Grading Every Position on the Patriots' 2026 53-Man Roster
The New England Patriots' roster looks considerably different than it did when Mike Vrabel first arrived in Foxboro. Only 11 players on the active roster were here before Vrabel arrived.
It's easy to forget—with the Patriots making it to the Super Bowl in Vrabel's first year—that this franchise is still in rebuild mode.
I am going to show my age here: this wasn't a scenario like 1989 when George Seifert inherited a San Francisco 49ers team that still had Joe Montana.
Even when Bill Belichick took over for Pete Carroll in 2000, the 1999 Patriots had gone 8-8. Belichick inherited Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn, Kevin Faulk, Troy Brown, Ty Law, Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, among other key players.
Vrabel inherited a team that had gone 4-13 the previous two years.
That's why I laugh when I hear fans and people in the media complain about the Patriots' lack of depth. It didn't help that Vrabel, flippantly, mentioned it himself while answering a question about why he didn't play his starters in the preseason.
When Vrabel took over after Jerod Mayo's historically disastrous one year as head coach, he Patriots had no offensive line and no proven wide receivers—essentially no offense outside of an unproven, young Drake Maye.
The Patriots were ranked dead last in passing offense in 2024.
Dead last.
NFL.com and Yahoo Sports project the Patriots as the 7th most potent offense in 2026.
Forget about depth. I'm just happy we have elite top-end talent already, at this point.
Well, we are only a few days away from the opening of the 2026 NFL regular season. The draft is over. Free agency is over. Training camp is over. Final cuts were made. Waiver claims and final additions have now cemented the 53-man roster for the start of the season.
Let's take a look at all the groups—keeping in mind the Patriots are only one season removed from back-to-back 4-13 seasons!
Quarterback
Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton
Grade: A+
Remember the days of Mac Jones throwing ducks across the field?
Thank God those days are over. Many franchises are lucky if they've had one generational quarterback in their history.
It could be argued the Chicago Bears—one of the NFL's most storied franchises—hasn't had a truly elite quarterback since the 1940s. Sorry, not sorry, Jim McMahon and Jim Harbaugh. Caleb Williams may change that narrative.
Jets fans have been searching for their next Joe Namath for the last 50 years.
The Patriots transitioned from Drew Bledsoe right to Tom Brady. New England fans only had to "suffer"—like many fan bases constantly have—for four seasons between Brady and Maye. Uggh, how do other franchises do it?
Anyway, Maye finished runner-up in MVP voting last year and there is no reason to believe he won't be in the running for MVP for the next ten years.
The scary part is—he looks in the best shape of his life.
Tommy DeVito is a serviceable backup that the Patriots never hope to see take the field except for kneel-downs at the end of blowout victories.
Morton was a bit of a surprise to see make the final roster. Vrabel and Josh McDaniels must see something in the rookie. Makes me believe this is the last year we see DeVito in a Patriots uniform.
Running Back/Fullback
Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Corey Kiner, Reggie Gilliam
Grade: A-
To hear people talk, you would think Henderson is the starting running back on this team. No, it is still Rhamondre Stevenson... and he is still very good. It feels like I always pump Stevenson's tires before every season, and I'll do it again this year.
I expect a monster season from Stevenson. Keep an eye on him being far more involved in the passing game as the Patriots lined him out wide often in the preseason.
Henderson is a concern because he has been battling an ankle injury the last couple of weeks. Those can linger and get re-aggravated throughout the season. For someone whose calling card is "speed," I am worried.
The Patriots surprisingly traded for Kiner at the last second. I felt comfortable with either Lan Larison or Hassan Haskins—another late-camp pickup—as RB3, although Larison disappointed me in camp. Then again, I had very high expectations for him. Both Larison and Haskins are on the practice squad in case they are needed—which I think they might be sooner rather than later.
There are only 13 teams that carry a true fullback. The Patriots are one of them and, along with San Francisco, may have the best one. I am interested to see how McDaniels utilizes him.
Wide Receiver
A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism III
Grade: A
What a difference two years can make.
Not long ago, Patriots fans were eagerly awaiting Kendrick Bourne’s return from injury as if it might transform the offense. Bourne is now the third receiver on an Arizona team expected to be among the NFL's worst.
Bourne may not have been able to crack the top ten of wide receivers the Patriots had in camp this summer.
A.J. Brown gives Drake Maye a legitimate No. 1 receiver who changes the way defenses have to play New England.
Romeo Doubs is an excellent complementary option who doesn't need to be force-fed targets to be productive. DeMario Douglas can concentrate on what he does best from the slot rather than being asked to function as a featured receiver.
Mack Hollins provides size, blocking and special-teams value, while Kyle Williams remains an intriguing young vertical threat.
The Patriots also chose to keep Efton Chism III, whose similarities to Julian Edelman make him a fan favorite (count me as one of them).
