The New England Patriots have had an offseason to remember. Following a tremendous 2025 season that defied all expectations, the Patriots added to an already strong squad.
A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Alijah Vera-Tucker, and Caleb Lomu were the marquee offensive additions, while players like Reggie Gilliam and Eli Raridon are also likely to have large roles in their first season with the team.
Defensively, Dre'Mont Jones, Kevin Byard, and Gabe Jacas will look to make a first-year impact. With so much talent infused into the squad, the organization has fans excited about plenty.
Latest 53-man roster features several major surprises a month from cutdown day
Quarterbacks (3): Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton
Maye will look to build upon a near-perfect 2025 season in which he finished second in MVP voting. Entering his third season, the former UNC star will be working with the same offensive coordinator in back-to-back seasons for the first time since high school.
Maye became the starter for the Tarheels in 2022, meaning that despite Phil Longo being with the team in 2021 and 2022, he never had a chance to build on the same offense as the team's signal caller in back-to-back seasons.
DeVito's development behind the scenes as the QB3 last season was strong enough that New England felt confident enough to release Josh Doubs and extend the former Giant. Morton's college career was stifled by injuries, but the rookie has no competition for the emergency QB3 role.
Running Backs (4): TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Lan Larison, Reggie Gilliam (FB)
Keeping three running backs seems the most logical for the Patriots at this point. There's little surprise that Henderson and Stevenson are the primary duo, but Larison reportedly received the bulk of the RB3 snaps during the spring.
In the only 2025 preseason game we have as a reference for the former UC Davis back, he tied Stevenson for the most carries of the night with seven. He totaled 35 yards and a touchdown.
Terrell Jennings and Jam Miller will be practice squad candidates, but the former could look for opportunities elsewhere after taking just 36 carries in two seasons. UDFA Myles Montgomery had 705 yards on the ground for UCF last season and has an 8.90/10.00 Relative Athletic Score, meaning he too could find his way to the practice squad. Gilliam joins from the Bills as one of the league's best fullbacks.
Tight Ends (3): Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Tanner Arkin
Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon are roster locks, but the final tight end slot is admittedly a toss-up. While I opted for Jack Westover in my first roster prediction, UDFA Arkin makes the team in this rendition. A two-time captain for the Fighting Illini, Arkin was paid the most guaranteed money of any UDFA over the last two seasons under Mike Vrabel.
That includes C.J. Dippre, the former Maryland and Alabama tight end, who paid $264k in 2025, the most of any Patriot UDFA.
Given that the Patriots added Gilliam, they won't require the backfield services that Westover provided last season. Instead, they could look to add youth as they look to replace the injured Julian Hill. Arkin and Dippre are the top candidates that check that box, as this summer will be key in each of their futures with the team.
Wide Receivers (5): A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III
Acquiring Brown has been the talk of the town this summer, while Doubs' addition also holds weight as a WR2. Hollins was a serious intermediate threat for the team last season and led all players in the Super Bowl in yards with 78.
While I'm under the impression Kayshon Boutte has enough value to fetch a draft pick before the end of the summer, I don't feel the same way about Pop Douglas. At best, the team could manage a pick swap, but it seems more likely he will be released in favor of Chism if he struggles this summer. If last offseason is any indication, that's a real possibility.
Georgetown alum Jimmy Kibble was placed on IR, but fellow UDFA wideouts Kyle Dixon and Cameron Dorner are top candidates for the practice squad.
Offensive Tackles (5): Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu, Dametrious Crownover, Marcus Bryant
The offensive tackle position will be the X-factor for the Patriots this year. During the 2025 regular season, Campbell and Moses each ranked 11th in pressure rate allowed on their respective sides of the line, but the former struggled immensely in the playoffs.
To fortify the line, the team selected Caleb Lomu after trading up in the first round, who will replace new 49er Vederian Lowe as the swing tackle.
Additionally, the Patriots selected Crownover, who has excellent size and arm length (86-inch wingspan). The sixth-round pick will likely make the team as a depth piece. In this rendition, Bryant also makes the team after playing just 18 snaps last season.
Veteran James Hudson will be the main competition for the young pair of tackles, but given the former Brown's horrendous 2025 with the Giants, it seems reasonable that the pair could make the roster.
Interior Offensive Line (5): Alijah Vera-Tucker, Mike Onwenu, Ben Brown, Andrew Rupcich, Jared Wilson
The interior offensive line has the chance to be a much better unit than it was last season, with two significant changes. Wilson made the move from left guard to center, and in his place, New England added Vera-Tucker.
While he's played in roughly half of his career games, he's been excellent when he's stayed on the field. Mike Onwenu will be with the squad in 2026 after his contract is reworked.
The backup battle will be an interesting one. Brown is an excellent utility man along the inside, but if last season is any indication, keeping a fifth player along the interior seems a strong possibility. Rupcich is likely the strongest candidate for that role, given that he split snaps with Brown at left guard in the spring.
Caedan Wallace's time in New England is likely over, but UDFA Jacob Rizy was named as one of five players to potentially steal a roster spot by ESPN's Mike Reiss as a center. Given that Brown played all 311 of his offensive line snaps at guard last year, New England could afford to keep another center in Rizy if he outplays Rupcich.
He played his college football at Harvard and Florida State and is an excellent athlete.
