The New England Patriots' 2025 season was more successful than anyone could have predicted before the year began. Twelve months ago, fans were still crossing their fingers that Drake Maye would be the future of the franchise, and a Super Bowl appearance was well out of reach.
Despite the team failing to hoist the Lombardi Trophy, their Super Bowl cameo gave fans a taste of what's to come with Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel. While 14-3 may still be an overzealous prediction given its much harder schedule, winning the division and competing for another Super Bowl berth should still be attainable for New England.
This summer will play a massive role in whether or not the team will have the depth to compete late into the season. The team upgraded at receiver and along the offensive line, and nine of 11 defensive starters returned. The top-end talent is not the issue. It's the team's overall roster depth that remains a glaring concern.
The departures of players like Antonio Gibson, Vederian Lowe, Anfernee Jennings, and all three backup linebackers leave a need for depth across the board. Over the next few months, the Patriots will look to grow that depth in-house.
Kayshon Boutte and K.J. Britt are among the notable names left off this projection
Quarterbacks (3)
- Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton
While he's not likely to say it publicly, Maye will no doubt be gunning for the 2026 MVP award. DeVito will back him up following the release of Josh Dobbs, while Morton was selected in the seventh round to fill the emergency QB3 role, previously held by DeVito.
Running Backs (3)
- TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Lan Larison
Henderson and Stevenson are no-brainers, but it's been reported that Larison is taking the RB3 snaps. Terrell Jennings and Jam Miller are the top candidates to give the former UC Davis back a run for his money. Still, Larison's success in college was very impressive: He totaled over 2,300 yards and 23 touchdowns during his final season for the Aggies.
Fullback (1)
- Reggie Gilliam
Jack Westover was the first fullback in franchise history to not record a single offensive yard during the regular season. New England solved that issue by making Gilliam the highest-paid fullback in the league, with a $10.8 million total contract value. Westover played 316 snaps last season, with 211 coming in the backfield. The former Toledo Rocket should be a major upgrade.
Tight Ends (3)
- Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Jack Westover
The tight end room looked to be a standard prediction a week ago, with a healthy Julian Hill in the fold. Hill was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury on Monday, meaning he'll miss the entire 2026 season. That leaves an opportunity for someone to fill the TE3 role.
In 2025, New England kept only two tight ends to begin the season, but later signed C.J. Dippre off the practice squad following multiple attempts from other teams to sign him to their active roster. Keeping two tight ends is a possibility, but three seems more likely. Four isn't out of the question, either.
Westover has the inside track to the No. 3 role, as he stepped in for Hill as a blocking tight end in practice. Nonetheless, Dippre and Illinois UDFA Tanner Arkin received over $270k in guarantees following the draft. That's the most Vrabel's handed out to a UDFA in his two seasons as New England's head coach.
Westover, Dippre, or Arkin are likely to make the team as blockers, but the receiving threat will come from Henry and Raridon, the team's third-round rookie. The Notre Dame alum is likely to see far more action than was expected originally, given Hill's injury. If all goes well, he could be the team's seam threat for the duration of his rookie contract and more.
Wide Receivers (6)
- A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Pop Douglas, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III
The Patriots finally found their top-tier receiver in A.J. Brown, after what seems like far too long. Doubs was added in free agency as a strong complement to the Super Bowl-winning wideout.
Hollins will retain his role as an underrated deep threat, one that will be especially key with my predicted departure of Kayshon Boutte. The ex-LSU receiver plays a role all too similar to Brown and Doubs, and considering that he's in the final year of his deal, he'll likely receive a sizable contract in the next 12 months. The Patriots would be wise to nab a draft pick for him while they can.
Douglas may be in the same boat as Boutte, but he remains on the roster for the time being. Williams could see a significant uptick in snaps given his strong offseason, and the same could be said for Chism, especially if Douglas gets traded.
Offensive Tackle (5)
- Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu, Dametrious Crownover, James Hudson
Will Campbell will need a far better performance than he showed during the playoffs to instill the confidence that he's the long-term answer in New England. The addition of Alijah Vera-Tucker to his right should help him be a more stable blindside protector late into the year.
Moses will offer veteran experience for at least one more season at right tackle, with Lomu waiting in the wings to take over at the bookend in 2027. Crownover's 86-inch wingspan makes him an intriguing prospect, and he beats out Marcus Bryant for the fourth tackle role here.
Hudson is far from an ideal starter (see the Giants vs. Cowboys game in Week 2 last year), but he offers veteran depth and versatility. He's seen time at guard during spring workouts.
Interior Offensive Line (5)
- Alijah Vera-Tucker, Mike Onwenu, Ben Brown, Andrew Rupcich, Jared Wilson
New England invested a $42 million contract into Alijah Vera-Tucker to solve the offensive line issues that were all too prevalent in the playoffs. Onwenu took a pay cut of $7.5 million, but also received $6 million up front for the restructure that he wouldn't have otherwise. Jared Wilson struggled at left guard last season, but he was one of the NCAA's best centers at Georgia. Returning to his more natural position in 2026 should pay dividends.
Brown was inked to a two-year extension last year to remain the top interior backup, but one veteran has come out of the woodwork to have a strong offseason thus far.