There may not be many teams with a better combination of talent, experience and depth from No. 1 through No. 6.
Tight End
Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon, Tanner Arkin, Cameron Latu
Grade: C+
Hunter Henry remains one of Drake Maye's most dependable weapons and was named a team captain again.
After Henry, however, the Patriots are betting heavily on projection.
Rookie Eli Raridon brings considerable receiving upside. Tanner Arkin earned his roster spot primarily with his blocking and ability to contribute in multiple roles. Cameron Latu was claimed off waivers after final cuts and adds another developmental option.
The loss of Julian Hill to injured reserve hurts the depth of the group.
Henry is the only proven NFL receiving threat at the position entering the season, but he may not be needed much with how deep the wide receiving corps is.
Offensive Line
Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses, Caleb Lomu, Greg Van Roten, Ben Brown, Dametrious Crownover, Walter Rouse
Grade: B+
The Patriots have come a long way from the offensive-line problems that plagued them just a few seasons ago.
There were no questions entering training camp about the Patriots’ starting offensive line: Will Campbell, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Jared Wilson, Mike Onwenu and Morgan Moses. I would grade the starting offensive line, possibly, an A.
That is a far cry from the days when New England was trying to piece together an offensive line with players like Cole Strange, Vederian Lowe and Sidy Sow.
I've heard people complain about the offensive line depth, but I think it is solid. Young—especially at swing tackle—but solid.
Again compared to what the Patriots had just two years ago, I'll take Caleb Lomu and Demetrious Crownover any day at tackle.
And don't forget—arguably one of the best tackles in camp this year, Marcus Bryant, is on IR and will be eligible to return after Week 4.
Defensive Tackle
Christian Barmore, Milton Williams, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Leonard Taylor III
Grade: A-
Christian Barmore and Milton Williams are one of the top three or four defensive tackle tandems in the NFL.
After that?
Meh.
Cory Durden has developed into a useful rotational piece, while Joshua Farmer and Leonard Taylor III have shown improvement.
The only thing keeping this group from an A is the lack of a true massive nose tackle who can consistently anchor against power-running teams.
Still, Barmore and Williams give the Patriots two difference-makers in the middle.
Edge Rusher
Dre'Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder, Gabe Jacas, Quintayvious Hutchins
Grade: C
Here is the problem.
You'd have to have been living under a rock to not have heard edge rusher is the biggest weakness on this team.
Dre'Mont Jones is a proven, durable NFL player. He is going to have to be durable because the drop-off behind him is as deep as the Atlantic Ocean.
Elijah Ponder has shown promise but he was up-and-down in camp. The Patriots need him to make the Year 2 leap.
Rookies Gabe Jacas and Quintayvious Hutchins both have intriguing physical tools, but asking rookie pass rushers to immediately become major contributors is a daunting ask.
People have been down on Jacas, but you have to remember he was only in camp for a month and didn't partake in any early season workouts. I have high hopes for him, but maybe not for the first half of the season.
Harold Landry III is just an enigma at this point. It wouldn't surprise me if we never see him again.
If Landry surprises me and comes back as the player he was in the first half of last season, this group's grade changes, drastically.
And so do the Patriots' championship hopes.
Linebacker
Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, Darius Muasau, Namdi Obiazor, Erick Hunter
Grade: C+
I just love Robert Spillane. I love everything he represents. He is the “everyman” playing middle linebacker in the NFL — an undrafted player who fought his way into the league and developed into the heart and soul of an NFL defense.
The Patriots felt his absence down the stretch last season when an injury cost him the final four games of the regular season. New England was simply a different defense without its heart and soul in the middle of the field.
The Patriots were also proven right in matching the Raiders’ offer sheet to Christian Elliss before the 2025 season. Elliss has continued to develop into an ideal running mate for Spillane — the Robin to Spillane’s Batman — giving the Patriots a pair of productive, physical linebackers in the middle of their defense.
The issue with this group is again, you guessed it—depth.
New England claimed Darius Muasau off waivers following final cuts, while rookie Namdi Obiazor and newly acquired Erick Hunter fill out the group.
Khalil Jacobs eventually returning from injured reserve could make the group deeper.
One player I would have liked to see the Patriots take a chance on was Tyrel Dodson. The former Dolphins starting middle linebacker started all 16 games he played last season and finished with 129 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.
Dodson would have given New England another experienced, physical linebacker capable of playing the run, getting after the quarterback and providing valuable insurance behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.
Sadly—for me, anyway—after being released by Miami, he landed on the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad.
Cornerback
Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III, Marcus Jones, Charles Woods, Karon Prunty, Channing Canada
Grade: A-
The caveat, of course, being if Gonzalez plays and, more importantly, if he is happy when he plays. The Gonzalez contract situation is threatening to derail everything the Patriots are working hard for this year.
