The New England Patriots won their first preseason game of the 2025 season against the Washington Commanders last week 48-18. Don’t be taken aback by the score. Washington didn’t play many starters and the ones on the field weren’t there very long.
But the games are essentially for knocking off rust and evaluating the backups. The starters get full run during the joint practices during the week. New England’s top units held their own with Minnesota, a 14 win team last season. After a slow start, Drake Maye and the offensive line got into a groove and made plays down the field.
Against the Commanders last week, both teams’ top units went back and forth during the joint practices during the week (Patriots beat writers opined that the Patriots’ top unit had the upper hand in the practices; Commanders beat writers thought the Commanders’ top units won the week at practice), that is the takeaway that is important.
Just that the Patriots held their own against a pair of 2024 playoff teams is a huge win for Mike Vrabel. While beating up on Washington’s back-ups was fun to watch, and the starters may get some more play on Saturday versus the Vikings, the preseason games really have very little to offer in how the Patriots’ season will play out in 2025.
What will have the biggest impact is the players on the roster. Loading up on defense in free agency and on offense in the NFL Draft, the Patriots have a number of new players pushing out former starters and back-ups and setting the stage for a new look to match the turnover on the coaching staff.
One quick note, those of you readers better at math than me (all of you) will note there are only 15 practice squad spots and I have 18 players slated to be stashed away. I don't expect all 18 to get through waivers at cut-downs and get to the practice squad unclaimed, so I left myself some wiggle room assuming three or four will be snatched up by other teams.
Now, here is version 1.0 of my projection of the Patriots’ 53-man roster:
QUARTERBACKS: (2)
Starter(s): Drake Maye
Back-ups: Joshua Dobbs
Stashed on Practice Squad: Ben Wooldridge
Released: n/a
Analysis: The only question here is if the Patriots will put three quarterbacks on the active roster, which seems unlikely with so many position battles at other spots. Wooldridge has shown enough to be the developmental project running the scout team this fall.
RUNNING BACKS: (4)
Starter(s): Rhamondre Stevenson
Back-ups: TreyVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, Jamycal Hasty
Stashed on Practice Squad: Terrell Jennings
Released: Shane Watts
Analysis: The running back position is light on healthy bodies. I’m putting Stevenson as the starter but TreVeyon Henderson clearly is the shining star of the future as a potential 3-down back. Gibson is the unheralded player who added a spark at numerous times and has been a lead back in the past--in other words, a perfect backup.
I have Hasty over Jennings because of Hasty’s special teams ability. Hasty played almost 30% of the special teams snaps last year. I’d love to see Watts on the practice squad, but there are only so many players to stash.
TIGHT ENDS: (3)
Starter(s):Hunter Henry
Back-ups: Austin Hooper, TBD
Stashed on Practice Squad: Gee Scott
Released: Jack Westover, Jaheim Bell, CJ Dippre, Cole Fotheringham
Analysis: No doubts with the two veterans at the top. I think that unless someone shows up a big in the last two preseason games, the third tight end is going to be someone released in cutdowns with New England scooping in to claim him. Scott is “move” tight end, not a traditional inline blocker with a different skill set and special teams value. He’s the only “stash” value I see at the position,
WIDE RECEIVERS: (6)
Starter(s): Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas
Back-ups: Kyle Williams, Kayshon Boutte, Efron Chism
Stashed on Practice Squad: Javon Baker, John Jiles
Stashed on Injured Reserve: Ja’Lynn Polk
Released: Kendrick Bourne, Jeremiah Webb
Analysis: Easily the toughest group to sort out is the wide receiver room. Diggs, Hollins and Douglas are secure based on contract/play. Boutte has won a spot as top backup outside receiver, and Chism is ahead of Bourne as backup in the slot. Williams is the future at wide receiver and has flashed big play ability.
Bourne has not been the same receiver he was in the past as injuries and age have sapped him of his burst in the slot. Polk, as weird as it seems with a second round pick on the bubble in his second season, has been dinged up and will likely be stashed on injured reserve to get healthy and give the team a chance to bring him along later.
