Thoughts on every player on Patriots’ 90-man roster before cuts
The Patriots don’t have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL this summer, but that doesn’t mean trimming the squad from 90 players to 53 will be easy.
Executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf must make roster cuts on Tuesday, Aug. 27. The Patriots will have less time to make decisions than most of the league, since they play in the last preseason game of the summer Sunday at 8 p.m. ET against the Commanders.
Related Articles
Six position battles to be settled in Patriots final preseason game
Patriots extra points: Rookie knows path to 53-man roster spot in loaded position group
Bill Belichick could be just two years from Hall of Fame after new rule change
Patriots practice takeaways: Roster longshot steps up in shallow key position group
Have Patriots finally found O-line answer with ‘encouraging’ new lineup?
Before the Patriots cut more than 40% of their roster, here’s a thought on all 90 players.
QB Jacoby Brissett
Brissett did just enough to hold off Drake Maye for the starting quarterback job this summer but not enough to instill much confidence that the Patriots’ offense will be high-powered in 2024.
QB Drake Maye
It was a slightly disappointing start to the summer for Maye, but his arrow is pointing up, and from mid-August on, the rookie has been outplaying Brissett.
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws as the Patriots take practice at Gillette on Aug. 22. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
QB Joe Milton III
Milton’s arm strength was the thing of legends coming into the summer. It lived up to the hype, but he’s not ready to play yet.
QB Bailey Zappe
Overall, the 2022 fourth-round pick had a relatively strong camp and avoided turnover-worthy plays this summer. He’s a solid practice squad option if another team doesn’t steal him.
RB Antonio Gibson
Gibson should be a fun Swiss army knife in the Patriots’ offense, capable of lining up in the backfield or split out to make plays in the passing game.
RB Kevin Harris
Harris, a 2022 sixth-round pick, continued to show improvement this summer. He improved his pad level over the offseason.
RB JaMycal Hasty
Hasty has come on strong and was highlighted as a player who had a strong end of camp by a team source. He’s also a core special teamer.
RB Terrell Jennings
He didn’t get any carries against the Eagles, but he’s averaging over 6 yards per carry and touch this preseason.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Stevenson is the unquestioned lead back in the Patriots’ offense. Expect a ton of touches in the run and pass game.
RB Deshaun Fenwick
Already cut and brought back, Fenwick is one of the longer shots for the roster.
WR Javon Baker
The rookie fourth-round pick was an early standout in training camp with the knack for highlight plays. He hasn’t had a standout play in a while, and the drops are piling up.
WR Kawaan Baker
Among players with little-to-no shot at making the roster, Baker is perhaps the most talented. There’s just no room for him with a crowded group of receivers.
WR Kendrick Bourne
Bourne has spent all summer on the PUP list. He’ll be a starter when he’s eventually healthy.
WR Kayshon Boutte
Boutte was singled out by two team sources as a player who stood out in camp. He’s pushing hard for a roster spot.
WR DeMario Douglas
The offense changes when Douglas is on the field. He adds a spark from the slot and should be the team’s top receiver this season.
WR Matt Landers
Claimed off waivers from the Browns, Landers has tantalizing size and speed at 6-4, 200 pounds and a 4.37-second 40-yard dash.
WR K.J. Osborn
He might not start, but Osborn will play plenty and brings leadership to a young wide receiver room.
WR Ja’Lynn Polk
He should start but might split snaps with a player like Osborn early in his career. Polk has dependable hands and quick-twitch athleticism to make defenders miss.
New England Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk #1 misses a catch during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
WR Jalen Reagor
Time will tell if Reagor makes the roster, but he’s a great option as a fourth or fifth receiver with speed and return ability to burn.
WR Tyquan Thornton
The biggest surprise from training camp, Thornton, once viewed on the roster bubble, is playing as the starting “X” wide receiver. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt seems to love him.
WR David Wallis
A scrappy underdog from Division-III Randolph-Macon College, Wallis is a nice practice squad option who has shown impressive speed as a receiver and return man.
TE Jaheim Bell
Inconsistent with tantalizing athleticism, Bell will need to make his bones on special teams before being trusted on offense.
TE Hunter Henry
A team leader who will be a favorite target for Patriots quarterbacks.
TE Austin Hooper
Henry and Hooper have shared the field in 12 personnel a surprising amount in training camp. They’re similar players, and Hooper is valuable depth.
TE La’Michael Pettway
He’s had his moments in camp but is a longshot for the team.
