Tag: Patriots 53-man roster

Comparing Patriots’ initial 53-man roster to 2023, position by position

How does the Patriots’ initial 53-man roster compare to the 2023 roster?

It wasn’t a complete rebuild for the New England Patriots, but in the first year without former coach and de facto general manager Bill Belichick, they made some significant roster changes.

Most of those changes came on the offensive side of the ball with newly-hired head coach Jerod Mayo and lead personnel executive Eliot Wolf aiming to clean up the mess from last season. The Patriots had one of the worst offenses in the NFL in 2023.

If they don’t improve this season, they’re sure to fall off the same 4-13 cliff they did under Belichick. Let’s take a look at last year’s roster next to the 2024 roster for the Patriots and see how they compare.

Quarterback

2023 2024
Mac Jones Jacoby Brissett
Drake Maye
Joe Milton III

The quarterback position was a barren wasteland behind Mac Jones in the initial 53-man roster in 2023. Granted, the team did end up signing Bailey Zappe to the practice squad before promoting him to the main roster.

But things are obviously in a much better place in 2024 with Jacoby Brissett serving in the veteran role, while the Patriots develop two intriguing rookies in Drake Maye and Joe Milton III.

Running Back

2023 2024
Rhamondre Stevenson Rhamondre Stevenson
Ezekiel Elliott Antonio Gibson
JaMycal Hasty

Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott would have made a formidable one-two punch at running back if Stevenson could have stayed healthy. Elliott being one-and-done in New England meant the Patriots had to reconstruct their running back position behind Stevenson.

They managed to do so by signing Antonio Gibson and getting veteran JaMycal Hasty more involved as the No. 3 option.

Wide Receiver

2023 2024
DeVante Parker DeMario Douglas
JuJu Smith-Schuster Ja’Lynn Polk
Kendrick Bourne Tyquan Thornton
DeMario Douglas Javon Baker
Kayshon Boutte K.J. Osborn
Tyquan Thornton Jalen Reagor
Kayshon Boutte

The Patriots still have issues at receiver, but they’ve made more of a commitment to younger talent. Last season was an absolute mess with a banged-up JuJu Smith-Schuster and declining DeVante Parker as two of their top receiving options.

They’ve added two promising rookies, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, to go along with the leading receivers from 2023, DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne. The unit still might not be great, but it has improved.

Tight End

2023 2024
Hunter Henry Hunter Henry
Mike Gesicki Austin Hooper
Jaheim Bell

Re-signing Hunter Henry was a big move for the Patriots in the offseason. He’s the team’s top red zone target and a former captain. They’ve replaced Mike Gesicki with another veteran receiving target in Austin Hooper, while also adding some youth to the mix with rookie seventh-round draft pick Jaheim Bell.

Offensive Line

2023 2024
Trent Brown David Andrews
Cole Strange Nick Leverett
David Andrews Michael Jordan (PS)
Mike Onwenu Vederian Lowe
Riley Reiff Chukwuma Okorafor
Jake Andrews Mike Onwenu
Sidy Sow Layden Robinson
Atonio Mafi Sidy Sow
Tyrone Wheatley Jr. Caedan Wallace
Vederian Lowe
Calvin Anderson

The situation along the offensive front in New England is worse than it was last season. Trent Brown is playing for the Cincinnati Bengals, and Cole Strange, Calvin Anderson and Jake Andrews are all out with injuries.

There’s hope that rookies Caedan Wallace and Layden Robinson can contribute right out of the gates. The sad state of the current offensive line is likely a big reason why the Patriots have been hesitant to start rookie Drake Maye at quarterback.

Defensive Line

2023 2024
Christian Barmore Davon Godchaux
Davon Godchaux Deatrich Wise Jr.
Lawrence Guy Daniel Ekuale
Sam Roberts Trysten Hill (PS)
Daniel Ekuale Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
Keion White Keion White
Deatrich Wise Jr.

The defensive front took a big hit for the Patriots this season with the loss of Christian Barmore. They also cut Lawrence Guy in the offseason. So this year’s unit will be missing two key veteran playmakers.

There’s hope that Barmore will return at some point, and the team is also hoping for breakout seasons from Keion White and Jeremiah Pharms Jr.

Linebacker

2023 2024
Ja’Whaun Bentley Ja’Whaun Bentley
Jahlani Tavai Jahlani Tavai
Marte Mapu Christian Elliss
Mack Wilson Sr. Anfernee Jennings
Matthew Judon Raekwon McMillan
Joshua Uche Joshua Uche
Anfernee Jennings Oshane Ximines

The man with the red sleeves is no longer with the Patriots.

