The Patriots are heading into the big break of the offseason, as OTAs and minicamp have concluded, and there are several weeks until training camp officially kicks off in Foxboro. That gives the players plenty of time to rest and train on their own, particularly those who know they're going into a very telling part of their careers.
There's always going to be pressure on the entire roster, no matter what position they play or how likely they are to make the roster, because a job in the NFL is far from guaranteed.
However, there are always a handful of players who will be under the most pressure to perform their best once they're back on the practice field for training camp, and with the Patriots, it's beyond clear who those players are after everything we've seen this spring.
Some are facing a future that might involve them being cut from the team, while others are hoping to earn a significant role on the roster that was just created for them.
Regardless, there are at least four Patriots players who will be carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders next month, and they'll have to perform beyond expectations to keep their spots in their locker room.
4 Patriots who face an uphill battle after a not-so-good minicamp
WR Kayshon Boutte
Perhaps the most obvious Patriot set to be under the most pressure to carve out a role on the team is Kayshon Boutte.
Although he has proven that he can be a viable weapon for Drake Maye, the trade for A.J. Brown creates a serious uncertainty about his future in New England. He has been the subject of constant trade rumors throughout the offseason, and his limited participation, or lack thereof, at OTAs and minicamp only further the speculation.
Ahead of training camp next month, there will inevitably be a lot of discussion about what the Patriots might decide to do with Boutte, and a trade remains an option. Josh McDaniels showed that he can incorporate both him and Brown into the offense, so that shouldn't necessarily be the defining factor.
However, if they don't plan to sign him to an extension or bring him back after the 2026 season, the higher-ups will likely want to move him for some kind of return before walking in free agency for nothing.
P Bryce Baringer
In one of the more unexpected updates of the offseason, the Patriots brought in a punter for a three-day tryout during mandatory minicamp, and that immediately put a lot of pressure on Bryce Baringer to step up his game.
For the most part, he has been a solid addition to special teams since his draft. But some of his worst performances of the season in 2025 came when the games mattered most, particularly in the playoffs, which raised major concerns about his future in Foxboro.
At this point, we haven't heard anything about the rookie who had a tryout or about whether Baringer is at risk of being cut. But it's clear that he's far from safe, and hopefully, that will motivate him to improve his consistency and become reliable again ahead of the upcoming season.
QB Tommy DeVito
After deciding not to bring back veteran quarterback Joshua Dobbs, the Patriots extended backup Tommy DeVito to officially make him Drake Maye's No. 2.
They were clearly impressed with what the 27-year-old did during his stint with the Giants, and that led them to sign him in the first place, and his performance as the backup had remained consistent with their first impressions.
However, DeVito hasn't thrived this spring and is raising concerns about his fitness if the worst-case scenario strikes, especially if he needs to step in for Maye. He recorded far too many bad throws and incompletions during minicamp to feel comfortable going into the summer, and it wouldn't be expensive for the Patriots to replace him.
They might look for a more seasoned veteran to join the roster, although they have emphasized their interest in a younger group. If they want to have more confidence in their quarterback room, they might have to look for a more experienced player, especially if DeVito doesn't look much better next month.
TE Eli Raridon
Although he's not facing the same pressure as other players on this list, rookie Eli Raridon will be under a microscope this summer, as he is walking into a big opportunity to take on the role of TE2 behind Hunter Henry.
The Patriots appear confident in the group they have, even with Julian Hill suffering a season-ending injury this past month. Raridon now has a rare chance to take hold of a bigger role on the offense than most anticipated he would have as a rookie, and he will need to step things up to ensure it's his.
He seems to have impressed the coaches so far, who have spoken highly of him throughout the spring, and the same can be said about Henry. That's great to hear, but we'll need to see more from him at training camp before drawing any conclusions, and hopefully he will deliver.
If not, it's fair to assume that another tight end will be signed instead.
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