TE Jacob Warren
Warren has been a dependable target for third-string quarterbacks, but his best shot is on the practice squad.
TE Mitchell Wilcox
The former Bengals tight end has had an up-and-down summer. He’s currently injured, which isn’t helping his chances of beating out Bell for a roster spot.
OT Calvin Anderson
It’s probably not the summer Anderson envisioned. The veteran offensive tackle has been on and off the practice field with injuries. He was given a shot at a starting spot, but it didn’t stick.
OT Kellen Diesch
Signed to replace Tyrone Wheatley Jr., Diesch has been working at left tackle.
OT Zuri Henry
One of the few undrafted rookies on the roster has been a reserve right tackle.
OT Vederian Lowe
Lowe was primed to start at left tackle before suffering an injury late in the summer. He’ll be on the team, but time will tell what this means for his place on the depth chart.
OT Chukwuma Okorafor
Currently the left tackle, Okorafor could wind up starting on either side this season.
Patriots offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor (77) and quarterback Drake Maye chat as they enter the field for Thursday’s practice in Foxboro. (Staff Photo/Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
OT Mike Onwenu
Onwenu began the spring as a right tackle, ended the spring as a right guard, started the summer as a right guard and might just be ending the summer as a right tackle.
OT Caedan Wallace
It doesn’t appear the Patriots trust Wallace, a rookie, to start, but he’s played plenty at left and right tackle.
G Michael Jordan
A backup guard who has served as a sixth offensive lineman in jumbo sets, Jordan might just make this roster.
G Atonio Mafi
The Patriots experimented with moving Mafi to center, but he couldn’t get the snaps down. Now he might be a player without a position on this roster.
G Layden Robinson
One of the most improved players of the summer, the rookie is currently repping with the ones at right guard. A team source said Robinson has shown up in a positive manner more than anyone else on the roster in practice and preseason games.
G Sidy Sow
A mainstay at left guard all summer, Sow looks primed to start.
G Cole Strange
The 2022 first-round pick isn’t expected to be activated off of the PUP list until midseason. If the Patriots don’t want to thrust him into a starting role right away, a move to tackle or center might be invaluable for the future.
C David Andrews
The Patriots can’t afford to lose Andrews with all of the snapping issues they’ve had with backups.
C Liam Fornadel
A CFL guard, Fornadel has moved to center in recent weeks.
C Nick Leverett
The veteran offensive lineman has primarily played guard, but the Patriots like him at center. He’s gotten more consistent with his snapping.
New England Patriots head coach Jarod Mayo looks over at Nick Leverett during training camp at Gillette Stadium. (Photo By Matt Stone/Boston Herald)
C Charles Turner III
Turner was one of the Patriots’ better-known undrafted rookies. He hasn’t taken a ton of meaningful snaps this summer.
DT Christian Barmore
Barmore’s timeline is uncertain after he was diagnosed with blood clots. He’s one of the Patriots’ best defenders when healthy.
DT Josiah Bronson
Bronson is among a group competing for fourth and fifth spots on the roster at defensive tackle.
DT Daniel Ekuale
Ekuale will start in place of Barmore in the middle of the Patriots’ defense.
DT Davon Godchaux
Godchaux has had a strong summer since signing a new two-year extension.
DT Trysten Hill
Hill is gunning for a roster spot and looks like one of the Patriots’ better interior pass-rushers.
DT Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
Currently the Patriots’ third best defensive tackle, Pharms seems primed to play a lot in 2024.
DT Sam Roberts
Roberts hasn’t had many standout moments this summer and is fighting for a roster spot.
DT Armon Watts
Watts was a favorite to be the Patriots’ third or fourth defensive tackle this season, but he’s playing deep into preseason games.
DE William Bradley-King
With shallow depth at defensive end and outside linebacker, Bradley-King is seeing meaningful snaps in the Patriots’ defense.
DE Jotham Russell
A 21-year-old former Rugby Union player from Australia, Russell can continue to learn the game on the practice squad this season.
DE Keion White
White is the top candidate to replace Matthew Judon’s pass-rush productivity.
Patriots defensive end Keion White (99), defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr., left, and defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. take instructions as the Patriots practice Thursday. (Staff Photo/Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
DE Deatrich Wise
A cagey veteran, Wise appears primed for a rotational role in the defense.
OLB Anfernee Jennings
Jennings will be an early-down starter as one of the Patriots’ best run defenders.
OLB Kobe Jones
Signed late in training camp, Jones has one preseason game to prove he deserves a spot on the practice squad this season.
