Patriots 53-man roster projection: How things look after the NFL draft
The New England Patriots still have a long way to go before they have to shave their roster down from 90 players to 53. But they will be faced with these decisions at the end of training camp.
So, we're taking a look at how things stand at this moment and what appears to be the most likely 53 players taking the field for New England when the season begins.
Here is my first 53-man roster projection:
Quarterback (3)
IN: Drake Maye , Tommy DeVito , Behren Morton *
OUT:N/A
This is probably the simplest position room for the Patriots, with Maye serving as the starter. New England recently extended Tommy DeVito, while releasing Joshua Dobbs , making it clear who is second on the depth chart. And then, in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Patriots selected Behren Morton, who is lined up to serve as the third signal caller.
Running Backs (4)
IN: Rhamondre Stevenson , TreVeyon Henderson , Reggie Gilliam , Jam Miller*
OUT: Terrell Jennings , Brock Lampe , Lan Larison , Elijah Mitchell , Myles Montgomery*
Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson are the team's top two running backs, but that third spot behind them remains an interesting battle to watch out for this summer. The clear front-runner would be Jam Miller, whom the Patriots drafted out of Alabama. However, New England also has Terrell Jennings, who served as the team's third running back for much of last season. The Patriots also signed undrafted free agent Myles Montgomery, who could make an impact during training camp.
Wide Receivers (6)
IN: Kayshon Boutte , Romeo Doubs , Kyle Williams , Mack Hollins , DeMario Douglas , Efton Chism III
OUT: Jeremiah Webb , John Jiles , Nick DeGennaro*, Cameron Dorner*, Jimmy Kibble*, Kyle Dixon*
Outside of Romeo Doubs, the Patriots' top receiver on the roster at the moment is Kayshon Boutte. But it's likely the team will trade for A.J. Brown , which means Boutte could be headed elsewhere. Mack Hollins proved to be key in the offense last year, with Kyle Williams able to take over as a deep ball threat if they were to lose Boutte.
At this moment, both Efton Chism and DeMario Douglas have made the roster, but some players will almost certainly give them a run for their money this summer. That includes Kyle Dixon, who got $252,500 in guaranteed money from the Patriots, which is the third-highest amount they’ve ever paid an undrafted player, as well as UDFA Cameron Dorner.
Tight Ends (3)
IN: Hunter Henry , Eli Raridon*, Julian Hill
OUT: Jack Westover , CJ Dippre , Marshall Lang, Tanner Arkin
Henry will be the top tight end, with Eli Raridon coming in to fill that second spot on the depth chart. Then, that last spot is for Julian Hill. While Jack Westover was on the team last year, he transitioned to fullback, but the team has Reggie Gilliam now.
Offensive Line (9)
In: Will Campbell , Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson , Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses , Caleb Lomu*, Ben Brown , Dametrious Crownover*, Caedan Wallace
Out: Marcus Bryant , James Hudson III , Mehki Butler, Lorenz Metz , Andrew Rupcich , Sebastian Gutierrez , Jacob Rizy, JonDarius Morgan*
The starting offensive line is easy to predict with Will Campbell at left tackle, followed by Alijah Vera-Tucker at left guard and then Jared Wilson at center. On the right side, it'll be Mike Onwenu at right guard and Morgan Moses at right tackle. Caedan Wallace has experience playing tackle as well as inside, so he's a solid depth piece, as is Ben Brown, who can play both guard and center. Rookies Caleb Lomu and Dametrious Crownover are coming in as tackles, but the team could see some versatility to potentially have them play inside as well.
Defensive Line (5)
IN: Milton Williams , Christian Barmore , Cory Durden , Joshua Farmer , Leonard Taylor III ,
OUT:Jeremiah Pharms Jr., David Blay Jr., Eric Gregory
When it comes to the defensive line, Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, and Cory Durden proved to be a physical force last season. And then there's Leonard Taylor, who truly made an impact during the postseason. Joshua Farmer was the team's fourth-round pick last year, which gives him the advantage over the others, but that spot is certainly up for grabs in training camp.
Edge (4)
IN: Dre’Mont Jones , Gabe Jacas , Elijah Ponder , Harold Landry III
OUT: Quintayvious Hutchins*, Jesse Luketa , Bradyn Swinson
The Patriots certainly upgraded the edge position, bringing in Dre’Mont Jones and drafting Gabe Jacas. Ponder and Landry made key contributions last year, so they seem fairly safe. With Quintayvious Hutchins, while it's unlikely he makes the initial roster, he is likely to be at the top of the list for the practice squad and could be a player to develop for New England.
Linebackers(5)
IN: Robert Spillane , Christian Elliss , K.J. Britt , Chad Muma , Namdi Obiazor*
OUT: Otis Reese, Amari Gainer
While the Patriots addressed the linebacker position by selecting Namdi Obiazor, this is one that the team could use some more depth. Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss are the clear starters at the moment, with Britt and Muma providing depth.
Cornerbacks (6)
IN: Christian Gonzalez , Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones , Kindle Vildor , Charles Woods , Karon Prunty
OUT: Kobee Minor , Marcellas Dial Jr., Brandon Crossley, Channing Canada, Kenneth Harris
Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III are the top two cornerbacks on the roster and will likely be starting in September. However, it's that third spot behind them that remains open. Charles Woods stepped in last season when needed, but the team added Karon Prunty in the fifth round, as well as signing veteran Kindle Vildor.
Safeties (5)
IN: Kevin Byard , Craig Woodson , Dell Pettus , Brenden Schooler , Mike Brown
OUT:John Saunders Jr.
Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson are the clear starters, with Dell Pettus being able to contribute defensively as well as on special teams. They also have Mike Brown on the roster, but adding more depth here wouldn't be a surprise for New England.
Special Teams (3)
In: K Andy Borregales , P Bryce Baringer , LS Julian Ashby
Out: LS Niko Lalos
This one is self-explanatory. Bryce Baringer had some struggles last season, but Jeremy Springer and the team aren't ready to give up on him yet. Having a second long-snapper on the roster early on is beneficial, especially if the starter gets injured, as it takes time to develop the chemistry needed at that position.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots 53-man roster projection: How things look after the NFL draft