Baker is a tough player to drop, as he’s a superstar at practice and disappears in the games (ala Tyquan Thornton).He should be able to get to the practice squad for future depth. I like Webb a lot, and he had a pair of receptions versus Washington, but Jiles, who has NFL size and length, had a beautiful 22-yard catch on third down over the middle and made a guy miss and needed multiple defenders to bring him down. He’s likely to join Baker on the practice squad,
OFFENSIVE LINE: (8)
Starter(s):Will Campbell, Jared Wilson, Garrett Bradbury, Mike Onwenu, Morgan Moses
Back-ups: Caeden Wallace, Ben Brown, Demontrey Jacobs
Stashed on Practice Squad: Layden Robinson, Tyrese Robinson, Marcus Bryant
Released: Cole Strange, Vederian Lowe, Sidy Sow, Mekhi Butler, Alec Lindstrom, Jack Conley
Analysis: Another tough call. I’d expect to see the Patriots scoop up a couple more young offensive linemen from other squads to stash on the practice squad as I only have the Robinsons worth keeping with an eye on the future. The depth is very concerning outside of the starters.
I think Marcus Bryant has earned a roster spot to pair with Jacobs as the backups at tackle, but there is simply no space on the roster. Bryant comes in as the 54th guy and unfortunately goes to the practice squad for a development year.
Ben Brown is clearly the backup center. Caeden Wallace upped his value to the team being able to fill in at guard and at tackle and should squeeze into that last spot. Remember, Wilson can move to center as well as being the projected starter at left guard and Onwenu can slide to right tackle in a pinch.
Cole Strange needs a fresh start without the absurd expectations that came with being overdrafted. Vederian Lowe and Sidy Sow have been on the outs with the current coaching staff and basically have zero chance of making the team. One of Mekhi Butler, Alec Lindstrom, and Jack Conley may be playing for one practice squad spot, but no one separated themselves in the first preseason game. The pressure is on for these last two games.
The top five are pretty well set. Onwenu is the highest paid player on that line and the only one returning from last season. Don’t be surprised if the Patriots dangle him as trade bait for a mid-round draft pick swap to a team with injuries on the offensive line. Although they still have loads of cap space, he and Dugger have a target on them with their over-inflated salaries eating up $21 million and $15 million respectively..
DEFENSIVE ENDS/EDGE RUSHERS (5)
Starter(s): K’Lavon Chaisson, Harold Landry
Back-ups: Keion White, Bradyn Swinson, Truman Jones
Stashed on Practice Squad: Jereme Robinson, Elijah Ponder
Released: Anfernee Jennings
Analysis: Chaisson has been the surprise of training camp as the former first round draft pick looks like a perfect fit on the edge in Vrabel’s upfield attacking defense. White has been outplayed by him and will join the youngsters as the backups. Landry is a :”Vrabel Guy” who struggled in a new system last year but should bounce back.
Truman Jones is a favorite of Vrabel’s and seems to have a spot locked up. Swinson could be getting snaps on passing downs by the end of the year if his development continues.
Anfernee Jennings is another “Belichick guy” who seems to have no role in this new defense.The cap hit shouldn’t matter with $60 million in cap space still (fortunately, unused space does roll over to the next season), but the team clears another $3 million plus moving on.
Swinson has shown the talent that made him a steal in the fifth round, but likely is in a redshirt season. He’ll be depth and may get some play on special teams. Robinson and Ponder have had a moment or two at camp, and that should be enough to keep them around on the practice squad.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES: (6)
Starter(s): Milton Williams, Khyris Tonga, Christian Barmore
Back-ups: Joshua Farmer, Kyle Peko Jeremiah Pharms
Stashed on Practice Squad: Jahvaree Ritzie
Released: David Olajiga, Isaiah Iton
Analysis: The starters are set and probably one of the most dynamic fronts in the past few decades, Williams and Barmore are game wreckers up front and will create headaches for opposing offenses. Tonga is the run-stuffer in the middle who doesn’t get much press but does the dirty work.
Farmer was a fourth-round pick and looks like a steal as he should start eating into the rotation by next season at the latest. Pharms is solid depth and isn’t flashy but gets the job done. Peko is another veteran who should survive cut-downs and add experienced depth up front.
I would be shocked if Ritzie isn’t stashed on the practice squad. The undrafted free agent has an NFL body and seems like a worthy developmental prospect. Olajiga and Iton have struggled to stand out and bringing in Peko shows the lack of faith that Mike Vrabel has for the back-end of this unit.
LINEBACKERS: (4)
Starter(s): Robert Spillane, Christian Ellis
Back-ups: Jack Gibbens, Cam Riley
Stashed on Practice Squad: Monty Rice, R.J. Moten
Released: Jahlani Tavai, Marte Mapu
Analysis: Let’s be clear, Mike Vrabel doesn’t care one bit about a guy being one of “Bill’s guys”, especially at linebacker. Ja’Whaun Bentley wasn’t brought back and I believe Tavai is joining him outside Foxboro as big, slow linebackers are out of vogue in the current defense.
