The New England Patriots finalized their initial 53-man roster on Sunday, cutting their squad from an initial 90. While more roster moves are likely over the coming days, this initial group gives us a strong look at what the roster will look like this season.
There weren’t many major surprises on cut-down day, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t any moves that turned heads. UDFA cornerback Channing Canada made the team over veteran Kindle Vildor, and Eric Gregory, a key part of the team’s defensive tackle rotation in 2025, was released.
Bradyn Swinson was also cut loose after a solid preseason.
Veteran linebacker Chad Muma was reported to be the team’s third linebacker early in the preseason, but he was exposed during the preseason with a trio of poor performances. Despite the team rostering five linebackers,couldn'te to make the squad. While disappointing, a 33.3 PFF grade and five missed tackles (26.3%) made it expected.
Perhaps the most surprising move of the preseason, however, was the release of one of the team’s key offensive linemen during the preseason.
James Hudson’s versatility not enough for him to make the Patriots' roster
One veteran who looked set to make the squad, however, was James Hudson. Following injuries to Ben Brown and Marcus Bryant, Hudson’s versatility put him in pole position to make the squad.
Through three preseason games, Hudson played 157 snaps on the offensive line, with 54 (34.3%) coming at left tackle and 103 (65.6%) coming at right guard. The signing of veteran Greg Van Roten lessened the need for an interior lineman, but Bryant’s injury necessitated an additional tackle's addition to the squad.
While rookies Caleb Lomu and Dametrious Crownover showed future potential, the latter struggled in the preseason despite his size. In three games, he allowed a higher pressure rate than Hudson and was penalized more.
Hudson allowed a 4.5% pressure rate across both positions, allowing one sack while being penalized twice. While it originally may have seemed a possibility for the veteran to be brought back on the practice squad, a cut-down day trade with the Vikings likely slams that door shut.
Trading for Walter Rouse preferred to Hudson
The Patriots sent a sixth-round pick to the Vikings on Sunday for a seventh-round pick and 25-year-old tackle Walter Rouse. The former Stanford and Oklahoma lineman was a sixth-round pick in 2024 and has played only 88 offensive NFL snaps in his career so far, all last season, mostly at right tackle.
He allowed a 9.7% pressure rate, conceding one sack as he was penalized once.
While he’s struggled to see the field with the Vikings during the regular season, he’s been solid in preseason. Through 303 preseason snaps over the last three years, he’s played both tackle and guard, allowing a 3% pressure rate with no sacks. He was also never penalized.
This preseason, he played exclusively on the inside, with 32 snaps coming at left guard and 77 at right guard.
While Hudson is likely to find a home elsewhere, the Patriots appeared to do everything they could to avoid having him on the roster in a significant role, or at all. Even with Bryant and Brown missing time, the team opted for Van Roten at inside and Rouse as a younger option who directly replaces Hudson.
The last time the Patriots traded for a Vikings lineman on cutdown day, it was Veteran Lowe, who started at left tackle in 2024 before becoming a very solid swing tackle in 2025, stepping in for Will Campbell.
It seems Vrabel and Co. believe Van Roten, Rouse, Lomu, and Crownover can hold down the fort as the backups until the injured players recover. While he looked to be in a strong position originally, Hudson had a hard fall this preseason.
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