Even after signing free agent Dre’Mont Jones in March, the New England Patriots had an apparent need along their defensive edge. The draft was an obvious spot to address it, and the team did so twice: after selecting Gabe Jacas in the second round, it also added Quintayvious Hutchins in the seventh.
Unlike Jacas, however, Hutchins is no lock to be on the roster come the regular season. In fact, he very much finds himself on the bubble.
Hard facts
Name: Quintayvious Hutchins
Position: Defensive edge/Outside linebacker
Jersey number: 45
Opening day age: 23 (4/2/2003)
Measurements: 6’2 7/8”, 245 lbs, 9 1/2” hand size, 32 5/8” arm length, 81 1/8” wingspan, 4.74s 40-yard dash, 7.34s 3-cone drill, 4.61s short shuttle, 37” vertical jump, 9’4” broad jump, 5.49 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
NFL: New England Patriots (2026-) | College: Boston College (2022-25)
A three-star recruit out of Bessemer City High School in Bessemer, AL, Hutchins originally committed to Murray State. However, an incoming offer from Boston College made him change his mind and join the Eagles instead. He went on to spend his entire five-year college career in Chestnut Hill, appearing in 43 games with 16 starts. Along the way, he registered 72 tackles, 5.5 sacks and a pair of interceptions.
In addition to his defensive contributions, Hutchins also spent some time on offense. In 2022, he transitioned from the defensive edge to tight end but played only a single snap on that side of the ball. He moved back to defense the following year and remained on that side ever since, playing a combined 829 defensive snaps over his final two seasons.
Scouting report
Strengths: Hutchins is a stocky defender, who added 12 pounds to his frame since the Combine. He has some good burst and decent quickness, and plays with an active set of hands to complement his adequate length. He has shown fundamental edge-setting skills and is a good tackler, who doesn’t come in too aggressively to take himself out of plays. He also comes with an extensive special teams résumé, having seen action on five units during his time at Boston College.
Weaknesses: Hutchins is on the smaller side and does not have any defining athletic traits to hang his hat on. As a pass rusher, he oftentimes gets stymied on initial contact and lacks an advanced repertoire of counters to free himself once engaged or moved out of position. His production – 5.5 sacks in 16 games as a starter — has been underwhelming. His balance as a run defender can also be challenged and he has had his issues with penalties, getting flagged eight times in 2025 alone.
2025 review
Stats: 10 games (9 starts) | 418 defensive snaps, 81 special teams snaps | 35 tackles, 3 missed tackles (7.9%), 1.5 TFL | 25 QB pressures (2 sacks, 7 hit, 16 hurries) | 4 targets, 3 catches surrendered (75.0%), 26 yards | 8 penalties (incl. 0 declined/offsetting)
Season recap: Coming off the best season of his college career up until that point, Hutchins decided to stay in school for his final year of eligibility. With the arrow pointing up, another jump in performance was expected but ultimately did not materialize: his backfield production took a step back — from 5.5 combined sacks and tackles for loss in 2024 to 3.5 in 2025 — and he failed to register any turnovers after catching two interceptions the previous season.
One part of the drop-off was his injuries: Hutchins missed the Eagles’ games against Pittsburgh and Syracuse. However, despite his uneven production, the aforementioned penalty issues, and being limited to 10 games due to injuries, his senior campaign cannot be classified as a disappointment either.
Hutchins, after all, was voted a captain for the first time in his career while he also showed improvement in several areas. His missed tackle rate went from 18.4% to 7.9% and he also increased his pressure rate from 10.7% to 13%. At the end of the day he did not take the next step in his development from a production perspective, but he nonetheless showed some strides.
2026 preview
Position: Outside linebacker | Ability: Depth player/Role player | Contract: Signed through 2029 (2030 UFA)
What will be his role? Hutchins lined up mostly as an outside linebacker at Boston College and will play the same role in New England. With some serious experience ahead of him on the depth chart, however, a starter role like the one he held with the Eagles will not be in the cards for him in 2026. Instead, he will compete for a rotational role behind starters Harold Landry and Dre’Mont Jones, and try to earn a role on special teams.
What is his growth potential? At age 23 and with only two years of consistent college opportunities under his belt, Hutchins is still a developing player. How far that development will take him, however, can be questioned. His fairly uninspiring blend of size, athletic skills and college production suggests that developing into an NFL starter will be tough for him. His potential in the kicking game could be higher, but that alone might also not be enough for him to keep a consistent role at the pro level.
Does he have positional versatility? Hutchins’ defensive versatility is somewhat limited, but he has lined up both on and off the ball during his college career. His flexibility is more impressive on special teams, however, where he played on five units for the Eagles: kickoff return, kickoff coverage, punt return, punt coverage and field goal/extra point block.
What is his salary cap situation? Hutchins signed a four-year rookie contract with the Patriots shortly after getting drafted that comes with salary cap impact of $915,523 this season. That number consists of a $885,000 base salary as well as a $30,523 signing bonus proration. Under the NFL’s Top 51 rule, the latter is currently the only part of the deal counting against New England’s books.
How safe is his roster spot? The minimal financial commitment and his draft status alone would have put Hutchins firmly on the roster bubble. Adding to that is his legal situation: Hutchins was charged with assault and battery against a family/household member in May and briefly appeared in court last week. His next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 28, the day after New England’s final preseason game. The outcome of this case has the potential to decide his future with the Patriots independently of his on-field performance this summer.
Summary: His unclear legal outlook aside, Hutchins making the 53-man roster out of training camp seems unlikely given the numbers up on the Patriots’ current edge depth chart. Maybe his special teams contributions will help him get there, but the odds appear stacked against him at the moment.
What do you think about Quintayvious Hutchins heading into the 2026 season? Will he be on the team come the regular season? Will he be on the practice squad? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.
