We’re a little over a week away from the NFL Draft, and about a week before the 2026 schedule comes out. So, what better time to try to predict the New England Patriots’ opening 53-man roster?
I know it’s early, and we haven’t seen anyone of these rookies even on the field yet — they will arrive at Gillette Stadium later this week — but here is a first stab based off everything we know right now.
Quarterback
In (2): Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito
Out (1): Behren Morton (R)
This is an obvious one. Drake Maye is the starter
and Tommy DeVito just signed a two-year contract extension as his backup before subsequently seeing last year’s QB2, Joshua Dobbs, get released.
Seventh-round draft pick Behren Morton, meanwhile, is too raw to be making the initial roster. He should end up on the practice squad, but he’s not going to be on this, or any, roster projection unless he makes a tremendous jump compared to his days at Texas Tech.
Running back
In (3): Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Lan Larison
Out (3): Jam Miller (R), Terrell Jennings, Myles Montgomery (U-R)
The top two here are clear; it’s the third back that is going to be the hard choice. I’m choosing sophomore Lan Larison here because I think he has the most upside of the backs on this list. The Patriots don’t have a true receiving threat out of the backfield, and Larison certainly profiled as one coming out of UC Davis last year.
Fullback
In (1): Reggie Gilliam
Out (2): Brock Lampe, Jack Westover
The Patriots want a fullback on their active roster, and free agency pickup Reggie Gilliam is the obvious choice. I expect second-year man Brock Lampe to be on the practice squad this season, with a chance that he takes over in case of injury or Gilliam losing a step in 2027.
Wide receiver
In (6): Romeo Doubs, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Nick DeGennaro (U-R)
Out (5): Efton Chism III, Jeremiah Webb, Kyle Dixon (U-R), Jimmy Kibble (U-R), Cameron Dorner (U-R)
This would obviously change dramatically if the Patriots indeed trade for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown and/or part ways with current top X-receiver/trade candidate Kayshon Boutte, but this is where I went for now. The real question at this point in time is: who does that sixth receiver spot go to?
I have undrafted rookie Nick DeGennaro here, partially because of what he did against Oregon in the bowl game last year. I think he is a guy who can push Efton Chism, and all the other guys, for a spot. The edge that Chism has is that he has the potential to be a top backup to DeMario Douglas.
Kyle Dixon got big money as a UDFA, but he’s ultimately too much like Mack Hollins to stick, plus it’s a huge jump in competition. Regardless of whether they trade for Brown, there are certainly going to be a lot of eyes on the receiver position this summer.
Tight end
In (4): Hunter Henry, Julian Hill, Eli Raridon (R), C.J. Dippre
Out (1): Tanner Arkin (U-R)
I’m not sure if the Patriots are going to want to keep four tight ends, but, if they do, I like Dippre for that spot. He was one of the best blocking tight ends in college two years ago, and has had a chance to get in an NFL weight room for a year. Also, don’t forget that the Patriots decided to sign him to the active roster late last year instead of losing him off their practice squad. They appear to be higher on him than most people think.
Offensive tackle
In (5): Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu (R), Dametrious Crownover (R), Marcus Bryant
Out (3): James Hudson III, Lorenz Metz, Sebastian Gutierrez
This one is pretty straightforward, but I think they win up keeping 5 in part because they might see some position flexibility out of Lomu, and because you’re going to need the depth. All of these guys I think are capable backups, and with the state of the tackle position, would get scooped up by another team.
Interior offensive line
In (5): Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu, Ben Brown, Caedan Wallace
Out (4): Andrew Rupcich, Mehki Butler, Jacob Rizy (U-R), JonDarius Morgan (U-R)
This was a tough one. Ben Brown is the top backup behind the projected starting trio of Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson and Mike Onwenu, but a second depth option is tough to call. I went for the more experienced Caedan Wallace in this projection, but I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if the spot went to one of the rookies, namely JonDarius Morgan or Jacob Rizy (with Morgan the personal favorite of the two).
The interior O-line also is where position flexibility matters so much. With Brown being able to cover both the center and guard positions, the Patriots can keep an extra tackle instead of a backup center behind Wilson.
Interior defensive line
In (5): Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III
Out (3): Eric Gregory, Jeremiah Pharms Jr, David Blay (U-R)
The Patriots are hoping for a Year 2 leap from 2025 fourth-round draft pick Joshua Farmer, because they don’t have a lot of depth behind Milton Williams and Christian Barmore at the moment. What they do have is serviceable but not flashy, but lacking the size of free agency departee Khyiris Tonga. One of Farmer, Cory Durden or Leonard Taylor might be picked to replace Tonga, but all of them are relatively unproven compared in that particular role.
In addition, I assume that undrafted rookie David Blay makes it to the practice squad. He could be an interesting guy next year, but he needs to add some serious size — he weighed in at 292 pounds during the pre-draft process — to be a factor in this defense.
Defensive edge
In (5): Harold Landry III, Dre’Mont Jones, Gabe Jacas (R), Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson
Out (2): Jesse Luketa, Quintayvious Hutchins (R)
That fifth roster spot here is going to come down to a camp competition, but I’m optimistic that second-year edge Bradyn Swinson can win it. He clearly wasn’t ready for a bigger role last year, but the hope is that he will be in 2026, because the Patriots need depth along the edge, and he has some real pass rushing juice.
Seventh-round rookie Quintayvious Hutchins could push for a spot, but he’s most likely a practice squad guy at this stage in his development.
Linebacker
In (4): Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, K.J. Britt, Namdi Obiazor (R)
Out (4): Chad Muma, Otis Reese, Amari Gainer, Khalil Jacobs (U-R)
The top three seem almost locked in here, so the fourth spot is the one up for grabs. Honestly, I think there’s a good chance it’s Chad Muma or Khalil Jacobs instead, but I gave this one to the draft pick, Namdi Obiazor, because I think they really like him on special teams, which might give him a little bit of an edge over his competitors.
Cornerback
In (6): Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, Karon Prunty (R), Charles Woods, Marcellas Dial Jr.
Out (5): Kindle Vildor, Kobee Minor, Brandon Crossley, Channing Canada (U-R), Kenneth Harris (U-R)
The top three are no-brainers here, and one would hope that fifth-round rookie Karon Prunty is going to make the team as a backup and special teams presence. This, in turn, would only leave a few spots open.
I gave them to Charles Woods and Marcellas Dial Jr, partially because the latter should be a core special teamer. Woods seemed to play well last season, and I’m higher on him as a bench player than Kobee Minor, so I have him in over him. This is going to be the position that I’m most interested in watching in camp — outside of offensive tackle, of course.
Safety
In (4): Kevin Byard, Craig Woodson, Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler
Out (2): Mike Brown, John Saunders Jr.
Pretty cut and dry here. Mike Brown and John Saunders Jr. seem like the odd ones out, as the top four should all be pretty much locks to make the roster. The only relative uncertainty is Dell Pettus, especially with the addition of the versatile Karon Prunty at cornerback, but he was serviceable as a third safety last season.
Specialists
In (3): Bryce Baringer, Andy Borregales, Julian Ashby
Out (1): Niko Lalos
I’m surprised that the Patriots didn’t draft, or sign, a rookie punter, but they did invite 28-year-old Mitch McCarthy to their rookie camp, so maybe he has a shot to make the roster. It feels unlikely, though. If not, then Bryce Baringer, regardless of how inconsistent he played especially in the postseason, is going to be the punter again this year.
