The Patriots’ weekend roster churn told a pretty clear story: this was less about splashy surprises and more about getting the team trimmed down, sorted out and ready for the season opener.
New England entered Thursday’s preseason finale still 38 players over the NFL’s 53-man limit, and by Sunday the roster picture had sharpened considerably. Some of the biggest takeaways came from who stayed, who didn’t, and which names still have a path back.
The rookie class came through the cutdown mostly intact. Of the nine players the Patriots drafted this year, the three who were always in the safest spot - OT Caleb Lomu, ED Gabe Jacas and TE Eli Raridon - all made the initial 53.
The rest of the class held up well too. The only draftee who was cut was seventh-round running back Jam Miller, who was released with an injury designation and could still return if he clears waivers.
The undrafted group also did well, with Tanner Arkin, Khalil Jacobs and Channing Canada all making the roster.
That stands in contrast to last year, when two of New England’s 11 draft picks - Day 3 selections Bradyn Swinson and Kobee Minor - did not make the initial 53.
But not every early-camp rise carried through to the finish line. Bradyn Swinson, Chad Muma, Kindle Vildor and Mike Brown all flashed at different points during the summer, yet none of them finished strong enough to lock down a spot. Swinson never pushed beyond reserve status, Muma struggled in the preseason, Vildor was uneven throughout camp, and Brown never made the kind of late move the Patriots were hoping to see.
There’s also a leadership wrinkle here. Two captains from last season won’t be on the active roster when the year opens.
Outside linebacker Harold Landry will start on the physically unable to perform list, while special teams safety Brenden Schooler is headed to the non-football injury/illness list. Both players had already been placed on those lists to open camp, and both will stay there for at least the first four weeks of the regular season.
That leaves New England without two voices it leaned on a year ago, both on the field and in the locker room. Jeremy Springer addressed Schooler’s absence last week and said, “You can’t replace an All-Pro type of guy, so it’s always a loss from that leadership on the field,” Springer said.
“But he’s always around, he’s around helping us out, and when we get him back, we get him back. But until then, as long as he continues to progress and help our young guys out, that’s what I’m looking for.”
Still, plenty of the players who were moved on Sunday should be back in the building before long. Counting Landry, Schooler and backup offensive tackle Marcus Bryant - who will begin the season on injured reserve with a return designation - the Patriots cut 21 players on Sunday. A good chunk of that group looks like practice squad material.
Among the strongest return candidates are running back Lan Larison, linebacker Chad Muma, safety John Saunders Jr. and punter Matt Haack. Larison, Muma and Saunders Jr. all have to clear waivers first, but the expectation is that most, if not all, of those names could circle back to New England.
Waivers will matter for a lot of the roster this week. Of the 37 players the Patriots cut across Saturday and Sunday, all but six - RB Hassan Haskins, RB JaMycal Hasty, OL James Hudson III, ED Jesse Luketa, CB Kindle Vildor and P Matt Haack - are subject to waivers.
That gives other teams a chance to claim them in waiver order, adding whichever players they can fit onto their 53-man rosters. Even so, most of the players New England waived are still expected to clear and become available for the Patriots again.
The weekend work also had a cap impact. According to cap expert Miguel Benzan, the Patriots lost a total of $7.395 million through Sunday’s moves alone.
That said, New England is still sitting on $24.2 million in cap space for now, while accounting for 62 contracts: the 53 players on the active roster, plus the salaries of seven players on injured reserve and Harold Landry and Brenden Schooler on the PUP and NFI lists, respectively.
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