The New England Patriots have finalized their initial roster for the 2026 NFL season.
Making a combined 42 transactions between Saturday and Sunday, the team of head coach Mike Vrabel went from what was previously 91 players to the league-mandated 53. Among those are several surprises, undrafted rookies, and plenty of questions about the depth.
And while there will be plenty of moving parts still over the coming days, at least for the time being the Patriots will move forward with the following 53
players on their active roster.
Patriots initial 53-man roster
Quarterback (3): Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton
Running back (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Corey Kiner
Fullback (1): Reggie Gilliam
Wide receiver (6): A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III
Tight end (3): Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Tanner Arkin
Offensive tackle (5): Will Campbell (LT), Morgan Moses (RT), Caleb Lomu, Dametrious Crownover, Walter Rouse
Interior offensive line (5): Alijah Vera-Tucker (LG), Jared Wilson (C), Mike Onwenu (RG), Ben Brown, Greg Van Roten
Interior defensive line (5): Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III
Defensive edge (4): Dre’Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, Gabe Jacas, Quintayvious Hutchins
Linebacker (5): Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Khalil Jacobs, K.J. Britt, Namdi Obiazor
Cornerback (6): Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones (PR), Charles Woods, Karon Prunty, Channing Canada
Safety (4): Craig Woodson, Kevin Byard, Jaylen Reed, Dell Pettus
Specialists (3): Andy Borregales (K), Bryce Baringer (P | H), Julian Ashby (LS)
New England opted to go with three quarterbacks, including seventh-round draft pick Behren Morton, who is one of multiple rookies to make the team. In fact, eight of the team’s nine draft selections this year made the cut, as did a trio of undrafted free agents.
Two of those UDFAs were expected to make it, with tight end Tanner Arkin and off-ball linebacker Khalil Jacobs both playing themselves into the rotation in training camp. The third member of the group, however, might have come as a surprise: Channing Canada edged out veteran Kindle Vildor for the final spot at cornerback — one of the bigger surprises.
Another might be the inclusion of another seventh-round draft choice, outside linebacker Quintayvious Hutchins. The Boston College product developed nicely over the summer, allowing him to make the team over 2025 fifth-round draft pick Bradyn Swinson. However, with Harold Landry opening the year on the physically unable to perform list, the edge is a major question mark: Hutchins is joined on the team by re’Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder and Gabe Jacas.
Along the offensive line, the Patriots made several moves but are still left with 10 players. Starters Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses are supported by backups Caleb Lomu and Dametrious Crownover at the tackle position and Ben Brown — who escaped an injury designation — and Greg Van Roten along the interior. Versatile trade acquisition Walter Rouse might be able to back up both spots.
Rouse was one of two weekend trade pickups to find himself on the 53-man team, the other being running back Corey Kiner. Kiner is one of just three pure backs on the team alongside top options Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
Patriots cutdown day transactions
Waived/Released (37): RB Hassan Haskins, RB JaMycal Hasty, RB Lan Larison, RB Jam Miller, WR Nick DeGennaro, WR Kyle Dixon, WR Cameron Dorner, WR Tejhaun Palmer, TE C.J. Dippre, TE Jack Westover, OT Jack Conley, OT Lorenz Metz, OL Mehki Butler, OL Darrian Dalcourt, OL James Hudson III, OL Joseph Michalski, OL JonDarius Morgan, OL Jacob Rizy, DT Eric Gregory, DT Isaiah Iton, DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr, DT Casey Rogers, ED Amari Gainer, ED Xavier Holmes, ED Jesse Luketa, ED Bradyn Swinson, LB Chad Muma, LB Riley Wilson, CB Brandon Crossley, CB Marcellas Dial Jr, CB Kobee Minor, CB Kindle Vildor, S Mike Brown, S Eric Butler, S John Saunders Jr, S Peter Manuma, P Matt Haack
Placed on IR (1): OT Marcus Bryant (IR-R)
Placed on PUP/NFI (2): ED Harold Landry III (PUP), S Brenden Schooler (NFI)
Coming out of their preseason finale against the Browns with 91 players on their roster, they initially had to remove 38 of them by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday to get under the league-mandated 53-man limit. The aforementioned trades for Corey Kiner and Walter Rouse, however, mandated two more moves being made.
A majority of those saw players either being waived or released. There were a few exceptions, though: team captains Harold Landry and Brenden Schooler will start the year on the physically unable to perform and non-football injury lists, respectively, while Marcus Bryant was sent to injured reserve with a designation to return.