OLB Christian McCarroll
Same deal as Jones. McCarroll was signed late and will need to turn some heads Sunday against the Commanders.
OLB Joshua Uche
Uche was trending in the right direction before getting injured in the Patriots’ preseason loss to the Eagles. He’s since been a non-participant in practice.
OLB Oshane Ximines
Ximines was one of the Patriots’ surprise standouts until his own injury recently knocked him out of practice.
LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
Bentley has had a quiet summer but is a team leader and starting middle linebacker.
LB Steele Chambers
The Patriots claimed Chambers off waivers from the Lions before training camp. He hasn’t been able to move up the linebacker depth chart.
LB Christian Elliss
Expect Elliss to make the roster as a backup linebacker and core special teamer.
New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss (53) hits a dummy as the Patriots take practice at Gillette on Aug. 22. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
LB Joe Giles-Harris
It’s probably easy enough to pass Giles-Harris through waivers, but he’s shown promise this summer on defense and special teams.
LB Raekwon McMillan
McMillan had a strong performance in the second week of the preseason against the Eagles. With injuries at linebacker, he has a good shot to be a top backup.
LB Sione Takitaki
The free-agent addition is still on the PUP list. If kept on PUP, Takitaki will miss at least four games to start the season.
LB Jahlani Tavai
Tavai signed a contract extension and will be a starter once again in 2024.
CB Alex Austin
Out of the group of cornerbacks competing for roster spots behind Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones and Marcus Jones, Austin consistently makes the most plays.
CB Isaiah Bolden
Bolden is one of the fastest players on the team, and the Patriots have experimented with moving him into the slot this season. He missed his rookie season with a concussion.
CB Marcellas Dial
The sixth-round pick really struggled to cover tight ends against the Eagles. He’s currently repping as a top gunner, which could save his roster spot.
CB Christian Gonzalez
The 2023 first-rounder should be the Patriots’ best defender. He hasn’t always shown that this summer, but he proved last season that he’s a gamer.
CB Azizi Hearn
Hearn consistently makes plays and is a favorite of cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino. But he might have to start the season on the practice squad.
CB Jonathan Jones
Expect Jones to start at outside cornerback once again this season.
CB Marcus Jones
Jones is the Patriots’ top slot cornerback. We’ll see how it pans out. On the surface, he appears to have the size of a slot cornerback with athleticism better served outside, where his height becomes a problem.
CB Mikey Victor
Victor has gotten his hand on the ball this summer, but this cornerback group is too difficult to crack, and he missed practice with an injury Friday.
CB Shaun Wade
Wade has missed some time with injury this summer but was back on the field Thursday and seeing key reps in the slot.
CB Marco Wilson
The most experienced of the group of cornerbacks competing for a roster spot, Wilson has made plays in practice. But is it enough?
S Joshuah Bledsoe
Regularly repping with the twos, Bledsoe should serve as valuable depth on the practice squad once again.
S Kyle Dugger
A starter and core defender on the Patriots.
Foxboro, MA – Kyle Dugger runs through a drill during Patriots training camp. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
S Jaylinn Hawkins
Hawkins should see playing time this season on special teams and as the team’s third safety.
S Marte Mapu
Mapu hasn’t been healthy for about 95% of the summer. He could be a candidate to start the season on injured reserve.
S Jabrill Peppers
Another starting safety, Peppers is a vocal leader on the team.
S Dell Pettus
The top undrafted rookie on the roster, Pettus caused one interception with a pass breakup and nearly created another one in practice Thursday. At some point, the Patriots can’t ignore all of the plays he’s making in camp.
S Brenden Schooler
Schooler is the Patriots’ best special teams player. He’s also seen snaps on defense in the preseason.
S A.J. Thomas
A late addition to the roster, Thomas hasn’t looked out of place as a third-stringer.
K Chad Ryland
Ryland currently appears to be losing the kicker battle to Joey Slye with just a few days left.
K Joey Slye
While not perfect, Slye has been more consistent than Ryland on field goals and extra points this summer.
P Bryce Baringer
Baringer has been booting punts all summer and has no competition on the roster.
LS Tucker Addington
Addington was signed when Cardona was dealing with an injury. It’s interesting that he’s stuck around.
LS Joe Cardona
One of the NFL’s highest-paid long snappers, Cardona was a favorite of the Patriots’ previous regime, but he had some bad snaps last season. He’s still likely to stick around in 2024.