Some news and notes on this Monday:
This will be a big week for the Patriots, with the club currently just over 24 hours away from paring its roster down to 53, having already parted with 14 players following their 42-10 blowout loss in New York Thursday night.
They added one more yesterday after Layden Robinson, who was part of the 2024 Patriots Draft class, was waived with an injury designation.
That currently brings the number down to 74, with the Patriots sitting with 75 on their roster thanks to the international exemption they have for David Olajiga. They’ll certainly have some interesting decisions to make, but the fact that Robinson’s now gone adds some frustration to a draft class that hasn’t quite panned out too well.
Here’s where last year’s draft class currently stands:
Drake Maye, QB – Round 1 (#3 overall)
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR – Round 2 (#37 overall)
*Injured Reserve
Caedan Wallace, OL – Round 3 (#68 overall)
*On the bubble
Layden Robinson, OL – Round 4 (#103 overall)
*Waived Sunday and No Longer with the team
Javon Baker, WR – Round 4 (#110 overall)
*On the bubble
Marcellus Dial, CB – Round 6 (#180 overall)
*Injured Reserve
Joe Milton, QB – Round 6 (#193 overall)
*No Longer with the team (traded to Dallas)
Jaheim Bell, TE – Round 7 (#231 overall)
*Waived on Friday and No Longer with the team
As it stands, heading into the 2025 season, it’s possible it could be just Drake Maye among that group as the last one standing, albeit Javon Baker – if he’s waived and clears waivers – could end up on the practice squad if they decide to bring him back.
After that, Marcellus Dial had been having a solid preseason before getting injured, and if he comes back healthy, he could factor into things in 2026. But the verdict remains out on Ja’Lynn Polk, and Caedan Wallace looks like he’ll also be among some difficult decisions that could be coming.
Wallace was someone head coach Mike Vrabel talked about following last week’s game, with Wallace continuing to be in the competition at left guard after seeing time again there against the Giants.
“Well, we’d always hoped that he would be in that competition,” said Vrabel. “Got injured, missed a few days, and came back. So gave him a large opportunity there at left guard today. That’s kind of where he was starting to make strides, I think, in the offseason. And we’ll just continue to coach him. And he’s gotten reps at other places in practice, and maybe that hasn’t shown up as much in the games.”
Still, the fact that they’ve gotten such a small return from that class is disappointing. In the Joe Milton trade, the Patriots ended up with a fifth-round pick (171st overall in 2025), which they parlayed into three draft picks. Those turned out to be kicker Andres Borregales, long snapper Julian Ashby, and Kobee Minor.
So far, Ashby has been the only player who has panned out, while both Borregales and Minor are still question marks ahead of tomorrow’s cutdowns. Minor has had a busy preseason andis currently tied for the team lead in tackles with Kyle Dugger with 11, while the rookie also has two passes defended. Borregales has had an inconsistent preseason and he’s locked up in a battle with John Parker-Romo for the kicking job heading into 2025.
As a result, it should be interesting to see who will be left standing. But for a team that’s struggling to build depth at key spots, the fact that they’re parting ways with guys they no longer believe are fits so quickly after drafting them is certainly not making things any easier.
Ben Wooldridge
(PHOTO: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)
Some stats roundups for this morning, with some interesting names finishing among the leaders this preseason, and several having posted some notable totals.
Former quarterback Ben Wooldridge led all passers with 269 yards, along with two touchdowns and an interception, with a QB rating of 80.7. However, whatever happened on his pick-six against the Giants must have been pretty rough, because he didn’t throw another pass for the rest of Thursday night’s game (they ran it 15 straight times), and he was gone one day later.
Back-up Josh Dobbs was the team’s passing leader on third down, with Dobbs connecting on 7-of-10 (50 yards, 1 TD) with six passing first downs. His leading receiver in this category was Efton Chism, who caught 4 passes for 36 yards (all first downs) along with a touchdown.
Overall, Chism led all receivers with 121 yards receiving after hauling in 12-of-14 targets. He’s followed by John Jiles (9-of-13, 98yds) and Jeremiah Webb (6-of-9, 80yds 1 TD).
Red zone passing continued to be an issue, with Wooldridge (5-of-9 40yds 2 TDs), Dobbs (4-of-8, 28yds 1 TD), and Maye (1-of-2, 9yds) all finishing in the 50% completion range. That’s been a point of emphasis all summer, and continues to quietly be an area of concern ahead of the regular season.
Meanwhile, rushing leaders were JaMycal Hasty (22 carries, 77yds – 3.5 avg), Shane Watts (25 carries, 67yds – 2.7 avg), and Antonio Gibson (13 carries, 43 yards). Watts, whose 2.7 rushing average likely didn’t help his cause, has already been waived, and Hasty is thought by some to potentially end up as a possible depth player.