Matthew Judon was sent packing to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round draft pick. The team felt comfortable making the move due to the emergence of players like Anfernee Jennings, Keion White and Oshane Ximines. All three will need to step up to help fill the massive void left by the four-time Pro Bowl pass-rusher, Judon.

Cornerback

2023 2024
Christian Gonzalez Christian Gonzalez
Jack Jones Jonathan Jones
Jonathan Jones Marcus Jones
Marcus Jones Alex Austin
Myles Bryant Marcellas Dial Jr.
Shaun Wade Marco Wilson
Isaiah Bolden (cut)

The defensive backfield should be even better in 2024 with Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones healthy. There’s also more reliable depth with Alex Austin and Marco Wilson. The veteran standout and two-time Super Bowl champion, Jonathan Jones, is still in the mix this season as well.

Safety

2023 2024
Kyle Dugger Kyle Dugger
Adrian Phillips Jabrill Peppers
Jalen Mills Jaylinn Hawkins
Jabrill Peppers Dell Pettus
Brenden Schooler Brenden Schooler

The Patriots essentially swapped out Adrian Phillips and Jalen Mills for Jaylinn Hawkins and Dell Pettus. It’s the youth movement in New England with the team leaning on younger secondary talent behind Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers. Hawkins has experience as a starter, and Pettus could be a diamond in the rough as an undrafted rookie.

Specialists

2023 2024
Chad Ryland Joey Slye
Bryce Baringer Bryce Baringer
Joe Cardona Joe Cardona

The one change here is Joey Slye beating out Chad Ryland for the starting kicking job. Ryland, a 2023 fourth-round draft pick, had a shaky rookie season and was upended by the veteran in a close training camp battle.

Bryce Baringer had a solid first year as the punter, and he should be even better in 2024. Meanwhile, it’ll be business as usual with the Patriots’ long-time long-snapper Joe Cardona.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Patriots’ 54-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 16

Here is the Patriots’ 54-man roster ahead of Sunday’s Christmas Eve game against the Broncos.

The New England Patriots will have to do more roster shuffling with all of the injuries entering Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.

Tight end Hunter Henry has been ruled out for the game, along with safety Jabrill Peppers, running back Rhamondre Stevenson, offensive tackle Conor McDermott and wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

So the Patriots might have to make use of multiple rostered players that rarely see the field. Tight ends Mike Gesicki and Pharaoh Brown are expected to see more snaps on Sunday. Offensive linemen Tyrone Wheatley Jr. and Vederian Lowe could get more work as well.

With the season winding down, this could be a perfect opportunity for a player that isn’t typically given a chance to step up and show their value. Here’s the full 54-man roster for the Patriots in Week 16:

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 15

Patriots’ 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Chiefs.

The New England Patriots have health and momentum on their side in Sunday’s head-to-head showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Their roster has felt like a revolving door on a weekly basis. The names and faces are always changing due to injury or performance issues. However, they’re expected to have rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas, who is a key part of the offense, back on the field against the Chiefs.

DeVante Parker also has a chance to play in the matchup.

So the Patriots could be significantly healthier against the Chiefs. Throw in the fact that they’re coming into the game with some added confidence after upsetting the Pittsburgh Steelers and things could get interesting in Foxborough.

On Saturday, the Patriots elevated running back Kevin Harris to the main roster to add some depth to their running back corps, which is still missing Rhamondre Stevenson.

Here’s the full 54-man roster for the Patriots for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs:

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 14

Here’s the Patriots’ 53-man roster heading into their Week 14 matchup with the Steelers.

An AFC battle with the Pittsburgh Steelers lies ahead for the beaten and battered New England Patriots on Thursday night.

They have already ruled out multiple players for the game, including running back Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie wide receiver Demario Douglas. Bailey Zappe is expected to take the reins at quarterback for a second straight week after getting shut out by the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

The Patriots’ roster heading into the game looks even less impressive than it did a week ago, but they’ll be facing a Steelers team that just got upset by the Arizona Cardinals.

Mitchell Trubisky will be starting at quarterback for the injured Kenny Pickett as well, which creates at least some hope that the Patriots can pull off an upset.

Here’s the full 53-man roster heading into the game:

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 13

Here’s the Patriots’ official 53-man roster heading into Sunday’s game against the Chargers.

A major shift at the quarterback position is the biggest storyline ahead of the New England Patriots’ Week 13 showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers.

On Saturday, the Patriots announced they were elevating backup quarterback Malik Cunningham to the active roster, a day after Bailey Zappe was reported as the expected starter against the Chargers.

It’s a move that creates even more questions, particularly when it relates to Mac Jones, who has been benched in back-to-back weeks. Will he be viewed as the No. 3 option behind Zappe and Cunningham on Sunday?

