New England Patriots running back Jam Miller during a drill as the Patriots hold rookie minicamp. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
New England Patriots running back Jam Miller during a drill as the Patriots hold rookie minicamp. (Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Thursday’s preseason opener provided some strong hints about how the Patriots regard their 2026 roster.
After three weeks of training camp and with one preseason game in the books, here’s our latest attempt at a 53-man roster projection.
Quarterback (3)
In: Drake Maye, Tommy DeVito, Behren Morton (R)
Out: No one
— Maye is the franchise. And DeVito and Morton have looked better in training camp than they did in the Patriots’ first preseason game. DeVito is usually good for one impressive throw per practice. Morton has largely avoided mistakes in limited reps. It’s a strong quarterback room, and Morton deserves a spot on the 53-man roster.
Running back (3)
In: TreVeyon Henderson, Jam Miller (R), Rhamondre Stevenson
Out: Hassan Haskins, JaMycal Hasty, Lan Larison
— This group has gone through significant changes in the past week. Terrell Jennings and Myles Montgomery are now on injured reserve, and Haskins and Hasty were signed to replace them. Miller, who was more impressive than Larison in Thursday’s preseason opener, now becomes the favorite for the third running back spot, though Haskins, Hasty and Larison still have a couple more weeks to make a push for the roster.
Fullback (1)
In: Reggie Gilliam
Out: No one
— The Patriots have given Gilliam some veteran rest days. In those situations, tight ends Tanner Arkin and Jack Westover have seen time at fullback. It would be a major shock if Gilliam, who was signed away from the Bills, wasn’t on the team this season.
Wide receiver (7)
In: Kayshon Boutte, A.J. Brown, Efton Chism, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams
Out: Nick DeGennaro (R), Kyle Dixon (R), Cameron Dorner (R), Tejhuan Palmer, Kobe Prentice (R)
— Will the Patriots keep seven wide receivers? We’ll believe it until someone like Boutte potentially gets traded. Brown, Doubs and Douglas are being used as starters. Williams isn’t going anywhere. Hollins’ versatility as a blocker, special-teamer and big-bodied target is invaluable. And Chism certainly doesn’t look like someone the Patriots want to cut through the first three weeks of training camp. Time will tell if the Patriots get an offer they’d want to consider for Boutte.
Tight end (3)
In: Tanner Arkin (R), Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon (R)
Out: CJ Dippre, Mitch Van Vooren, Jack Westover
— It’s Henry and the two rookies atop the tight end depth chart so far. Dippre came off of the PUP list late, and Van Vooren hasn’t shown much in training camp. Westover has been more impressive as a receiver this summer, but Arkin provides more blocking prowess.
Offensive line (9)
In: C/G Ben Brown, OT Marcus Bryant, LT Will Campbell, OT Dametrious Crownover (R), OT Caleb Lomu (R), RT Morgan Moses, RG Mike Onwenu, LG Alijah Vera-Tucker, C Jared Wilson
Out: G Mekhi Butler, G Darrian Dalcourt, OL James Hudson, C Joe Michalski, OT Lorenz Metz, G JonDarius Morgan (R), C/G Jacob Rizy
— Campbell, Vera-Tucker, Wilson, Onwenu and Moses are starters, and Brown, who got injured in the preseason opener, is the top interior offensive line reserve. Lomu is a 2026 first-round pick, and Bryant has been the Patriots’ top backup left tackle this summer. There’s no other interior offensive linemen worth keeping on the roster, so Crownover will stick around for his upside.
Defensive line (5)
In: Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer, Eric Gregory, Milton Williams
Out: Isaiah Iton, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Casey Rogers, Leonard Taylor III
— It’s hard to choose between Farmer, Gregory and Taylor. Ultimately, Farmer and Gregory are seeing more opportunities than Taylor so far in camp. The Patriots also might feel like they can more easily pass Taylor through waivers unclaimed. Keeping six defensive tackles is a possibility, but it would come at the expense of depth at another position.
Outside linebacker (3)
In: Gabe Jacas (R), Dre’Mont Jones, Elijah Ponder
Out: Amari Gainer, Xavier Holmes (R), Quintayvious Hutchins (R), Jesse Luketa, Bradyn Swinson
PUP: Harold Landry III
— If Landry comes off the PUP list before Week 1, then he probably takes the spot of one of the cornerbacks. The Patriots should be able to get at least one or two of Holmes, Hutchins, Luketa or Swinson through waivers and onto the practice squad for more depth. If Landry starts on PUP, then Jones and Ponder begin the year as starters with Jacas as their top backup.
Linebacker (5)
In: K.J. Britt, Christian Elliss, Khalil Jacobs (R), Chad Muma, Robert Spillane
Out: Amari Gainer, Namdi Obiazor (R), Riley Wilson (R)
— Muma struggled in the Patriots’ preseason opener, but he’s been working as the team’s third linebacker in training camp. Britt was more buried on the depth chart before the Patriots’ preseason game, but he made some major impact plays in that game. Jacobs, an undrafted free agent, is worth keeping around.
New England Patriots defensive back Channing Canada before an NFL preseason game, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Foxboro. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)
New England Patriots defensive back Channing Canada before an NFL preseason game, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in Foxboro. (AP Photo/CJ Gunther)
Cornerback (7)
In: Channing Canada (R), Carlton Davis, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Karon Prunty (R), Kindle Vildor, Charles Woods
Out: Brandon Crossley, Marcellas Dial, Kenneth Harris (R), Kobee Minor, Kindle Vildor
— Canada is the third undrafted free agent to make our squad behind Arkin and Jacobs. He has flexibility to play in the slot or outside, and he’s seen opportunities at gunner across from Prunty, another rookie. Vildor has also had a strong summer and provides veteran experience.
Safety (4)
In: Kevin Byard, Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler, Craig Woodson
Out: Mike Brown, Eric Butler, Peter Manuma, John Saunders Jr.
— We’re going shallow at safety and hoping Saunders slips through to the practice squad. Brown was expected to push for the third safety spot, but it’s been all Pettus in recent weeks.
Special teams (3)
In: LS Julian Ashby, P Bryce Baringer, K Andres Borregales
Out: No one
— The Patriots haven’t brought in competition for Borregales yet, despite the fact that he missed three field goals in Thursday’s preseason game. He had a nice bounce-back in Saturday’s practice.