The Patriots’ initial 53-man roster is set.
But don’t be surprised if the Patriots continue to make moves on Wednesday. NFL teams have until Wednesday at noon to put in waiver claims for players cut by other teams. The Patriots could decide that they can find better depth at spots like tight end and the offensive line through waivers.
The Patriots’ initial 53-man roster includes nine 2025 draft picks, 11 total rookies, eight wide receivers, two quarterbacks, three veteran players who were on the roster bubble and just three selections from last year’s draft.
Here’s everyone who made the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster after Tuesday’s cuts.
QUARTERBACK (2)
Joshua Dobbs, Drake Maye
The Patriots released third-string quarterback Ben Wooldridge, an undrafted free agent, over the weekend after the Louisiana product struggled in his third and final preseason game. Maye is locked in as the starter, and Dobbs brings value as a veteran backup. Now, the Patriots must find a third quarterback for the 53-man roster or practice squad. Some potential candidates: Former Giants QB Tommy DeVito, ex-Eagles rookie Kyle McCord, Logan Woodside, who spent time with head coach Mike Vrabel on the Titans, Tyler Huntley, Mike White and Hendon Hooker.
RUNNING BACK (3)
Antonio Gibson, TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson
The Patriots usually liked more depth at running back historically under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but it’s not a major surprise to see Terrell Jennings and JaMycal Hasty cut, since both are practice-squad candidates. If undrafted rookie Lan Larison had made it through the summer healthy, then maybe he could have convinced them to carry four running backs. Stevenson should still be the “starting” running back, but don’t be surprised if Henderson gets a lot of early run, as well. Gibson is a very solid third running back. All three players can run between the tackles, catch out of the backfield and be used in blitz pickup.
WIDE RECEIVER (8)
Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism, Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams
Eight wide receivers! Who saw that coming? It seemed, at most, that the Patriots would keep just one of Baker or Bourne. Instead, Ja’Lynn Polk was placed on injured reserve, and Jeremiah Webb and John Jiles were waived. This could be a spot where the Patriots could trim their roster on Wednesday during waiver claims. Bourne, Chism and Williams are all banged up right now, however. So, maybe the idea was to keep extra wide receivers for insurance. Expect Boutte, Diggs, Douglas and Hollins to be the Patriots’ top wide receivers. It’s unclear whether Boutte or Hollins will start at the “X” receiver spot.
TIGHT END (3)
Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper, Jack Westover
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Patriots try to add another tight end Wednesday through waivers. Westover has positional versatility to play fullback, but he wasn’t a dependable pass-catcher in camp. He’s also a bit lighter than what Josh McDaniels typically looks for out of a blocking tight end or fullback.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9)
Garrett Bradbury, Ben Brown, Marcus Bryant, Will Campbell, Vederian Lowe, Morgan Moses, Mike Onwenu, Caedan Wallace, Jared Wilson
The Patriots ended up waiving 2022 first-round pick Cole Strange, who couldn’t find a spot at guard or center. Instead, the Patriots keep Brown as a reserve guard/center and Wallace, who has experience at both guard and tackle. Wallace exclusively played tackle last season and guard this summer. Expect Campbell, Wilson, Bradbury, Onwenu and Moses to be the starting offensive line, though Brown could continue to push Wilson at left guard. Wallace, Maye and Baker are the only players left from the 2024 NFL Draft class.
DEFENSIVE LINE (5)
Christian Barmore, Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Khyiris Tonga, Milton Williams
The Patriots seemed to be searching for a sixth defensive lineman to make the 53-man roster. Isaiah Iton was heavily involved before being placed on injured reserve. And they signed Kyle Peko, who didn’t work out. So, perhaps the Patriots could look to the waiver wire for more defensive line help. Barmore, Tonga and Williams is a formidable front, however. Farmer has potential as a fourth-round pick, and Pharms has been steady since joining the team in 2022.
EDGE DEFENDER (5)
K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings, Harold Landry, Elijah Ponder, Keion White
The biggest surprise cut is fifth-round pick Bradyn Swinson. Swinson never made any noise this summer and was passed on the depth chart by Ponder, an undrafted free agent. Jennings stick after being buried on the depth chart since the spring. He had a three-sack performance in the Patriots’ Week 2 preseason game but hasn’t practiced since that game. It’s not shocking to see Jennings, a valuable early-down run stuffer, on a roster without a lot of obvious NFL talent. Chaisson and Landry will likely start with White playing a major rotational role.
LINEBACKER (4)
Christian Elliss, Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu, Robert Spillane
Injured reserve (designated for return): Jahlani Tavai
With Tavai heading to injured reserve, Mapu makes the squad in a position switch. Mapu played nickel in college but mostly safety in his first two seasons coming out of Sacramento State as a third-round pick in 2023. This summer, however, he transitioned to linebacker in Vrabel’s new scheme, which places value on undersized but athletic linebackers. Elliss and Spillane will start, while Gibbens and Mapu provide depth.
CORNERBACK (5)
Alex Austin, Carlton Davis, Christian Gonzalez, DJ James, Marcus Jones
The Patriots will go shallow at cornerback after cutting Kobee Minor, Brandon Crossley and Miles Battle. This could be a position where they add depth on waivers. Minor and Swinson were the only 2025 draft picks to be cut. The Patriots made up for it with two UDFA additions to the 53-man roster in Chism and Ponder. James emerged in training camp. He was the first Patriots defender to intercept a pass in training camp and was regularly around the ball. Gonzalez missed most of camp with a hamstring injury, and Davis was also on and off the practice field. Austin is a top backup both outside and in the slot. He had an impressive camp and looked like a starter at times.
SAFETY (6)
Kyle Dugger, Jaylinn Hawkins, Jabrill Peppers, Dell Pettus, Brenden Schooler, Craig Woodson
Dugger also makes the squad after being buried behind Hawkins, Peppers and Woodson on the depth chart. Attempts to trade Dugger didn’t work out, so they keep him and his fully guaranteed $9.75 million salary on the books. Pettus, a 2024 undrafted free agent, makes the team over Marcus Epps, who requested to be released. Expect Hawkins, Peppers and Woodson all to get a lot of defensive playing time. Schooler is primarily a special-teamer, though he contributed on defense last season in a specialized role.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
K Andres Borregales, P Bryce Baringer, LS Julian Ashby
In the end, Borregales ended up beating out Parker Romo for the kicking job. It’s not completely unexpected, but Romo, the veteran did have a better summer than Borregales, a sixth-round pick out of Miami. After Borregales was selected, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would beat out Romo, a journeyman, for the job. But it felt like it was a tight competition based on their split reps in training camp and the preseason. Perhaps it was telling that Borregales was the only kicker to see a field goal attempt in the Patriots’ preseason finale. That he missed a 49-yarder wide right apparently was not a deterrent. Ashby is another rookie. All three of the Patriots’ specialists were drafted.
Originally Published: August 26, 2025 at 5:06 PM EDT