That said, Christian Ellis has played his way into the hearts of the coaching staff. He is one of the best stories on the defense having come from unappreciated and overlooked into a starter in the NFL. Robert Spillane is the prototype linebacker for this system and should be a fan favorite by October. Gibbens will get plenty of playing time as well rotating into the mix.
Cam Riley is a bit of a sleeper but he gives the defense the rangy, long-armed pass defending linebacker for nickel and dime situations. Marte Mapu, with his experience at safety should be that guy, but Riley has outplayed him consistently throughout camp. Vrabel and his coaches weren’t here in 2023 taking Mapu in the third round, so there is no loyalty to the player.
Rice likely gets another year on the practice squad and Moten, like Riley, is a developmental piece who should stick on the practice squad.
CORNERBACKS: (6)
Starter(s): Carlton Davis, Christian Gonzalez, Marcus Jones
Back-ups: Alex Austin, DJ James, Miles Battle
Stashed on Practice Squad: Jordan Polk, Brandon Crossley, Kobee Minor
Released: Isaiah Bolden
Analysis: Injuries have been the story at cornerback in training camp. Davis and Gonzalez have been handled with care to make sure both are healthy for week one. Davis is a starter on almost any NFL team and Gonzalez has been developing into a potential franchise top cornerback in the league on par with young superstars Derek Stingley, Patrick Surtain and Sauce Gardner. Marcus Jones is again expected to man the slot cornerback position.
The extra practice time with the top unit has been a blessing as both Alex Austin and DJ James have stepped up and looked like solid NFL players. The depth concerns at the position have faded away as these two and six-foot-three Miles Battle have claimed roster spots. Austin (excellent technique), James (quick twitch) and Battle (length and athleticism) are very different cornerbacks, which allows the defense to deploy them geared to matchup specific wide receivers.
The rest of the cornerbacks have been inconsistent but flashed enough to stash for the future. Crossley and Polk have been showing up in the preseason and should lock down practice squad spots. They drafted Minor and he seems like a developmental project to stash on the practice squad. Isaiah Bolden has been bouncing around New England since being picked in the seventh round in 2023 and may have run out of chances. Tre Avery, who was in camp with Vrabel in Tennessee in 2022 was recently signed, but may not have enough time to make an impact.
SAFETIES: (5)
Starter(s): Jabril Peppers, Jaylinn Hawkins
Back-ups: Craig Woodson, Marcus Epps, Kyle Dugger
Stashed on Practice Squad: Dell Pettus
Released: n/a
Analysis: Each day I get closer to the idea that the Patriots just eat Kyle Dugger’s contract ($14 million in dead money this year alone) and move on. He’s currently the fifth safety behind Peppers, Hawkins, Woodson and Epps. Very unlikely, but I wouldn’t put it past Vrabel to send a “no one is safe regardless of their contract” message to the team.
I kept Dugger on the roster but either Hawkins or impressive rookie Craig Woodson should start next to Peppers. Peppers is one of the leaders on defense and brings the energy day in and day out. He blossomed into the player he was expected to be coming out of college in his time in New England.
Hawkins just has been everywhere on the practice field and in the preseason games and just pops as an impact player. This could be a breakout season for the young veteran. Lost in the shuffle is veteran Marcus Epps, who was a starter in the past and adds to the ridiculous depth at the position.
I haven’t even touched on Dell Pettus yet either, another young player who played very well last year when he got his opportunity and just has an incredibly difficult hill to climb to make the roster. I put him on the practice squad, but he may not make it through waivers unclaimed. If Dugger is let go, Pettus should stick on the 53-man roster.
SPECIALISTS: (4)
Starter(s): Bryce Baringer (Punter), Julian Ashby (Long Snapper), Andy Borregales (Kicker), Brenden Schooler (Special Teams only)
Back-ups:n/a
Stashed on Practice Squad: Parker Romo
Released: n/a
Analysis: This is really unfair because neither Borregales or Romo have given any indication they aren’t good enough to kick full time. They’ve both risen up to the competition they’ve been thrust into and thrived. Both are worthy to make the roster and start.
Unfortunately, there’s no room for a second kicker so one has to go. They drafted Borregales so he gets the nod, fair or not. They will hope Romo gets through waivers unclaimed and stash him on the practice squad, but I expect him to be kicking somewhere in the NFL this season.
The rest of the spots are no mystery as Baringer and Ashby didn’t even have serious competition brought in. I put Schooler as a specialist rather than safety as a nod to Matthew Slater, who will no doubt be in the Patriots Hall of Fame one day as one of the greatest non-returner/non-kicker special teams players in NFL history.
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