Jake Rizy is a OG prospect in the 2026 draft class. He scored a 9.88 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 24 out of 1898 OG from 1987 to 2026.https://t.co/vKBFc7Zzo7 pic.twitter.com/7TAX6HsIm5
— RAS.football (@MathBomb) April 12, 2026
Interior Defensive Line (6): Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Leonard Taylor, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory
The Patriots rostered six interior defensive linemen last season, and it paid major dividends. Despite injuries to the unit later in the season, it remained one of the best groups in the league, and I'd expect the same to be true in 2026.
Williams is a bona fide star, while Barmore needs to prove he's worth his $84 million contract this season before New England has a decision to make on his future at the end of the year. Durden is in a contract year after a breakout 2026 season, meaning he has everything to play for.
Taylor should be expected to play a larger role this season after playing some very solid football down the stretch last season. Farmer and Gregory will look to replace Khyiris Tonga as forces in run defense as they enter their sophomore seasons.
Jeremiah Pharms, Isaiah Iton, and David Blay Jr. miss out, but all are practice squad candidates.
Edge Defenders (4): Harold Landry, Dre'Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson
K'Lavon Chaisson's departure leaves a major role to be filled on the edge for New England, given the LSU product's 10.5 sacks across the regular season and postseason. They opted to add Jones, who is less explosive but more stout in run defense. He'll complement Landry as the second starter.
Despite Gabe Jacas signing his contract, I'd predict he begins the season on PUP. Contrary to IR, PUP allows players to be placed on the reserve list before roster cutdowns and still play later in the season. He'd be eligible to return within the first few weeks.
In his absence, Ponder and Swinson make the squad, the latter of whom has been praised for having a strong spring despite being a non-factor last season.
Linebackers (5): Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Chad Muma, K.J. Britt, Namdi Obiazor
New England keeps the same number of linebackers as it did last season in this rendition, though the group may be less talented. Spillane and Elliss lead the second level, while Muma is the top backup. Britt played an important special teams role for the Dolphins last season, but finished with 72 tackles in 2024 with the Buccaneers as a rotational piece.
Obiazor will be one to watch over the next month, with the TCU rookie turning heads at the Combine with a 4.53s 40-yard dash and a 9.13/10.00 Relative Athletic Score. Despite his athleticism, he's a strong practice squad candidate given his draft pedigree (sixth round).
The team met with Missouri UDFA Khalil Jacobs three times in the pre-draft process, but he seems a sure-fire practice squad player rather than a roster candidate.
Cornerbacks (5): Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Charles Woods, Karon Prunty
The top-end talent of New England's cornerback room has been talked about to nauseum, but for good reason. Gonzalez, Davis, and Jones are a fantastic trio, and if the former Oregon Duck signs an extension in the next 30 days, there will be even more excitement leading up to the 2026 season.
While my first roster construction saw New England hold on to six cornerbacks, Kindle Vildor is unable to sneak onto the roster this time around. Instead, Woods and Wake Forest rookie Prunty make the team as backups.
Woods leapfrogged Alex Austin as the fourth cornerback last year following his injury, and he didn't give the role back. Prunty will be a contributor on special teams initially, but he has the makeup to be a solid rotational cornerback: 4.45s speed with a sub-50% completion rate allowed in the ACC last season.
Safeties (4): Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Mike Brown
Byard and Woodson are the surefire starters at safety, but the position's depth could surprise some people. Pettus had an excellent 2025 by advanced metrics, including PFF: he was the tenth-highest-rated safety in football last year by overall grade (78.9).
Brown has also received early hype as a player. Vrabel signed the safety in Tennessee and eventually made his way to the Patriots in the spring. He played just nine games last season, but finished with 49 tackles in 2024, the only season of his career in which he played 17 games.
Given his size at nearly 220 pounds, he could offer something other candidates can't.
John Saunders Jr. misses out after spending three weeks on the team's active roster last year. Peter Manuma, a UDFA out of Hawai'i, made the team after a successful rookie minicamp, but he seems more likely to make the practice squad.
Specialists (4): Andy Borregales, Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby, Brenden Schooler
New England's specialists remain unchanged from last season for the second straight roster prediction. Borregales had a tough first few weeks of the regular season, but from Week 3 onwards, he was nearly 90% on field goals and perfect on extra points.
Baringer had a tough postseason, averaging 5.8 fewer yards per punt. His net average was below 40.0 yards per punt as well. If he can bounce back to his regular-season form, the Patriots will have a sound punter. Seeing that they didn't bring any competition for him, special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer and the rest of the coaching staff seem to have confidence in him.
Schooler is, of course, the face of the unit, but players like Chad Muma, K.J. Britt, and Dell Pettus should also be expected to play important roles should they make the squad.
Practice Squad (13/16):
- RB Jam Miller
- RB Myles Montgomery
- WR Kyle Dixon
- WR Cameron Dorner
- OT James Hudson
- IOL Jacob Rizy
- IDL David Blay Jr.
- ED Quintayvious Hutchins
- LB Amari Gainer
- LB Khalil Jacobs
- CB Kobee Minor
- SAF John Saunders Jr.
- SAF Peter Manuma
As for New England's potential practice squad, it may be wishful thinking to believe that some players won't end up on other teams' rosters. Specifically, Terrell Jennings and C.J. Dippre sticking around seems unlikely should they be released.
Furthermore, players like Jack Westover and Kindle Vildor don't likely make sense to keep around. While they may not find homes elsewhere, it's unlikely the Patriots would have much need for another blocking tight end/fullback and a 28-year-old sixth cornerback.
That slot would be better used on a younger player. Hudson could be in this category as well, but the veteran sticks around with the amount of young depth the Patriots have on their roster in this rendition.
The team could look to add a receiver, tight end, and edge rusher from elsewhere to fill out the 16.
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