As the New England Patriots trim their 90-man roster to the NFL-mandated 53-player limit by August 30, 2026, the team has parted ways with twenty players, including cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr., and added running back Corey Kiner through a trade with the Arizona Cardinals.
The New England Patriots are navigating the final hurdles of their roster construction ahead of the 2026 NFL regular season. With preseason evaluations wrapped up, franchises across the league faced a Sunday deadline to reduce their rosters from a maximum of 90 players down to no more than 53 by 6:00 p.m. ET on August 30, 2026. For New England, the weekend triggered dozens of moves, sending hundreds of players across the league to the waiver wire and open market.
Roster Cuts Peak Ahead of Sunday Deadline
The Patriots worked quickly through the final days of August to reshape their depth chart. Among the departures, the team waived cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr., noting that he was the last remaining member of the team’s 2024 draft class outside of quarterback Drake Maye.
Defensive tackle Eric Gregory and offensive lineman Mekhi Butler were also among the early departures. Gregory, standing at 6-foot-3 and 319 pounds, spent the previous season with New England, appearing in six regular-season games and recording eight combined tackles. According to league source reporting from The Boston Globe, Gregory’s departure leaves Leonard Taylor III and 2025 fourth-round selection Joshua Farmer to shore up the interior defensive line depth.
The team’s extensive cut list also included offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt, tight end C.J. Dippre, wide receiver Kyle Dixon, edge defender Xavier Holmes, offensive lineman Jacob Rizy, wide receiver Nick DeGennaro, edge defender Amari Gainer, linebacker Riley Wilson, offensive lineman JonDarius Morgan, wide receiver Cameron Dorner, safety Eric Butler (waived/injured), cornerback Brandon Crossley, offensive tackle Lorenz Metz, safety Peter Manuma, edge defender Jesse Luketa, running back Hassan Haskins, running back JaMycal Hasty, offensive lineman Mehki Butler, and edge defender Bradyn Swinson.
Backfield Shakeup Brings Corey Kiner to Foxboro
While trimming the roster, New England actively utilized future draft capital to secure reinforcements from rival organizations before players hit the waiver wire. Holding the 31st selection in waiver claims following their appearance in Super Bowl LX, the Patriots executed a trade with the Arizona Cardinals to acquire running back Corey Kiner in exchange for a 2028 seventh-round draft pick.
Kiner, a 24-year-old product out of Cincinnati, logged 12 carries for 58 yards last season in Arizona after spending time on practice squads with the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. During his collegiate career split between LSU and Cincinnati, Kiner rushed for 2,882 yards and 16 touchdowns while adding 32 receptions. According to details provided by Kiner’s agents Adie von Gontard and Don Williams, the transaction reshapes the team’s running back room.
The arrival of Kiner directly impacted internal roster battles, coinciding directly with the release of running back Hassan Haskins.
Evaluating the 2024 Draft Class and Future Outlook
The Patriots waived cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr., who was the last member of the 2024 draft class to be cut, not including Drake Maye.
With the initial 53-man roster finalized heading into September, attention turns toward practice squad formations and managing injury reserves for players such as offensive linemen Ben Brown and Marcus Bryant, alongside punter Bryce Baringer.
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