The New England Patriots currently have 88 players under contract for 2024. This allows New England to add two players before getting to the 90-man offseason roster. It also means they’ll be making plenty of roster moves before getting down to the 53-man roster limit before Week 1.
Four months remain until the start of meaningful football games. Changes happening before then are inevitable. New England brought back some key free agents, extended Christian Barmore, and added 18 players through the NFL Draft and undrafted free agents. A look at the 2024 New England Patriots depth chart as it stands today, following the release of Nathan Rourke:
Offense
Rookies moved to the back of the line for the depth charts for all three units. Kawaan Baker will remain ahead of Javon Baker? Unlikely. But for now, these first-year players still need to prove what they can do in the NFL. As training camp gets underway, the depth chart will come into clearer focus.
The quarterback room is likely set at this point. Which order the fall on the depth chart is far from being decided. Zappe and Milton could both be fighting for roster spots. Running back also has two locks (Stevenson, Gibson). The other four backs can earn a roster spot (or practice roster spot at least) with a strong camp.
The wide receiver room features four safe bets to be on the roster: Bourne, Douglas, Polk, and Javon Baker. That leaves seven wide receivers fighting for two possible spots. Reagor could remain on the roster as a return specialist.
La’Michael Pettway was the only Patriots tight end on the roster when the offseason began. New England brought back Hunter Henry, signed Austin Hooper and Mitchell Wilcox, drafted Jaheim Bell, and added Jacob Warren as a UDFA. Now there should be some depth and competition at a position that looked very thin as free agency approached.
The offensive line could be the most interesting group on the entire roster. There are still a lot of concerns despite the team’s moves thus far. Left guard Cole Strange’s health remains both a question and a concern. Caeden Wallace and Layden Robinson were drafted early enough that they are expected to make the team at the least. Several spots might come down to players brought in by the old regime versus the new one.
Defense
There are still some quality edge defenders on the free agent market. If New England adds another free agent at this point, a defensive end would be the most likely add. They chose not to add to this group in the draft. Wise Jr. is not getting younger and White had an inconsistent rookie season. Adding two defensive ends would not have been a surprise via free agency or the draft. However, the only addition to date has been UDFA John Morgan III. The interior defensive line appears much more stable.
The linebacker room appears to be in good shape. They did not add in the draft, but signed UDFA Jontrey Hunter. New England signed Oshane Ximines immediately after the draft as well. Sione Takitaki replaced the departed Mack Wilson Sr. and the rest of the room is returning from 2023.
Kyle Dugger coming back to New England solidifies that unit. They signed free agent Jaylinn Simpson as well. The cornerbacks have a lot of quantity (11) but need to determine how much quality they have aside from Christian Gonzalez. There will be a lot of competition in camp, though adding a free agent to this unit could make sense.
Special Teams
Chad Ryland has some kicker competition now. Veteran Joey Sley recently signed with New England and is expected to battle for the placekicker position. The Patriots hope some competition will bring out the best in whoever wins the job. There are also the new kickoff rules this season, so whoever handles that best could get an upper hand on sticking.
The rest of the special teams unit is in solid shape. Brenden Schooler is the lone core special teams player not listed elsewhere on the depth chart, aside from UDFA Jett Bush. Backup players at other positions will increase their value by becoming core special teams players. Baringer and Cardona are both locked into their spots. New England also has depth at both returner spots.
What’s Next?
New England finished most of their roster-building this offseason. Their rookie minicamp begins on May 10. At this point adding veterans at defensive end and cornerback to fill out the 90-man roster makes a lot of sense. However, especially at cornerback, the Patriots might want to see what they have in younger players before pushing them back further on the depth chart.
The Patriots extending more of their pending 2025 free agents as they did with Christian Barmore, is future roster-building to attend to. Valuable players such as Rhamondre Stevenson, Davon Godchaux, Matthew Judon, Jahlani Tavai, and Jabrill Peppers could all hit free agency after the season if not extended.
The New England Patriots 2024 roster will largely come from the 88 players above. Inevitable injuries will determine some decisions. But post-draft it appears there are roughly 20 spots on the 53-man roster up for grabs. Training camp competition for roster spots will be fierce in Foxboro. Even if New England makes no big additions before the season, things will certainly not be dull.
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