As the New England Patriots prepare for their preseason finale in Cleveland and an August 30 roster cutdown deadline, head coach Mike Vrabel has highlighted a lack of overall depth. The situation forces difficult decisions across several positions heading into the 2026 NFL regular season.
New England Patriots Roster Projection and Training Camp
Entering the final week of training camp and the preseason, the New England Patriots face pivotal choices regarding the construction of their initial 53-man roster. Following joint practices and a 24-21 preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles, team leadership must trim the roster down to 53 players by 6:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, Aug. 30. While core starters are set, depth concerns have complicated decisions at the back end of the squad. With the New England Patriots resting most of their starters this preseason, we’ve gotten an extended look at the players on the roster bubble. Coach Mike Vrabel said Saturday night after his team’s 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles that he doesn’t feel this roster is very deep, so he doesn’t want to risk starters getting injured.
Quarterback Room and the Emergence of Behren Morton
Behren Morton and Tommy DeVito Behind Drake Maye
The quarterback position features a clear hierarchy at the top, anchored by Drake Maye. Behind him, Tommy DeVito has secured his role as the primary backup following a productive summer, and his decisiveness in the preseason leaves head coach Mike Vrabel and Co. comfortable with him as Drake Maye’s backup in 2026. However, the most compelling storyline at the position involves seventh-round rookie Behren Morton. Morton impressed during the matchup against Philadelphia by throwing for 129 yards, completing 13 of 17 passing attempts, and delivering a game-winning deep touchdown pass to Nick DeGennaro.
While some projections suggest carrying Morton on the active roster to avoid the waiver wire, roster constraints and the need to bolster depth elsewhere could push the rookie toward the practice squad as an emergency third option. Morton made things fun against the Eagles, showcasing his punting ability in addition to playing quarterback in the second half. Morton was also a kicker and punter during his high school days in Texas, so maybe he can convince Vrabel to let him try an extra duty, while his punting abilities could also come in handy if anything were to happen to Bryce Baringer.
Running Back Battles and Special Teams Value
Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles Preseason Games
Entering week six of training camp, the New England Patriots now have two preseason games under their belt against the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles. Throughout that time, we’ve learned a lot about how New England’s final roster may shake up after cutdowns on Aug. 30. But a lack of depth at several positions may leave team brass with some unsettling decisions to make at the back end of the squad. Expect another week with a lot of reps for backups as attention turns to the preseason finale on Thursday night in Cleveland, and the Pats will have only two practices before then. That matchup against the Browns will be a final chance for players to make an impression.
Wide Receiver Depth and Roster Adjustments
Super Bowl LX and Foxboro Roster Cuts
The New England Patriots arrived for summer camp with 45 new faces added to a roster fresh-off an appearance in Super Bowl LX. Among them were free agents signed in March, NFL draft selections in April, undrafted free agent signings, and one prolific receiver acquired in a June 1 trade — each with widely differing projections for the 2026 season; all of whom welcomed the opportunity for competition. With two-plus weeks of intrasquad training camp practices, a joint practice session with the Indianapolis Colts, and preseason game number one behind us, the pieces of New England’s roster puzzle are slowly coming together.
As the fog of war begins to lift and the true image of the Patriots’ 2026 squad is revealed, the competition is in full swing after two weeks of Patriots training camp. After 12 days of camp, the Patriots should have a good idea of where their roster stands. Like every summer, there have been some surprises with a handful of undrafted rookies pushing veterans for roster spots.
Worth a look
