With minicamp and OTAs in the rear-view, we’ll project one more Patriots 53-man roster before training camp begins in late July.
Quarterbacks (2)
Joshua Dobbs
Drake Maye
- Expect the Patriots to keep a third quarterback. Undrafted rookie Ben Wooldridge just hasn’t done enough on the practice field to prove he deserves that spot. So, for now, we’ll keep two quarterbacks and save a spot for someone else on the 53-man roster. There are usually some talented quarterbacks available after roster cuts. The Browns, Steelers and Giants could have situations to monitor.
Running Backs (4)
Antonio Gibson
TreVeyon Henderson (R)
Lan Larison
Rhamondre Stevenson
- Larison hasn’t quite done enough in OTAs or minicamp to deserve a roster spot, but the Patriots typically liked to keep four or five running backs under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in the past. Larison is an experienced pass-catcher with kick return experience.
Wide Receivers (7)
Kendrick Bourne
Kayshon Boutte
Efton Chism (R)
Stefon Diggs
Demario Douglas
Mack Hollins
Kyle Williams (R)
- The Patriots have kept seven wide receivers in the past, and it’s simply too hard to cull more players from this group. Boune, Boutte and Douglas saw the most first-team reps this spring. That tells you about their placement on the depth chart. Diggs, who was limited this spring, and Hollins, who was a non-participant, are locks as top free-agent additions. Williams is also a lock as a 2025 third-round pick. If the Patriots keep a seventh wide receiver, that choice comes down to Chism, Javon Baker, Demeer Blankumsee, John Jiles, Ja’Lynn Polk and Jeremiah Webb. Chism showed the most this spring. Baker was mostly running with the third team, Blankumsee and Webb are undrafted free agents, and Polk was limited as he recovers from a shoulder injury. Polk has every opportunity to make us look stupid this summer in training camp. The 2024 second-round pick was a fantastic college player, but he flashed very little as a rookie last season, and head coach Mike Vrabel and McDaniels have no past history with him.
Tight Ends (3)
Hunter Henry
Austin Hooper
Jack Westover
- We’re tossing Westover in here by default right now. He was the next tight end in line behind Henry while Hooper was limited during the spring. UDFA CJ Dippre is a player to watch for that role, however. Jaheim Bell, a 2024 seventh-round pick, did not impress during OTAs and minicamp.
Offensive Linemen (9)
C Garrett Bradbury
OT Marcus Bryant (R)
OT Will Campbell (R)
OT Morgan Moses
G Mike Onwenu
G Sidy Sow
G Cole Strange
OT Caedan Wallace
C Jared Wilson (R)
- The Patriots could elect to keep a 10th offensive lineman over a fourth running back or seventh wide receiver. But in this setup, Bradbury, Campbell, Moses, Owenu and Strange look like starters with Bryant and Wallace serving as tackle depth, Sow and Wilson as guard depth and Wilson also filling in as the backup center. Ben Brown, Jack Conley, Demontrey Jacobs, Vederian Lowe, Layden Robinson and Tyrese Robinson are also vying for roster spots after Wes Schweitzer’s mid-minicamp retirement.
Defensive Tackles (5)
Christian Barmore
Joshua Farmer (R)
Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
Khyiris Tonga
Milton Williams
- Jaquelin Roy could make a push for a roster spot over Pharms or Tonga. Isaiah Iton and UDFAs Wilfried Pene and Jahvaree Ritzie fill out the rest of the depth chart.
Edge Defenders (5)
K’Lavon Chaisson
Anfernee Jennings
Harold Landry
Bradyn Swinson (R)
Keion White
- We almost kept Jennings off of the roster, but four edge defenders felt too shallow. Jennings is a really solid player, but he doesn’t appear to be a great fit for Vrabel’s defense. A starter most of the past two seasons, Jennings was running with third-teamers in the spring. We’ll be watching Truman Jones to see if he can make a push for a roster spot in training camp.
Linebackers (4)
Christian Elliss
Jack Gibbens
Robert Spillane
Jahlani Tavai
- Tavai is another player who doesn’t seem to be a great fit for Vrabel’s defense, but he does also have the versatility to play on the edge. Tavai suffered a calf injury this spring. If it’s not healed by July 23, then he could begin the spring on the PUP list. If the injury lingers, it could create a spot for Marte Mapu.
Cornerbacks (5)
Alex Austin
Carlton Davis
Marcellas Dial
Christian Gonzalez
Marcus Jones
- There are some players on the roster who can state their cases for roles in the summer, like Miles Battle, Isaiah Bolden and Kobee Minor, but we’ll stick with Austin, Davis, Dial, Gonzalez and Jones for now. This feels like a position that could use one more experienced contributor.
Safeties (6)
Kyle Dugger
Jaylinn Hawkins
Jabrill Peppers
Dell Pettus
Brenden Schooler
Craig Woodson (R)
- Hawkins over Marcus Epps? Hawkins, who was with the Patriots last season, actually received more guaranteed money in his contract this offseason than Epps. Pettus made more plays than Epps this spring. Pettus, an undrafted free agent, was also one of the Patriots’ best rookies in 2024.
Special Teams (3)
LS Julian Ashby (R)
P Bryce Baringer
K Andres Borregales (R)
- No major surprises here. Borregales has been better than Parker Romo in the spring.
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