The Patriots are heading into 2026 training camp with a roster that looks strong at the top, but there’s still real work to do before the 53-man picture comes into focus.
New England, coming off a 2025 season that set up another deep playoff push, will once again lean on head coach Mike Vrabel and quarterback Drake Maye as it tries to defend both its AFC and AFC East championships. The starters are in place. The question now is whether the depth behind them can hold up to the standard the Patriots are chasing.
That’s where camp gets interesting.
At quarterback, the order is straightforward: Drake Maye sits at the top, with Tommy DeVito behind him and Behren Morton third. Running back is similarly clear at the top, with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson leading the way. But the fight for the third spot is worth watching, with Jam Miller listed ahead of Terrell Jennings, Lan Larison, Myles Montgomery, and the rest of the group.
The offensive line may be the most revealing part of the whole depth chart. New England has Will Campbell locked in at left tackle and Morgan Moses at right tackle, with Alijah Vera-Tucker and Mike Onwenu holding down the guard spots. Behind them, though, the Patriots have a cluster of young and developmental pieces trying to carve out a role: Caleb Lomu, Marcus Bryant, Dametrious Crownover, Lorenz Metz, James Hudson III, Sebastian Gutierrez, Caedan Wallace, Mekhi Butler, Jacob Rizy, Andrew Rupchich, and JonDarius Morgan.
Lomu is the name that jumps out. After Drake Maye was sacked a NFL-high 21 times during last season’s playoff run, the Patriots traded up with the Buffalo Bills to take the Utah tackle at No. 28 overall in April’s draft.
Even with that investment, he enters camp as at best the third option at tackle. The path to a starting job is not immediate, but the expectation is that he’ll use the months ahead to get ready for one down the line.
The slot receiver battle may be the most compelling competition on the roster. DeMario Douglas handled the role in 2025, lining up there on roughly 71.1 percent of his snaps.
He still appears to be the favorite, but Efton Chism, III is pushing hard for a bigger opportunity. Chism brings the kind of traits that can change a receiver room fast: quick direction changes, sure hands, and strength at the catch point.
Douglas has the lead for now, but this is not a spot to take for granted.
Elsewhere at receiver, Kayshon Boutte remains a player whose future in Foxborough will keep drawing attention. On the depth chart, A.J.
Brown leads one group, Romeo Doubs is listed in the slot group, and Boutte sits atop another. Behind them are names like Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, Jeremiah Webb, Jimmy Kibble, Efton Chism, Cameron Dorner, Kyle Dixon, and Nick DeGennaro.
The Patriots also have a real competition brewing for the third running back job. Stevenson and Henderson look secure, but seventh-round rookie Jam Miller is the early favorite for the No. 3 spot.
That said, nothing is settled. Terrell Jennings and Lan Larison are both positioned to make Miller earn it.
Linebacker is another area where the depth chart leaves room for movement. Robert Spillane remains the starter on the left inside spot, but the Patriots are still sorting out the rest.
K.J. Britt was brought in this offseason for veteran help, and there’s a sense the team may keep looking for more experience during camp and the preseason.
Dre’Mont Jones is set for strongside duties, while Christian Elliss is listed on the right inside side. Behind them are Bradyn Swinson, Chad Muma, Jesse Luketa, Amari Gainer, Namdi Obizaor, and Otis Reese.
On the back end, the Patriots have clear starters but not much room for comfort. Christian Gonzalez is listed at right boundary corner, Carlton Davis at left boundary, and Marcus Jones in the slot.
Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson are the safeties. But even here, the depth chart shows players trying to force their way into the conversation: Karon Prunty, Marcellas Dial, Channing Canada, Kindle Vildor, Kobee Minor, Brandon Crossley, Charles Woods, Kenneth Harris, John Saunders, Jr, Brenden Schooler, Mike Brown, Dell Pettus, and Peter Manuma.
The Patriots’ roster has enough established talent to make the top of the chart look solid. Training camp will be about the margins - the tackle depth, the slot receiver fight, the third running back race, and whether the linebacker group can settle itself without outside help.
In Other News...
Patriots Bring Back Familiar DT As Camp Battle Suddenly Gets Real
With training camp about to open, the Patriots used an available roster spot to bring back a familiar name on the defensive line. New England signed defensive tackle Isaiah Iton to a one-year contract after parting ways with Travis Shaw, giving itself another body in a position group that is about to get a lot more competitive.
Iton already has some familiarity with the Patriots after spending time with the team in preseason action last summer, and he now gets another chance to make his case for a job. For a club trying to sort out the back end of the defensive tackle rotation, the move adds an experienced camp option right as the real roster battles begin. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Camp Could Finally Expose A Surprise Answer At RB3
The Patriots backfield battle is starting to sharpen in training camp, and the third running back job is one of the more interesting spots to watch. Terrell Jennings is in the mix with rookie Jam Miller and returning Lan Larison, giving New England a three-way competition for a role that could come down to more than just carries in practice.
Jennings does not have much NFL experience, but he has given himself a path with what he can offer away from the ball. His special-teams work has stood out, and his blocking and possible return work could matter as the roster gets trimmed and the staff looks for players who can help in multiple ways. He also found the end zone during the 2025 season, and the next stretch of practices may go a long way toward showing whether he can turn that into a real spot on the team. [Read more 🡒]