How the Patriots acquired each player on their initial 53-man roster

The New England Patriots entered NFL cutdown day with 76 players on their active roster. A combined 23 transactions later — 21 cuts plus a pair of players sent to injured reserve — their first 53-man roster of the 2025 season was set.

The road to that first roster did not look the same for every player. The longest-tenured among the group — Kyle Dugger, Anfernee Jennings, Mike Onwenu — all arrived as draft picks in 2020 under longtime head coach Bill Belichick. Others, such as quarterback Drake Maye, were added in the short-lived Jerod Mayo era. A significant part of the team — 23 players (43%) — were added under Mike Vrabel just this year.

There are draft picks, free agency pickups, waiver claims, you name it. The Patriots’ first 53-man roster offers a wide variety of individual histories. Let’s dive in.

By player

Quarterback
Drake Maye: Draft pick (2024 1-3)
Joshua Dobbs: Free agency signing (2025)

Running back
Rhamondre Stevenson: Draft pick (2021 4-120)
TreVeyon Henderson: Draft pick (2025 2-38)
Antonio Gibson: Free agency signing (2024)

Wide receiver
Stefon Diggs: Free agency signing (2025)
DeMario Douglas: Draft pick (2023 6-210)
Kayshon Boutte: Draft pick (2023 6-187)
Mack Hollins: Free agency signing (2025)
Kyle Williams: Draft pick (2025 3-69)
Efton Chism III: UDFA signing (2025)
Javon Baker: Draft pick (2024 4-110)
Kendrick Bourne: Free agency signing (2021)

Tight end
Hunter Henry: Free agency signing (2021)
Austin Hooper: Free agency signing (2024)
Jack Westover: Practice squad signing (2024)

Offensive tackle
Will Campbell: Draft pick (2025 1-4)
Morgan Moses: Free agency signing (2025)
Marcus Bryant: Draft pick (2025 7-220)
Vederian Lowe: Trade acquisition (2023)

Interior offensive line
Jared Wilson: Draft pick (2025 3-95)
Garrett Bradbury: Free agency signing (2025)
Mike Onwenu: Draft pick (2020 6-182)
Ben Brown: Practice squad poach (2024)
Caedan Wallace: Draft pick (2024 3-68)

Interior defensive line
Christian Barmore: Draft pick (2021 2-38)
Milton Williams: Free agency signing (2025)
Khyiris Tonga: Free agency signing (2025)
Joshua Farmer: Draft pick (2025 4-137)
Jeremiah Pharms Jr.: UDFA signing (2022)

Defensive edge
Harold Landry III: Free agency signing (2025)
K’Lavon Chaisson: Free agency signing (2025)
Keion White: Draft pick (2023 2-46)
Elijah Ponder: UDFA signing (2025)
Anfernee Jennings: Draft pick (2020 3-87)

Linebacker
Robert Spillane: Free agency signing (2025)
Christian Elliss: Waiver claim (2023)
Jack Gibbens: Free agency signing (2025)
Marte Mapu: Draft pick (2023 3-76)

Cornerback
Christian Gonzalez: Draft pick (2023 1-17)
Carlton Davis III: Free agency signing (2025)
Marcus Jones: Draft pick (2022 3-85)
Alex Austin: Free agency signing (2023)
D.J. James: Practice squad signing (2024)

Safety
Jabrill Peppers: Free agency signing (2022)
Jaylinn Hawkins: Free agency signing (2024)
Craig Woodson: Draft pick (2025 4-106)
Kyle Dugger: Draft pick (2020 2-37)
Brenden Schooler: UDFA signing (2022)
Dell Pettus: UDFA signing (2024)

Specialists
Andy Borregales: Draft pick (2025 6-182)
Bryce Baringer: Draft pick (2023 6-192)
Julian Ashby: Draft pick (2025 7-251)

By acquisition type

Draft picks (24): QB Drake Maye, RB Rhamondre Stevenson, RB TreVeyon Henderson, WR DeMario...