On defense, we already mentioned the leading tacklers, but one area that stood out was the 3rd down defensive tackle leaders. Among that group were Dell Pettus (5 tackles), Kobee Minor (3 tackles), and Anfernee Jennings (2 tackles [both sacks]). Defensive tackle David Olajiga also logged a QB hit, with Olajiga currently on the roster with an international exemption.
Ja'Lynn Polk
(PHOTO: Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images)
Mike Vrabel appeared on WEEI on Monday and was asked about the state of his roster, along with any potential transactions that could be coming.
Vrabel wasn’t given any specific names to comment on as he was asked about the group of possible players who might be available, but he again confirmed that they’re still exploring their options.
“Well, again, we want to continue to strengthen the roster, and I don’t know if that’s the players that you’re talking about or some other players or how that may come about,” said Vrabel. “But I know we have had conversations. We’ll continue to have conversations about continuing to improve the roster. And then, again, if it makes sense, and we feel like it’s advantageous to us, then we’ll consider it.”
With the Patriots getting ready to pare down the roster, they’re in a tough spot at several positions and still have some questions heading into the season. The only question might be whether or not they’ll pull the trigger before Week 1, or if they’ll instead be patient and maybe look at how things play out later in the year ahead of the deadline.
So far, they’ve shown patience and have seemingly looked into every situation. For now, it’s just about finding the right long-term fit for a team that’s trying to put together a foundation to build on as Vrabel begins his first year in New England.
Kyle Williams
(PHOTO: Kris Craig/The Providence Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Rookie Kyle Williams was back on the field and at practice on Sunday, which comes following the head injury he suffered in Minnesota.
He remains a player who has had some moments in the preseason but is still a question mark heading into the regular season. However, the fact that he was back out there is a good sign, and the hope now is that he can become a factor in the coming weeks.
CLNS Media’s Taylor Kyles talked about Williams and the Patriots receiving group as a whole following Sunday’s practice.
“We’ve mentioned if they do keep Kendrick Bourne, it would probably be to help steady some of the depth issues at receiver,” said Kyles. “We were thinking that would be short term injured deserve, but if they’re just hiding Kendrick Bourne saying, ‘We know this guy can come back. If we give him a couple of weeks of practice, he’ll be okay.’ Now, obviously, they’re going to have the ramp up because you have to bye now before week one. Now, it looks a little bit different because I still think Kendrick Bourne, like if Efton Chism really is hurt and misses extended time, that’s where Kendrick Bourne maybe makes the roster and maybe you keep Efton Chism Which is, I don’t know, the ways that you manage the roster.”
“But it’s better for the wide receiver depth knowing that Kyle Williams can be out there. Now you feel like you’re more five deep. You got your starters that are locked in in Stefon Diggs, Demario Douglas, and Kayshon Boutte. Mack Hollins is a top fourth option who we know is going to be involved. Then you have Kyle Williams, who brings that explosiveness, that vertical speed. And that gives you, I think, a much more well-rounded room skillset-wise.”
“We still got to see Kyle Williams do it against starters and some of the better NFL talent he’s going to face. But we know he’s been very impressive in the preseason, so hopefully, he gets healthy and that translates to week one.”
Odds and Ends
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe had an interesting bit in his Sunday Column, writing that there were several notable players who skipped enough voluntary workouts this offseason that it cost them a bonus. Among those names were newcomers Carlton Davis ($225,000), Stefon Diggs ($200,000), and Morgan Moses ($150,000), who each gave up a pretty good amount of money for not attending at least 27 of 32 sessions, with Volin citing NFLPA records. Volin also reports that two others who lost out were Rhamondre Stevenson ($250,000) and Marcus Epps ($25,000). … Vrabel was asked about his “rats” comment on WEEI on Monday morning, which came as he was asked about the news of Polk’s injury and subsequent placement on IR. Vrabel admitted the comment stemmed from how Thursday’s game played out. “There’s rats all over the place,” said Vrabel, “Whether that’s in this building, whether that’s outside this building, I just love the flow of information, and I just felt inclined, and I was pissed off because we stunk and we couldn’t do anything. I tried to entertain you guys a little bit. I was ready to get home and get back to Foxborough.”
About Ian Logue
Ian Logue is a Seacoast native and owner and senior writer for PatsFans.com, an independent media site covering the New England Patriots and has been running this site in one form or another since 1997.
View all posts by Ian Logue
Tags: 2025 Patriots Preseason Andres Borregales Anfernee Jennings Antonio Gibson Ben Wooldridge Caedan Wallace Carlton Davis David Olajiga Dell Pettus Demario Douglas Drake Maye Efton Chism Ja'Lynn Polk Jaheim Bell JaMycal Hasty Javon Baker Jeremiah Webb Joe Milton John Jiles John Parker-Romo Josh Dobbs Julian Ashby Kayshon Boutte Kendrick Bourne Kobee Minor Kyle Dugger Kyle Williams Mack Hollins Marcellus Dial Marcus Epps Mike Vrabel Morgan Moses New England Patriots Patriots news Rhamondre Stevenson Shane Watts Stefon Diggs
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