Andrew Rupcich, one of two former Culver-Stockton Wildcats on the roster, has rotated with Brown as the top replacement for Vera-Tucker, who is finishing rehabbing the tricep tear he sustained last offseason. A member of the Titans from 2022 to September of last season, Rupcich played under Vrabel for two years in Tennessee. Furthermore, he is bigger than Brown, something that shouldn't be overlooked given the size of their starting guards. He was the only NAIA player to be invited to the Combine in 2022, and now he could make the final roster for the second time in his career.
Interior Defensive Line (5)
- Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Leonard Taylor III, Joshua Farmer
Zak Kuhr and company did an excellent job of developing defensive linemen last season, and I'd expect that trend to continue in 2026. Williams and Barmore lead the group, but Durden ranked first among all interior defenders with a 29.8% pass-rush win rate.
Terrell Williams will return to the fold as an assistant coach in 2026, and given his experience as a defensive line coach, I'd expect players to continue to make strides. Taylor has been a force this spring and tipped Wil Lutz's field goal in the AFC Championship Game to help secure a trip to the Super Bowl for the Patriots.
New England traded up for Farmer in 2025, and I'd expect him to remain with the team despite a quiet rookie season that saw him record 15 tackles in 13 games. Players like Eric Gregory, Jeremiah Pharms, and UDFA David Blay will no doubt make their own pushes for depth roles.
Edge Defenders (4)
- Harold Landry, Dre'Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas, Elijah Ponder
New England ranked 22nd in sacks during the regular season last year, and they lost K'Lavon Chaisson in free agency, who had 10.5, including the playoffs. The team replaced him with Jones, who had a career year last season with seven sacks. He's much larger than Chaisson and better against the run, though he doesn't have nearly the same bend.
After an 8.5-sack regular season in 2025, New England will be looking for Landry to be a more consistent producer during the latter half of the year following offseason foot surgery. Jacas' youth and burst should help spell the aging Landry, while Ponder's four-sack rookie campaign makes him an intriguing depth option.
Bradyn Swinson will need to show significant improvement from last season to make a push, though he may find a way onto the roster. Seventh-round selection Quintayvious Hutchins had just 5.5 sacks in three collegiate seasons, and legal issues could blur his chances of making the team even more.
Linebackers (4)
- Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Chad Muma, Namdi Obiazor
New England's linebacker depth took a major hit this offseason. Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai, and Marte Mapu all departed. While the Patriots added several depth options, it remains to be seen if they'll match the production of the 2025 unit.
K.J. Britt was signed to add depth to the position, but he missed out on the final roster here. Instead, Muma makes a push after being signed from the Colts' practice squad in December. Eliot Wolf harped on the depth of the 2026 NFL Draft's Day 3 linebacker class, and TCU's Obiazor was his choice.
While the depth underwent significant changes in the spring, starters Spillane and Elliss remain the players set to see the most run.
Cornerbacks (6)
- Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Kindle Vildor, Charles Woods, Karon Prunty
The top of the cornerback room remains unchanged from 2025, but the depth going into 2026 is sure to see some shuffling. Veteran option Vildor is a player I'd expect to make the team given his experience, but he won't have it easy. Woods earned the CB4 role by the latter half of the year and showed solid ability for a player who hadn't seen legitimate NFL action until the 2025 season.
While Prunty wasn't a widely known player before the draft, his 4.45-second 40-yard dash and sub-50% completion rating allowed at Wake Forest last season should see him make the team, assuming a solid summer.
The only concern with the three starters is the status of Christian Gonzalez's contract, but I'd be surprised if an agreement on an extension doesn't happen in the coming months. New England's cornerbacks are the crown jewel of their defense.
Safeties (4)
- Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, Mike Brown, Dell Pettus
Jaylinn Hawkins would be a massive loss under ordinary circumstances, but finding a replacement in the 2025 interceptions leader and three-time All-Pro Kevin Byard isn't too shabby. Woodson will look to take the next step in his sophomore season and learn from the experienced former Titan.
An early take of mine is not only that Brown will make the roster, but also play a defensive role, albeit minimal. Listed by the team's website at 6-foot-1, 218 pounds, he'd offer a different style of player than the starters ahead of him.
The 27-year-old Miami-Ohio alum spent the last three seasons in Tennessee (one with Vrabel) after entering the league with the Browns. In 2024, he totaled 49 tackles across 17 games before being limited to nine games in 2025 with knee and ankle injuries.
Pettus has slot versatility. He lined up there more than any other position in 2024. His special teams acumen adds to his profile, but Brown jumps him for the top backup role.
Specialists (4)
- Andy Borregales, Bryce Baringer, Julian Ashby, Brenden Schooler
The specialists remain unchanged going into 2026 with no competition added at any of the three positions. Schooler remains one of the best special teamers in the league, and while other players may make a push as core special teamers, the majority (e.g. Dell Pettus) also have offensive or defensive roles, which can't be said for Schooler.
Marcellas Dial will be a player to watch this summer, however. Despite competition being added to the cornerback room, he played extensively on special teams with Jeremy Springer in 2024, before tearing his ACL ahead of the 2025 season. If he can find a way to make a defensive impact, he could be a player to watch. He misses out in this projection, however.
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