Patriots training camp is here, and the roster picture in Foxborough is already starting to get interesting.
Mike Vrabel, Drake Maye, and the rest of New England are trying to build on last year’s unexpected run to Super Bowl LX, and this summer’s camp figures to be packed with competition. The Patriots spent the offseason reshaping parts of the depth chart, and with another wave of young talent in the mix, several jobs are going to be up for grabs.
Wide receiver is one of the most crowded spots. New England’s pass-catching group looks a lot different now, with A.J.
Brown and Romeo Doubs expected to lead the way. Their ability to settle quickly into Josh McDaniels’ offense will be one of the key camp storylines.
After that, though, the picture gets messy in a hurry. Kayshon Boutte, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism are all still there, and the Patriots are going to have to trim that room down.
Boutte has already survived a spring full of trade chatter, but he could still be a trade chip if New England isn’t eager to commit to a bigger pay raise in 2027. Williams may be headed for a larger role in his second season, Hollins gave the team steady veteran play and strong blocking last year, and “Pop” Douglas may be fighting for his spot if Chism puts together a strong camp.
Running back has a different kind of battle. Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson give the Patriots a solid top two, but they still need a dependable third back who can either catch the ball or handle blocking duties.
Terrell Jennings is still around, but there are younger names worth watching. Lan Larison had his stock rise last summer before a broken foot wiped out his season before it started in August.
Before that, he was a stat-sheet machine at UC Davis, piling up 1,465 total rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns while also catching 62 passes for 874 receiving yards and six scores as a senior. Myles Montgomery, an undrafted signee from UCF, got one of the more lucrative undrafted deals this spring with over $270,000 in guaranteed money.
Jam Miller, a 2026 seventh-round pick from Alabama, is also in the mix after rushing for 1,596 yards over four seasons with the Crimson Tide.
The edge rusher group may be the biggest source of uncertainty on the roster. New England has talent on the defensive line with Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Cory Durden, Leonard Taylor III, and Dre’Mont Jones, but the edge itself is thin on proven pass-rush punch.
Harold Landry would normally help solve that, but the 30-year-old Boston College alum is set to begin camp on the physically unable to perform list. Gabe Jacas, a 2026 second-round pick, is also in a tough spot, dealing with injury issues that were addressed by offseason procedures and still without a contract.
If that situation doesn’t clear up, the Patriots may need to look for another veteran later this summer. If they don’t, someone like Elijah Ponder will have to step up for a team that managed only 35 sacks in the regular season.
Tight end is another spot where the depth chart could change. Hunter Henry remains the steady veteran at the top, but the Patriots need to find a backup after free-agent addition Julian Hill was lost for the season because of an injury during OTAs this spring.
Hill’s blocking and physical style will be missed, and New England may have to lean on youth behind Henry. Eli Raridon, a 2026 third-round pick, looks like the obvious candidate, though that would put a lot on a rookie.
C.J. Dippre, who will also open camp on the PUP list, could offer some of the blocking Hill brought, and Jack Westover is still in the conversation.
Like the edge spot, this is one the Patriots could revisit later in the summer if a useful name becomes available during roster cuts.
Linebacker rounds out the list of spots to watch. Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss are the clear leaders there, but the depth behind them is less settled after the Patriots moved on from Jahlani Tavai, Jack Gibbens, and Marte Mapu this offseason.
K.J. Britt, who was signed in free agency, and Chad Muma, a December addition, are next in line, while 2026 sixth-round pick Namdi Obiazor out of TCU is another player worth tracking.
In Other News...
Former Patriots First Round Receiver Suddenly Linked To AFC East Twist
Miamis wide receiver room has been a talking point for weeks, and one recent analysis from The Athletic pointed to a familiar AFC East solution as a way to add some proven depth. The idea is simple enough: bring in a veteran who can help stabilize a thin group of pass catchers without forcing a major commitment, which is exactly the kind of low-risk move teams often circle when camp and the regular season start to expose roster holes.
What makes the suggestion more interesting from a Patriots perspective is the name attached to it. Brandin Cooks, who once came through New England as a first-round pick, has been floated as a possible fit in Miami, where his experience could make him useful right away and potentially attractive enough to become a trade chip later on if things go well. For a division rival, that is the kind of move that can quietly matter twice, first in the lineup and then again if the season turns into a deadline market. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Just Made Another Receiver Move And Someone Paid For It
The roster churn started almost as soon as training camp did, with the Patriots making another move at receiver after their first practice. New England claimed rookie wideout Kobe Prentice off waivers, a reminder that the team is still sorting through the bottom half of the depth chart as camp opens and every rep starts to matter.
To make room, the Patriots waived offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez, shifting one young player out as another comes in. Rookie receiver Jimmy Kibble also cleared waivers and reverted to injured reserve, leaving the team with a little more clarity on the roster math, even if the competition for spots in the passing game is only just getting started. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots May Finally Have A Chance To Fix Their Pass Rush
The Patriots spent the offseason looking for answers up front, and the pass rush remains one of the clearest places where the roster still feels unfinished. Harold Landry is working back from offseason surgery, Gabe Jacas does not have a settled future, and K'Lavon Chaisson is gone in free agency, leaving New England with a defensive line that still needs more disruption before the season gets here.
One possible fix would be a bold trade, with the kind of move that would instantly change the conversation around the front seven. If that kind of deal never materializes, the Patriots could still turn to the veteran market and look for a name like Jadeveon Clowney, but either path points to the same reality: this is a team that knows it has to add more juice off the edge and may not be done shopping yet. [Read more 🡒]