Patriots cut first-round bust, retain surprising players to set 53-man roster

The Patriots moved on from a pair of notable offensive linemen. Cole Strange was a reach when Bill Belichick selected him in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and the Chattanooga product struggled through his brief NFL career. The lineman was a full-time starter as a rookie, but injuries and inconsistent play limited him to 10 starts in 2023 and two starts in 2024. The organization also moved on from Demontrey Jacobs, who started 13 games for the Patriots last season. Elsewhere on the OL, it sounds like David Olajiga will land back on New England’s practice squad if he clears waivers, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.

Perhaps the most surprising moves were the cuts the Patriots didn’t make. Kyle Dugger will stick around despite days of trade speculation. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots did receive multiple trade offers for the safety, but his $9.75M salary (and how much the Patriots would be forced to take on) was a hurdle during negotiations. Meanwhile, the Patriots are temporarily holding on to eight wide receivers, with players like Kendrick Bourne and Javon Baker making the squad.