group for the upcoming season.
Beyond starters Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson, the room is up in the air for who will round out the group, but Lan Larison continues to be a frontrunner for the role, particularly after his performance against the Eagles last weekend.
The second-year star was on his way to stealing that spot last year before suffering a season-ending injury. And although he has some stiff competition with rookie Jam Miller, Larison was a focal point of the offensive effort in last week's preseason game, demonstrating his backfield and pass-catching abilities with ease.
That could be the difference-maker in who the coaching staff keeps, and right now it looks like it's Larison's job to lose. He will need another strong showing Thursday night to lock it up. If not, he might be headed back to the practice squad.
LB Chad Muma
A weak linebacker room with their main star sidelined due to injury should have made it easy for a new name to rise in the rankings. For much of training camp, that was Chad Muma, who consistently had strong practices and looked like one of the earliest candidates to make the roster.
That was even more apparent when he was seen wearing a defensive captain helmet at practice, but it seems everything has gone downhill since then.
Muma's preseason performance has made him a bubble player later this summer, and based on what we saw against the Eagles last week, he will need a complete turnaround on Thursday night to counter the negativity surrounding his once-bright potential.
Considering the desperate need the Patriots have for linebacker help, it's an opportunity Muma can't afford to mess up, and hopefully, he doesn't.
QB Behren Morton
Although the Patriots used a sixth-round pick on him earlier this year, Behren Morton is far from a sure thing to make this year's roster for one reason: Tommy DeVito.
The recently extended quarterback has become the primary backup behind Drake Maye, and his preseason performance so far has seemingly assured the coaching staff that he is the right guy for the job.
Rumors suggest they might go with just two quarterbacks on this year's roster, leaving Morton to sign with the practice squad. But after his memorable performance that helped secure the win over the Eagles last week, there's a chance the rookie could change their minds.
Given how important it is to have proper depth at a position as crucial as quarterback, it would be smarter to keep Morton around in case of an absolute disaster. Another strong showing against the Browns would almost certainly punch his ticket to the 53-man roster.
WR Efton Chism III
The wide receiver room hasn't been as jam-packed with talent the way it is this offseason for a number of years, which has only made the competition for the likely six spots on the roster even more can't-miss this summer.
The group did, however, get a little thinner after Kayshon Boutte was traded to the Texans, creating an opportunity for someone like Efton Chism to lock up a spot.
Since being signed as a UDFA last year, he impressed with his preseason showing to make the 2025 roster, but didn't take the field that much to truly make an impact. He's in a similar situation this year, too, just with more special teams experience, and that might be his way to make the roster.
At the same time, Chism has been utilized a bit more over the past couple of weeks offensively, and if he can put together another standout game against the Browns in the preseason finale, he could give the higher-ups a harder decision to make about his future.
CB Kindle Vildor
Another talented group on the Patriots right now is their secondary, with Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis leading the way, and Kevin Byard right alongside them.
The depth at cornerback and safety is also deep, yet Kindle Vildor has managed to stand out after only signing with the team this spring for all the right reasons. He's become a name to know throughout training camp and has consistently had some flashy plays during the preseason, heating the battle for who will be the CB4 this fall.
The competition is stiff, with Charles Woods also making a name for himself this summer, and we already know just how good Marcus Jones is and has been over the last few years.
But that doesn't rule out Vildor making the roster. Instead, he just has to take advantage of this final opportunity against the Browns to show all that he can do, no matter how limited his reps will be on Thursday night.
His experience in the league gives him a leg up over his immediate competition, and he will have to utilize that to lock up a roster spot this week.
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