Pre-Training Camp 2025 New England Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

Now that we're on the road to Training Camp in Foxborough, it feels as good as any time to get a potential forecast of what the 2025 New England Patriots roster could look like at the end of August.

New England Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

*- Bold Italizied Name = Rookie 53-Man Roster Member

Offense

QBs (2): Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs

Outside Looking In: Ben Wooldridge

There's not much to say here. I can't imagine the Patriots using a 53-man spot on Wooldridge when they can use the "emergency QB" loophole with him on the practice squad unless they feel like he'll get poached, and I doubt that'll be the case.

RBs (5): Rhamondre Stevenson, TreVeyon Henderson, Antonio Gibson, Len Lairson, Brock Lampe (FB)

Outside Looking In: Terrell Jennings, Trayveon Williams

The return of Josh McDaniels also means the return of the fullback, meaning Brock Lampe feels relatively close to a lock to make this roster as long as he fulfills his side of the bargain. PFF might not be everyone's cup of tea, but they had Lampe down last year as the best non-OL blocker in the country at Northern Illinois, and he could certainly be a spot-tight end option as well, despite his lack of size relative to a guy like Hunter Henry.

While I'd lean with the five names you see on this roster, if the Patriots opt to only go with three pure running backs and then Lampe, I think Antonio Gibson could be the odd man out. He looked great in spots last year, but when Rhamondre Stevenson was missing OTAs due to a family matter, it was Len Lairson getting most of those first-team reps, not Gibson. It's just something to think about.

OTs (4): Will Campbell, Morgan Moses, Caedan Wallace, Marcus Bryant

Outside Looking In: Vederian Lowe, Demontrey Jacobs

Again, there shouldn't be any surprises here. Vederian Lowe feels like a guy on the outs with Will Campbell here, and they have a pair of younger swing tackle options in Caedan Wallace and rookie Marcus Bryant out of Missouri (by way of SMU).

IOL (5): Michael Onwenu, Cole Strange, Garrett Bradbury, Jared Wilson, Layden Robinson

Outside Looking In: Sidy Sow, Ben Brown, Jack Conley, Tyrese Robinson, Mehki Butler

A lot of bodies in the interior trenches, and as you see, I have a couple of notable contributors missing the cut in Sidy Sow, and then Ben Brown, who did as well as you could've hoped last year once David Andrews went down, on very short notice, no less.

The wrinkle as we wait for camp would be the health of rookie center Jared Wilson, who had been speculated to be a legitimate option to start at left guard this year. He missed practically all of OTAs/Minicamp with an undisclosed injury, so if that were to lead into a PUP/IR stint to kick off the year, I imagine you'd see Brown get the call-up. However, Jack Conley could be an interesting guy to keep an eye on this camp. He can play everywhere but center, and it sounds like the Patriots have been very liberal about his usage so far in the off-season program. Big guy, too, standing at 6'7" and 333 lbs.

WRs (7): Stefon Diggs, Pop Douglas, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, Ja’Lynn Polk, Efton Chism, Kendrick Bourne

Outside Looking In: Javon Baker, Kayshon Boutte, DeMeer Blankumsee, John Jiles, Jeremiah Webb

I ended up touching on the Patriots' upcoming dilemma at wideout, and this is the same seven as I outlined there. The feeling is that Bourne could end up not making this roster, but I believe that his 2021 season under McDaniels could grant him some grace here as opposed to someone like Kayshon Boutte, who was a better target for Drake Maye last year. The flip side of that argument is that the Patriots could take a bit north of six million dollars off the books by cutting Bourne with dead cap hits of around 1.3 million these next two years. It would be more cost-effective to cut bait there and stick with Boutte, but for now, I'm leaning toward that first outcome. There's also the possibility that Diggs starts the year on PUP/IR, which could muddy the waters a bit.

TEs (2): Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper

Outside Looking In: Jaheim Bell, Gee Scott, Jack Westover, C.J. Dippre

You can also include Brock Lampe in this group to a certain extent, but I wouldn't expect any surprises at tight end. Jaheim Bell should be a priority practice squad signee; with that said. He was willing to do anything this team asked last year and could conceivably be an emergency replacement for Lampe in any event.

Special Teams

Specialist (3): Andy Borregales, Julian Ashby, Bryce Baringer

Outside Looking In: John Parker-Romo

If there isn't someone out there who has readily available "Auroa Borregales" merchandise by Week 1, then Boston has lost its edge as a sports city. No surprises here otherwise.

Defense

IDL (5): Milton Williams, Christian Barmore, Joshua Farmer, Jeremiah Pharms, Khyiris Tonga

Outside Looking In: Jahvaree Ritzie, Isaiah Iton, Wilfried Pene, Jaquelin Roy

Lots of reasons to be excited about this group, but if the Patriots can get Joshua Farmer to be an instant impact guy in a spot role, this could be one of the scarier interior fronts in the league with Williams and Barmore upfront.

EDGE (4): Keion White, Harold Landry, Anfernee Jennings, Bradyn Swinson

Outside Looking In: K'Lavon Chaisson, Truman Jones, Elijah Ponder 

I've seen one or two other 53-man projections that had Jennings not making the cut, and while I know K'Lavon Chisson has been a notable performer in these offseason practices, unless he's legitimately undeniable, I can't see him pushing out arguably the best run-defending edges in the sport. Jennings and Landry on run-downs would be horrifying, especially with who they have playing on their inside shoulder.

LBs (4): Robert Spillane, Jack Gibbens, Marte Mapu, Monty Rice

Outside Looking In: Christian Elliss, Cam Riley

PUP/IR: Jahlani Tavai

Just a gut feeling here: I wouldn't be shocked if the Patriots played it super safe with Jahlani Tavai and put him on the PUP list to start 2025. That would open up the door wide for Marte Mapu, who's officially a linebacker at long last per Mike Vrabel, and should get a ton of quality reps in camp, as well as Monty Rice, Christian Elliss, and Cam Riley for that last spot. I'd lean toward Rice, given his experience with Vrabel back in Tennessee.

SAFs (5): Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers, Craig Woodson, Brendan Schooler, Dell Pettus

Outside Looking In: Marcus Epps, Jaylin Hawkins, Josh Minkins

A mix of the Tavai injury situation and the "Mapu position switch" should be the catalyst that gets second-year safety Dell Pettus on this roster. I know some people are intrigued by new safety, Marcus Epps, but Pettus was legitimately good for this team a year ago as a defender and special-teams contributor. Outside of that, the four others should be considered locks.

CBs (6): Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis, Marcus Jones, Alex Austin, Isaiah Bolden, Marcellas Dial

Outside Looking In: DJ James, Jordan Polk, Brandon Crossley, Kobee Minor, Miles Battle

Not expecting any surprises at cornerback. Patriots fans should feel really, REALLY good about the top five names here.

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