Last year, the Patriots were 1-2 in the first three games when Gonzalez was out with a hamstring injury. The Patriots went 13-1 with Gonzalez after his return during the regular season and 16-2 with him in the lineup including the playoffs.
Gonzalez is a game changer. He makes the rest of the players on defense that much better.
If Gonzalez's contract situation gets resolved, this secondary (including the safeties) could be one of the best in the NFL.
Carlton Davis III gives New England another veteran All-Pro-level corner, while Marcus Jones has become much more than simply an elite return specialist. His ability to cover from the slot gives the Patriots an elite top three.
Charles Woods provides experienced depth, but he wasn't very good in camp. Just last year around this time, he was released by the Los Angeles Rams.
Rookie Karon Prunty gives the Patriots another intriguing young corner prospect. I admit I was highly disappointed when the Patriots drafted him in the fifth round. But he has made me change my tune a bit. I see what Vrabel and Eliot Wolf see in him. He has good size and has shown toughness. He was active throughout the preseason, finishing with 12 tackles in three games, and showed enough to earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster.
Safety
Kevin Byard III, Craig Woodson, Jaylen Reed, Dell Pettus
Grade: A-
Kevin Byard III led the NFL in interceptions last year with 7.
The Patriots lacked that kind of a ball-hawking defender. Jaylinn Hawkins led the team with 4, followed by Marcus Jones with 3, and Robert Spillane, a linebacker, with 2.
No one else had more than one.
Craig Woodson has quickly developed into an important part of the secondary.
Like when they drafted Prouty, the Patriots were ridiculed for "reaching" on Woodson in the fourth round, the 106th pick overall. The guy is a leader. He is what this defense has lacked since Devin McCourty left—a quarterback on the defensive side of the ball.
Jaylen Reed was acquired in the Kayshon Boutte trade. He adds another versatile, physical defensive back who can play back or in the box.
Dell Pettus is becoming the Milton Waddams of the Patriots — the Office Space employee who simply refused to leave the building. You might be surprised to know that Pettus is one of those 11 players who was here before Vrabel became head coach. Pettus made the team in 2024 as an undrafted free agent and has survived on the fringes of the roster ever since.
The most disappointing cut to me was John Saunders Jr. I was intrigued by him late last season when the Patriots brought him onto the practice squad. When I looked up his college turnover numbers, my first thought was, “Why hasn’t this guy become a star?”
This summer, he started to show some of that promise. When the Patriots traded Boutte for Jaylen Reed, my immediate reaction was, “Noooooo!” Not because I was devastated about losing Boutte—although I wasn’t thrilled with the return—but because I knew the addition of Reed wasn’t going to be good news for Saunders’ chances of making the roster.
Special Teams
Andy Borregales, Julian Ashby
Grade: B-
I'd love to know what happened to Bryce Baringer in the second preseason game. Maybe we should start holding out starting kickers and punters from preseason games, too.
Bryce Baringer was placed on injured reserve, leaving veteran Mitch Wishnowsky on the practice squad as the likely replacement option.
Andy Borregales established himself as a reliable NFL kicker during his rookie season after a shaky start. He had a very strong camp, but a shaky performance in the first exhibition game drew Vrabel's ire.
I would be remiss if I didn't add the kick returners in this section.
Marcus Jones is one of the most dangerous punt returners in NFL history. He enters 2026 as the NFL’s all-time leader in career punt-return average at 14.3 yards per return. Granted—it is a small sample size as he only reached the 75-punt returns threshold last year.
He has seen his role and his importance on defense expand this year, but I hope Vrabel continues to use him as a punt returner. He is too much of a weapon back there.
The Patriots experimented with Doubs, Douglas, and Chism as punt returners.
As for kickoff returns, if I see Chism return another kick I might throw something. I love Chizz, but he is not explosive enough to be a kickoff returner.
Watch him return a kick for a touchdown this year. Imagine if he does two!
It looks like the Patriots may go with Kyle Williams and sprinkle in Chism here and there. Williams is more of your prototypical speed kick returner, but I worry he is not cut out to survive at only 5'11", 190 pounds. But he does bring the explosive element that Chism doesn't.
Overall Roster Grade: B
I'd put the Patriots' starting 22 up against anybody.
The Patriots were also very fortunate on the injury front last season. Sometimes the teams that reach the Super Bowl aren't necessarily the most talented—they're the ones that manage to stay the healthiest. Just ask San Francisco what happens when that luck runs out.
New England appears set at three of the most important positions on any NFL roster: quarterback, left tackle and cornerback.
Oh. Did I say cornerback?
And next year, that quarterback might start wondering about his next contract.
The year after that, the left tackle might do the same.
Welcome to trying to maintain a dynasty in 2026.