SEATTLE - Seven months after the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks met in Super Bowl LX, the same matchup is back on the schedule to open the 2026 NFL season Wednesday night. The jerseys look familiar. The roster around them does not.
New England has spent the offseason reshaping the team under Mike Vrabel, and the changes show up all over the depth chart. Some spots look untouched on the surface. Others have been completely remade.
At quarterback, the Patriots are still Drake Maye’s team. Behind him, though, the backup structure has shifted.
Tommy DeVito, who was the emergency third quarterback in the Super Bowl, has moved up to QB2 after Joshua Dobbs was released. The Patriots also drafted Behren Morton, who is set to serve as this year’s emergency option.
The backfield has a new look as well, especially with TreVeyon Henderson dealing with an ankle injury and out tonight. That opens the door for Corey Kiner, who arrived in a trade and is expected to make his debut. New England also brought in fullback Reggie Gilliam in free agency, while D’Ernest Johnson was not re-signed.
Receiver is one of the biggest overhauls on the roster. The Patriots moved on from Stefon Diggs, who was released in March as part of a cost-cutting move, and later traded Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans.
In their place, they added A.J. Brown in a trade and signed Romeo Doubs in free agency.
On paper, that’s a major upgrade for the passing game.
Tight end has also been stocked with youth. Hunter Henry remains at the top of the group, but the Patriots added rookie Eli Raridon, undrafted free agent Tanner Arkin, and Cameron Latu on a waiver claim.
Austin Hooper and Jack Westover, both of whom were on the field in the Super Bowl, are gone, along with C.J. Dippre.
The offensive line may be the most dramatic makeover of all. After giving up six sacks in the Super Bowl, New England made the front a priority.
The Patriots signed Alijah Vera-Tucker to play left guard, moved Jared Wilson to center, and drafted Caleb Lomu and Dametrious Crownover. They also added Greg Van Roten in free agency and Walter Rouse in a trade, while Garrett Bradbury, Vederian Lowe, Thayer Munford Jr. and Caedan Wallace are all out.
Marcus Bryant is on IR after what amounted to a redshirt rookie season.
There was one change on the defensive line, and it came with a notable loss. Khyiris Tonga left in free agency for the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Patriots will try to replace his run-stopping presence with Cory Durden, Joshua Farmer and Leonard Taylor III in 2026.
Edge rusher is another area that looks very different from a year ago. Harold Landry remains on the PUP list, and the Patriots are moving forward without K’Lavon Chaisson, Anfernee Jennings or Bradyn Swinson.
Dre’Mont Jones was added in free agency, while Gabe Jacas and Quintayvious Hutchins arrived through the draft. Eliijah Ponder is the lone holdover from the Super Bowl group.
Inside linebacker has undergone a similar turnover. The Patriots moved on from Jahlani Tavai, Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu and Chad Muma, then leaned into a younger mix by adding Namdi Obiazor in the draft, Darius Muasau on a waiver claim and Erick Hunter in free agency. Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss remain the starters.
At cornerback, the core stays largely intact. Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones and Charles Woods are all back.
New England added rookie Karon Prunty and undrafted free agent Channing Canada, but both could be limited in Week 1. Alex Austin and Kobee Minor are no longer with the team.
Safety is another spot where the Patriots made a clear upgrade. Jaylinn Hawkins had a breakout season in 2025, but New England replaced him with Kevin Byard, the NFL’s interception leader.
Jaylen Reed also came over in the Boutte trade earlier this summer. The Patriots are hoping those two help the secondary create more turnovers after a year in which that area was a priority.
Brenden Schooler is on the NFI list and will not play this week.
Special teams will also look different. Bryce Baringer, who handled punting duties a year ago, is on IR with an undisclosed lower-body injury.
That leaves practice squad punter Mitch Wishnowsky in line to take over, making his NFL debut. He’ll be working with kicker Andy Borregales and long snapper Julian Ashby, both of whom played in their first Super Bowls last February.
In Other News...
Patriots Backfield Just Got More Interesting Behind Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre Stevenson remains the clear lead back as the Patriots head into Week 1, but the depth chart behind him has changed enough to make the position worth watching. Treveyon Henderson is sidelined with an ankle injury, which opens the door for Corey Kiner to take on a bigger early-season role than anyone likely expected when camp opened.
The more pressing question for New England is how much of that workload can be absorbed without making the offense too one-dimensional. Stevenson gives the Patriots a proven anchor, but with Henderson unavailable for the opener, the team may need Kiner to help stabilize the backfield while the staff waits to see how quickly the rookie can get back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Vrabel Story Just Took Another Turn Patriots Fans Will Notice
The Athletics recent investigation into Dianna Russinis relationship with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has now led to a notable shift in her career path, with Russini resigning from the outlet after the review wrapped. The work itself reportedly did not uncover clear bias, but the relationship still crossed the publications standards, turning what had been a behind-the-scenes issue into a very public one for a figure familiar to NFL readers.
Russini is expected to make her way back into sports media, and there is a decent chance she will eventually speak on the situation once she lands her next job. For Patriots fans, the story is another reminder of how closely Vrabels orbit is being watched, especially when it comes to the media landscape around a coach whose every move tends to draw attention. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles May Have Created A Bigger Problem With A.J. Brown Move
The Eagles decision to move A.J. Brown to New England after the 2025 season has already drawn plenty of second-guessing around the league, and for good reason. The trade came after reported tension between Brown and Jalen Hurts, but from the outside it looks like Philadelphia may have solved one problem by creating another, especially with the passing game suddenly needing a new identity heading into 2026.
For the Patriots, the deal is a major swing for a proven receiver who can change the shape of an offense. For Philadelphia, though, the challenge now is replacing Browns production and presence with a group that will lean on Makai Lemon and Dontayvion Wicks to take on much larger roles. If the offense clicks, the move can be framed as a necessary reset, but if it sputters, the Eagles will spend a long time answering whether they addressed the real issue at all. [Read more 🡒]