NFL free agency won’t even officially begin until Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET for the start of the new league year, but the Patriots have been active during the open tampering period.
After agreeing to terms with four players, the Patriots’ 90-man roster currently stands at 67 players.
With the additions of fullback Reggie Gilliam, wide receiver Romeo Doubs, guard Alijah Vera-Tucker and edge defender Dre’Mont Jones, here’s how the Patriots’ roster currently stands and what needs they need to fill.
QUARTERBACK
Tommy DeVito, Joshua Dobbs, Drake Maye
The Patriots are likely all set here unless they like a rookie quarterback enough to draft him or sign him as an undrafted free agent. The biggest question is if DeVito can push Dobbs for the backup quarterback spot this summer.
RUNNING BACK
TreVeyon Henderson, Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, Elijah Mitchell, Rhamondre Stevenson
The Patriots could use an upgrade at the No. 3 running back spot behind Stevenson and Henderson. There was an unwillingness to use Jennings to spell the top backs, Mitchell has been in and out of the league, and Larison is unproven.
FULLBACK
Reggie Gilliam, Brock Lampe, Jack Westover
The Patriots have three more fullbacks than most teams, and Gilliam, who agreed to terms Monday is one of the best in the NFL. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Westover moved back to tight end after getting tendered as an exclusive rights free agent.
WIDE RECEIVER
Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, John Jiles, Jeremiah Webb, Kyle Williams
The Patriots could head into the 2026 season with Doubs, Boute, Hollins, Williams, Douglas and Chism as their wide receiver corps. Of course, the group would look a lot better with A.J. Brown or a rookie first- or second-round pick. But adding Doubs to the mix on Tuesday gave the team some much needed flexibility.
TIGHT END
CJ Dippre, Hunter Henry, Marshall Lang
The Patriots need an upgrade here, and options who make sense in free agency are running out. Would they bring in someone like David Njoku or Dallas Goedert to share the top tight end role with Hunter Henry? Or will they just wait it out and draft a developmental tight end? If it’s the latter, that gets tricky if Henry isn’t able to stay healthy in 2026.
New York Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (75) on the sideline during an NFL game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
New York Jets guard Alijah Vera-Tucker (75) on the sideline during an NFL game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
OFFENSIVE LINE
G/C Ben Brown, OT Marcus Bryant, G Mehki Butler, LT Will Campbell, OT Sebastian Gutierrez, OT Lorenz Metz, RT Morgan Moses, RG Mike Onwenu, G Andrew Rupcich, LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, G Caedan Wallace, C Jared Wilson
The Patriots seemingly have a complete starting offensive line in Campbell, Vera-Tucker, Wilson, Onwenu and Moses, with Vera-Tucker being the final puzzle piece added late Monday night. The Patriots need better tackle depth after Vederian Lowe got signed away by the 49ers. Thayer Munford Jr. is an in-house free-agent option. Jedrick Wills, Jack Conklin and Kendall Lamm are all players that Mike Vrabel is familiar with, as well.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Leonard Taylor III, Milton Williams
The Patriots lost Khyiris Tonga in free agency but are in pretty good shape with some combination of Barmore, Durden, Farmer, Gregory, Taylor and Williams. The Patriots have been impressive at finding unheralded veteran defensive line help, so it would make sense to add a veteran late in free agency, as well.
EDGE DEFENDER
Anfernee Jennings, Dre’Mont Jones, Harold Landry, Jesse Luketa, Elijah Ponder, Bradyn Swinson
The Patriots have currently effectively replaced K’Lavon Chaisson with Jones, which isn’t quite enough. The Patriots need to re-sign Chaisson, who’s still available as a free agent, or spend a high pick on an edge defender.
LINEBACKER
Christian Elliss, Amari Gainer, Marte Mapu, Chad Muma, Otis Reese, Robert Spillane
Jack Gibbens is still hanging out there as a restricted free agent. There are still some good linebackers available in free agency, as well, to give this group a needed lift.
CORNERBACK
Brandon Crossley, Carlton Davis III, Marcellas Dial, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Kobee Minor, Charles Woods
It’s not ideal to head into the 2026 season with Minor or Woods as the Patriots’ third outside cornerback behind Davis and Gonzalez. Expect a move here to upgrade this group. The Patriots also still need to extend Gonzalez.
SAFETY
Dell Pettus, John Saunders Jr., Brenden Schooler, Craig Woodson
The Patriots currently only have one starting-caliber safety in Woodson. Expect the team to re-sign Jaylinn Hawkins or add another veteran player like Kevin Byard.
SPECIAL TEAMS
LS Julian Ashby, P Bryce Baringer, K Andy Borregales
The Patriots could elect to bring in competition for Baringer, since he struggled at times last year. Ashby and Borregales were just drafted last year.