The Patriots went into the 2026 draft and came away with nine rookies, another big infusion of youth for a roster that already leaned heavily on first-year players last season. And if the pattern from a year ago holds, the real value might not come only from the early picks.
New England got impact from all four players it took on the first two days in 2025, but the sneaky wins showed up deeper in the draft. Craig Woodson was labeled a reach by some when the Patriots took him in the fourth round, then went on to become one of the league’s better young defenders and a starting safety. Joshua Farmer logged meaningful snaps before an injury cut his season short, while Andy Borregales and Julian Ashby carved out roles as special teams contributors.
This year’s Day 3 class included six more additions, and one name is already forcing people to pay attention: Jam Miller.
The seventh-round back out of Alabama went 245th overall, and he came into the spring looking like a long shot to stick. One week into training camp, that outlook has started to change.
Miller is off to a strong start after what was a down final season with the Crimson Tide. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry across his first three years at Alabama, then dropped to 3.9 in 2025. His touchdown total fell, too, going from seven the year before to just three.
That dip wasn’t just on him. Alabama didn’t have a single player with at least 20 carries finish above 3.9 yards per attempt, a major swing from the previous season, when four of five players cleared 4.0.
Still, Miller has brought enough to camp to get noticed. Evan Lazar wrote on July 31, 2026: “Jam Miller with a decisive bounce to the outside and he runs it in for six. The #Patriots rookie’s processing has stood out to start camp.”
He brings a solid athletic profile, clocking 4.42s speed, and his compact build gives him a real chance to factor as a kick return option.
The path won’t be easy. Miller is battling Lan Larison and Terrell Jennings for a spot in the mix. Larison entered last offseason with plenty of buzz as a UDFA but never got his chance after a broken foot sent him to IR before the season.
Jennings handled the team’s four-minute back duties last year, mostly in mop-up situations. He scored once, but his season ended after a mid-year concussion landed him on IR. He stepped in after Antonio Gibson and before D’Ernest Johnson, neither of whom remains on the roster.
Miller still has plenty of work ahead of him, and he’ll need a strong next month to keep climbing. But after a week in camp, the idea of him pushing for the RB3 job no longer looks far-fetched.
In Other News...
Will Campbell Just Brought Unexpected Attention To Patriots Camp
Will Campbells first training camp as a fully healthy Patriots left tackle has already drawn more attention than most rookies get in August. After a rough finish to his 2025 season, when a Grade 3 MCL sprain in Week 12 lingered into the postseason and showed up in his pass protection, Campbell is back on the field in 2026 and working through camp with the kind of scrutiny that comes with being a young blindside blocker in New England.
The buzz this time has nothing to do with a block, a practice rep or a depth-chart update. A viral video from camp put Campbell in the spotlight for an entirely different reason, and while it does not change the bigger football picture, it has added an unexpected layer of attention to a player the Patriots are counting on to stabilize one of the most important spots on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Roster Cut Just Put More Pressure On One Position Group
The Patriots created a little more breathing room on the roster by releasing linebacker Otis Reese, who had first arrived via the practice squad last November. The move does not affect the salary cap, but it does open a spot as New England sits at 90 of its 91 available roster places.
Reeses departure also leaves the linebacker room a bit more crowded in terms of attention, with eight players now listed at the position. For a team still shaping the back end of the roster, that kind of number can make every rep and every preseason decision matter a little more. [Read more 🡒]