The Patriots are staring at a tight roster cutdown, and a few spots are still muddy enough to make Sunday’s 6 p.m. deadline worth watching closely. The questions are straightforward enough: do they carry extra help at linebacker or cornerback, who comes out on top in the running back battle, and is there any real competition at backup guard?
One place where the picture still feels unsettled is quarterback. Morton hasn’t exactly stacked up a strong case through two preseason games, but the emergency quarterback role may be enough to keep the rookie on the 53-man roster.
At running back, the safest call might be the simplest one. The Jam Miller, Lan Larison, JaMycal Hasty and Hassan Haskins group hasn’t produced a clear winner, so the prediction here is that the Patriots go with just two backs for now. One or two of the others could then land on the practice squad and keep fighting for that third spot.
Fullback is much easier to sort out. Gilliam has that job locked up for 2026, even with some time off the field for load management.
At receiver, the Kayshon Boutte trade has left the room looking pretty settled. The undrafted trio of Kyle Dixon, Nick DeGennaro and Cameron Dorner has also put itself on the map as practice squad candidates, and each could stick around as depth if they clear waivers.
Tight end looks similarly stable. Arkin, the undrafted player, appears to have beaten out Jack Westover and C.J.
Dippre. Henry is the veteran in the room, and the Patriots will need productive snaps from Raridon in the backup role.
Up front, Marcus Bryant is projected to open the year on injured reserve, which would make room for rookie Crownover. Brown and Van Roten look like the top interior reserves, while Lomu can begin his career as a swing tackle.
The defensive line is where the roster starts to get crowded. Farmer, Gregory and Taylor have all done enough to get serious consideration, but none has clearly separated from the others. The choice here is to keep all three and load up on bodies inside.
That heavier approach on the interior means a lighter group on the edge. Harold Landry is still sidelined, and that puts added pressure on a young pass-rushing group. BC rookie Quintayvious Hutchins could fit, though there are other rookie defenders who may have a better path.
Linebacker also feels thin, which makes retention important. Britt has stood out with his physicality, while Muma and Jacobs have both dealt with bumps this summer but still had strong stretches in practice. Because this is one of the thinnest rooms on the roster, keeping players who might not survive waivers matters.
The secondary took a hit in the preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, and the depth concerns showed up fast. Vildor, Marcellas Dial and Kobee Minor all struggled. Even so, the projection keeps faith in Vildor and rookie Karon Prunty to finish out the cornerback room and back up what should hopefully be an extended Gonzalez.
Safety brings another tough decision. Saunders, who intercepted five passes this summer, has made a strong case.
Pettus has too, especially given his past work as a personal protector on punt returns. Both have outperformed veteran Mike Brown, who arrived in free agency this year.
Special teams looks much more settled. Borregales and Ashby are the holdovers from a year ago, and after Bryce Baringer went down two weeks ago with an undisclosed injury, the Patriots signed Haack. He responded with a solid preseason outing, including three punts inside the 20, and should remain in place while Baringer is unable to go.
There are also a few injury-related names to watch. Landry and Schooler haven’t been seen all summer, and Bryant and Baringer were both lost in the second preseason game. If any of those players are placed on reserve lists before Week 1, they would be out for the first four games of the season.
In Other News...
Patriots May Have Found Their Next Tight End Sooner Than Expected
Hunter Henry has seen enough young players come through training camp to know when one is making a steady impression, and rookie Eli Raridon appears to be doing exactly that. The veteran tight end singled out Raridon for his effort, his eagerness to learn and the way he has grown throughout camp, a promising sign for a Patriots offense that has been looking for more help at the position.
Raridons appeal seems to start with the parts that usually earn trust first: blocking and being a dependable checkdown option when the play breaks down. He is still working through the areas that can slow a rookies rise, especially athleticism and explosiveness, which is why the Patriots are expected to bring him along gradually. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is likely to lean on him more as a blocker early in the season, giving New England a useful piece while the rest of his game develops. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Draft Picks Are Suddenly Fighting For Their Jobs This Weekend
As the Patriots get ready to trim the roster to 53 players, a few of their recent draft picks find themselves in an unexpectedly familiar place for late August: squarely on the bubble. Obiazor, Miller and Hutchins are among the names worth watching as the team balances performance, injury status and the sheer volume of competition at their positions, the kind of daily evaluation that can turn a promising spring into a stressful weekend.
For players taken in 2025, this part of the calendar can be just as revealing as training camp itself, because the decision is not only about who makes the roster but who stays close enough to be part of the next wave. Some of these players could still surface on the practice squad if they do not survive the cut, which keeps the stakes high even after the initial roster math is done. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Running Back Shakeup Leaves One Newcomer In The Spotlight
The Patriots backfield got a late trim before the NFLs 53-man roster deadline, with New England parting ways with Hassan Haskins and JaMycal Hasty after bringing in Corey Kiner from the Arizona Cardinals. Both Haskins and Hasty had arrived ahead of the preseason and took part in the finale, but the numbers game at running back shifted once the new addition came aboard.
For a roster that has been sorting through depth behind its top options, the move leaves Kiner in a more visible spot as New England pares down the competition. It also underscores how fluid the position has been all summer, with the Patriots continuing to reshuffle the mix while trying to settle on the group they want carrying into the season. [Read more 🡒]