Entering roster cutdown day with 73 players on their active roster, the New England Patriots made 18 cuts and placed two players on short-term injured reserve to form their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season.
The path to the opening roster was different for every player, however.
Some foundational pieces including, Christian Gonzalez and Christian Barmore, were brought in during the final years of the Bill Belichick era. In 2024, Jerod Mayo and his staff drafted quarterback Drake Maye.
Those players were joined by significant roster turnover when head coach Mike Vrabel took over in 2025. His regime’s moves make up 72% of the 2026 roster.
From draft selections to waiver claims, here’s a look at how each player got there.
By player
Quarterback
Drake Maye: Draft pick (2024 1-3)
Tommy DeVito: Waiver claim (2025)
Behren Morton: Draft pick (2026 7-234)
Running back
Rhamondre Stevenson: Draft pick (2021 4-120)
TreVeyon Henderson: Draft pick (2025 2-38)
Corey Kiner: Trade acquisition (2026)
Fullback
Reggie Gilliam: Free agency signing (2026)
Wide receiver
A.J. Brown: Trade acquisition (2026)
Romeo Doubs: Free agency signing (2026)
DeMario Douglas: Draft pick (2023 6-210)
Mack Hollins: Free agency signing (2025)
Kyle Williams: Draft pick (2025 3-69)
Efton Chism III: UDFA signing (2025)
Tight end
Hunter Henry: Free agency signing (2021)
Eli Raridon: Draft pick (2026 3-95)
Tanner Arkin: UDFA signing (2026)
Offensive tackle
Will Campbell: Draft pick (2025 1-4)
Morgan Moses: Free agency signing (2025)
Caleb Lomu: Draft pick (2026 1-28)
Dametrious Crownover: Draft pick (2026 6-196)
Walter Rouse: Trade acquisition (2026)
Interior offensive line
Alijah Vera-Tucker: Free agency signing (2026)
Jared Wilson: Draft pick (2025 3-95)
Mike Onwenu: Draft pick (2020 6-182)
Ben Brown: Practice squad poach (2024)
Greg Van Roten: Free agency signing (2026)
Interior defensive line
Christian Barmore: Draft pick (2021 2-38)
Milton Williams: Free agency signing (2025)
Cory Durden: Practice squad signing (2025)
Joshua Farmer: Draft pick (2025 4-137)
Leonard Taylor III: Practice squad signing (2025)
Defensive edge
Dre’Mont Jones: Free agency signing (2026)
Elijah Ponder: UDFA signing (2025)
Gabe Jacas: Draft pick (2026 2-55)
Quintayvious Hutchins: Draft pick (2026 7-247)
Linebacker
Robert Spillane: Free agency signing (2025)
Christian Elliss: Waiver claim (2023)
K.J. Britt: Free agency signing (2026)
Khalil Jacobs: UDFA signing (2026)
Namdi Obiazor: Draft pick (2026 6-212)
Cornerback
Christian Gonzalez: Draft pick (2023 1-17)
Carlton Davis III: Free agency signing (2025)
Marcus Jones: Draft pick (2022 3-85)
Charles Woods: Waiver claim (2025)
Karon Prunty: Draft pick (2026 5-171)
Channing Canada: UDFA signing (2026)
Safety
Kevin Byard: Free agency signing (2026)
Craig Woodson: Draft pick (2025 4-106)
Jaylen Reed: Trade acquisition (2026)
Dell Pettus: UDFA signing (2024)
Specialists
Andy Borregales: Draft pick (2025 6-182)
Bryce Baringer: Draft pick (2023 6-192)
Julian Ashby: Draft pick (2025 7-251)
By acquisition type
Draft picks (24): QB Drake Maye, QB Behren Morton, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR DeMario Douglas, WR Kyle Williams, TE Eli Raridon, OT Will Campbell, OT Caleb Lomu, OT Dametrious Crownover, OL Jared Wilson, OL Mike Onwenu, DT Christian Barmore, DT Joshua Farmer, ED Gabe Jacas, ED Quintayvious Hutchins, LB Namdi Obiazor, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Marcus Jones, CB Karon Prunty, S Craig Woodson, K Andy Borregales, P Bryce Baringer, LS Julian Ashby
Free agency signings (13): WR Romeo Doubs, WR Mack Hollins, FB Reggie Gilliam, TE Hunter Henry, OT Morgan Moses, OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL Greg Van Roten, DT Milton Williams, ED Dre’Mont Jones, LB Robert Spillane, LB K.J. Britt, CB Carlton Davis III, S Kevin Byard
UDFA signings (6): WR Efton Chism III, TE Tanner Arkin, ED Elijah Ponder, LB Khalil Jacobs, CB Channing Canada, S Dell Pettus
Trade acquisitions (4): RB Corey Kiner, WR A.J. Brown, S Jaylen Reed, OT Walter Rouse
Waiver claims (3): QB Tommy DeVito, LB Christian Elliss, CB Charles Woods
Practice squad signings (2): DT Cory Durden, DT Leonard Taylor III
Practice squad poaches (1): OL Ben Brown
By regime
Mike Vrabel/Eliot Wolf (41): QB Tommy DeVito, QB Behren Morton, RB TreVeyon Henderson, RB Corey Kiner, FB Reggie Gilliam, WR A.J. Brown, WR Romeo Doubs, WR Mack Hollins, WR Kyle Williams, WR Efton Chism III, TE Eli Raridon, TE Tanner Arkin, OT Will Campbell, OT Morgan Moses, OT Caleb Lomu, OT Dametrious Crownover, OT Walter Rouse, OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL Jared Wilson, Greg Van Roten, DT Milton Williams, DT Cory Durden, DT Joshua Farmer, DT Leonard Taylor III, ED Dre’Mont Jones, ED Elijah Ponder, ED Gabe Jacas, ED Quintayvious Hutchins, LB Robert Spillane, LB K.J. Britt, LB Khalil Jacobs, LB Namdi Obiazor, CB Carlton Davis III, CB Charles Woods, CB Karon Prunty, CB Channing Canada, S Kevin Byard, S Craig Woodson, S Jaylen Reed, K Andy Borregales, LS Julian Ashby
Bill Belichick (9): RB Rhamondre Stevenson, WR DeMario Douglas, TE Hunter Henry, OL Mike Onwenu, DT Christian Barmore, LB Christian Elliss, CB Christian Gonzalez, CB Marcus Jones, P Bryce Baringer
Jerod Mayo/Eliot Wolf (3): QB Drake Maye, OL Ben Brown, S Dell Pettus