The Patriots could also look to get Cunningham involved in the receiving game with rookie wide receivers Demario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte both ruled out for the game.

Here’s the official roster for New England against the Chargers:

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 10

Here’s the Patriots’ 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s road trip to Germany against the Colts.

It’ll be “guten morgen” for New England Patriots fans in the United States on Sunday morning, when the team takes on the Indianapolis Colts at Frankfurt Stadium in Germany.

A shockingly disappointing loss to the Washington Commanders, along with potential inner turmoil surrounding the team and coach Bill Belichick’s job status, served as the main talking points for the Patriots this week. There’s no better way of shutting up bad publicity than going out on the football field and performing well.

The Patriots will have an opportunity to do that against a Colts team seemingly handing out yards for free on the ground and through the air. Only the Commanders and Denver Broncos are allowing more points per game than the Colts this season.

New England only managed to come away with 17 points, even against a leaky Commanders defense. So they’ll have to be much better than they were a week ago to come away with a victory in this matchup. Offensive lineman Trent Brown, cornerback J.C. Jackson and wide receiver DeVante Parker have already been ruled out for this game,

Here’s the full Patriots’ 53-man roster ahead of the Week 10 meeting:

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 9

Here’s the Patriots’ 53-man roster heading into Week 9 against the Commanders.

The New England Patriots’ roster has been a revolving door of players coming and going since the start of the season.

Just this week alone, the Patriots put offensive lineman Calvin Anderson on injured reserve and signed rookie cornerback Alex Austin to the main roster. An injury-riddled season has forced the Patriots into constant roster movement.

Coach Bill Belichick is in a position where he’s throwing a bunch of different options at the wall and seeing what sticks, whether it’s at wide receiver, offensive line or in the defensive backfield. Some of the harder hit areas with injuries has forced some experimentation from the Patriots.

However, trying new things is the right thing to do for a team sitting at 2-6 and dead last in the AFC East division. The Patriots will be looking for their third win of the season in Sunday’s home game against the Washington Commanders.

Let’s take a look at the 53-man roster for the Patriots heading into the Week 9 matchup.

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 7

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number heading into Sunday’s game vs. Bills

The New England Patriots will try to upset the odds on Sunday when rolling out the red carpet for a visit from the division rival Buffalo Bills.

Things have clearly changed since Tom Brady was under center for the Patriots. Buffalo used to be the doormat team in the legendary quarterback’s path to all-time greatness. Now, the roles have been reversed with the Patriots serving as the doormat franchise.

The Bills have won the last four straight games in the head-to-head meetings in convincing fashion. It doesn’t help matters that the Patriots’ roster has been ravaged with injuries this season.

On Friday, New England ruled out three players for the game, while also announcing 16 others as questionable to play in their Week 7 injury report. Let’s take a look at the Patriots’ 53-man roster ahead of the game.

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 6

Here’s the Patriots’ full roster heading into Week 6 against the Raiders

The roster is set for the New England Patriots ahead of Sunday’s road clash with the Las Vegas Raiders.

On Saturday, it was reported that the Patriots not only promoted backup quarterback Malik Cunningham to the main roster, but they also signed him to a three-year deal. That news has fans buzzing regarding his potential role with the team in Week 6.

Will he be working in as a receiver, or is the team actually considering him as a possible option at quarterback? Or, will his NFL debut be predominantly on special teams?

There are no shortage of possibilities for a Patriots team desperately searching for answers after a 1-4 start to the season.

Along with promoting Cunningham, the Patriots placed linebacker Matthew Judon and offensive lineman Tyrone Wheatley Jr. on injured reserve, while also elevating wide receiver Jalen Reagor and defensive lineman Jeremiah Pharms Jr. from the practice squad.

Here is the full roster heading into Week 6:

Patriots’ 53-man roster by jersey number ahead of Week 4

A look at the Patriots’ full 53-man roster heading into Sunday’s game

There is optimism that the New England Patriots could turn their season around with a victory on Sunday. If they can beat the Dallas Cowboys, they would be sitting at an even 2-2 after a monumental road win over a legitimate Super Bowl contender.

However, the other side of that coin would be falling to 1-3 with a home game against a tough New Orleans Saints team slated for Week 5.

In many ways, every outing feels like a must-win game for the Patriots, and the upcoming meeting with the Cowboys is no different. On Saturday, New England ruled out guard Cole Strange and cornerback Jonathan Jones, which means other players on the roster will have to step up and fill the void.

It has been mostly a banged-up roster for the Patriots, but they found a way to make it work well enough to get their first win over the New York Jets last week. Can they find a way to make it work this week as well?

Let’s take a look at the full 53-man roster ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cowboys.