The Patriots roster is set to look dramatically different than it did during the 2024 season, and it couldn't be happening at a better time. The team has undergone a makeover over the last five years that has put them at the bottom of the league rather than consistently at the top, making them a shadow of the team they once were.
That is expected to change now that Mike Vrabel is in the building, and an improved roster is putting them back on the map. From the offense and defense to special teams, the new regime has made tremendous strides to assemble the best roster seen in New England since perhaps Tom Brady was under center.
The competition for several positions only heightens the excitement about what the team can accomplish this upcoming season. Many free agents have seemingly already overtaken veterans' positions, while rookies are exceeding expectations and knocking last season's players off the depth chart.
Now that they're going into their third week of training camp and some aspects of the roster have been established, the Patriots released their first unofficial depth chart on Monday afternoon. But it's filled with a lot of surprises that have fans scratching their heads in confusion.
The Patriots first unofficial depth chart does not line up with what we've seen at training camp
Although it is far from official, the Patriots' first unofficial depth chart raises more questions than answers after another successful day of practices.
At first glance, it might look pretty standard, until you realize what the order of the wide receivers is and that impressive rookie lineman, Jared Wilson, is listed as a third-string center.
Here is the Patriots first unofficial depth chart: pic.twitter.com/p5RiYyj6pr
— Sophie Weller (@sophieewellerr) August 4, 2025
Clearly, this is just a formality, and they're basing their decisions on experience and early assumptions before seeing how players performed during training camp. If that's not the explanation, then Mike Vrabel and Co. need to do a lot of explaining to clear up what this depth chart insinuates.
It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to see Wilson, who has been running with the starters as the left guard, thrown in as the third-string center. Fans also noticed Kendrick Bourne getting the start over Ja'Lynn Polk, which isn't too shocking, but seeing Mack Hollins fur
There is plenty of time for the chart to change, which is a good thing based on how the players have looked at practice. But for now, this is an interesting starting point, to say the least, and has prompted a lot of conversation in New England.