The New England Patriots kicked off the preseason with a head-to-head clash with the Indianapolis Colts.
Both teams met for a joint training camp practice before the exhibition matchup. With the starters getting significant work during the team periods, they were held out of Thursday night's game. Their absence provided the coaching staff with an opportunity to evaluate the current depth on the roster.
One game isn't going to tell the full story, but it is a massive step toward the eventual roster cutdown date. Who stays and who goes for the Patriots?
If the season started today, here's what my 53-man roster would look like:
Quarterback (3)
- Drake Maye
- Tommy DeVito
- Behren Morton
The situation is straightforward at quarterback. Drake Maye is the starter, Tommy DeVito is the backup and Behren Morton is the developmental project.
Running back (3)
- Rhamondre Stevenson
- TreVeyon Henderson
- Jam Miller
With Terrell Jennings on injured reserve, the No. 3 role is going to come down between rookie Jam Miller and second-year running back Lan Larison. Although Larison saw plenty of action in the opener, particularly in the passing game, Miller had 14 carries for 55 yards, in comparison to Larison's seven carries for one yard.
Wide receiver (7)
- A.J. Brown
- Romeo Doubs
- DeMario Douglas
- Kayshon Boutte
- Mack Hollins
- Efton Chism III
- Kyle Williams
Under different circumstances, Patriots rookie Cameron Dorner could make the wide receiver competition interesting on the backend. But as of right now, the Patriots seem pretty locked in on keeping all seven of their top receivers.
Tight end/fullback (4)
- Hunter Henry
- Eli Raridon
- Tanner Arkin
- Reggie Gilliam (FB)
Hunter Henry signed a two-year extension this week, and Eli Raridon is a rookie third-round draft pick. Tanner Arkin fills the blocking needs, and Reggie Gilliam is one of the best fullbacks in the NFL.
Offensive line (9)
- Will Campbell
- Alijah Vera-Tucker
- Jared Wilson
- Mike Onwenu
- Morgan Moses
- Caleb Lomu
- Marcus Bryant
- Ben Brown
- James Hudson
There are some serious interior depth concerns for the Patriots. Both Ben Brown and Andrew Rupcich went down with injuries in Thursday's preseason game. This listing could shake out differently if Brown misses significant time. James Hudson got the final spot on the offensive line due to his ability to swing to both the tackle and guard positions. That kind of versatility really matters when the depth is in question.
Defensive line (5)
- Milton Williams
- Christian Barmore
- Cory Durden
- Joshua Farmer
- Eric Gregory
Milton Williams and Christian Barmore are the top defensive enforcers, with Cory Durden stepping up as a starting nose tackle. The team is hoping to see more growth from 2025 fourth-round draft pick Joshua Farmer as well.
Linebacker (4)
- Robert Spillane
- Christian Elliss
- Chad Muma
- Khalil Jacobs
The progress shown by rookie linebacker Khalil Jacobs in such a short time has been impressive. Chad Muma has seemingly been positioned as the No. 3 option behind Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss at practices. That means rookie Namdi Obiazor could be the odd man out.
EDGE (5)
- Harold Landry III
- Dre'Mont Jones
- Elijah Ponder
- Gabe Jacas
- Bradyn Swinson
Edge rusher is one of the more concerning positions on the roster given the uncertainty surrounding Harold Landry's health. Dre'Mont Jones and Elijah Ponder have been big contributors, and Bradyn Swinson has clearly matured in his second year. Meanwhile, rookie Gabe Jacas is a powerful defender with exceptionally high upside.
Cornerback (6)
- Christian Gonzalez
- Carlton Davis III
- Marcus Jones
- Charles Woods
- Karon Prunty
- Channing Canada
The Patriots have one of the best cornerback trios in all of football with Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis III and Marcus Jones. Charles Woods is a solid veteran option for the No. 4 role. The team has also had impressive contributions from rookies Karon Prunty and Channing Canada.
Safety (4)
- Kevin Byard
- Craig Woodson
- Dell Pettus
- Brenden Schooler
Craig Woodson was already an ascending safety, but then the Patriots added Kevin Byard, a legitimate All-Pro defensive back who led the NFL in interceptions last season. Of course, Brenden Schooler, the all-world special teams player, made the cut.
Every defensive backfield also needs an everyday, lunchpail-toting hammer like Dell Pettus on the roster.
Specialists (3)
- K Andy Borregales
- P Bryce Baringer
- LS Julian Ashby
Kicker Andy Borregales missed three field goals in the preseason opener. He'll have to clean that up if he hopes to earn a spot on the roster. Punter Bryce Baringer was one of the best players in Thursday's exhibition game. His punts consistently pinned the Colts with bad field position.
Long snapper Julian Ashby's roster status will ultimately depend on his health. The team has recently been using Niko Lalos at the position.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Patriots 53-man roster prediction after first preseason game