New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots continued to shape the 2025 roster on Sunday by cutting ties with guard Layden Robinson. And that move hints at a bigger problem for head coach Mike Vrabel and executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf: the new brain-trust inherited a bare cupboard.
“In what could be the start of a stretch where the Pats dismiss almost all of their draft class from a year ago, they waived/injured 2024 fourth-round pick Layden Robinson,” The Athletic’s Chad Graff posted Sunday on X.
“One NFL front office source who has watched the Patriots this preseason described his view of them this way: Improving, playing hard, but thin in multiple spots beyond their starting lineup because of shaky drafts in recent years that have contributed to a roster that will require more than one year to replenish,” ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote Sunday.
“When the Patriots ultimately make their final roster decisions to get to 53 players, there’s a growing possibility that quarterback Drake Maye will be the lone selection remaining from the 2024 draft,” Reiss added.
“Guard Layden Robinson (fourth round) was with the third unit for most of the preseason, and guard/tackle Caedan Wallace (third round) and receiver Javon Baker (fourth round) didn’t build decisive momentum in recent weeks while hanging on the roster bubble.
“Meanwhile, receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (second round) is expected to land on injured reserve due to shoulder surgery, while cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. (sixth round) was already on IR after tearing his ACL,” Reiss added. “Quarterback Joe Milton III (sixth round) was traded in April and tight end Jaheim Bell (seventh round) was waived Friday.
“This is one reason depth on the roster isn’t ideal. A team having its draft class almost entirely wiped out after one year is almost unheard of,” Reiss concluded.
The Patriots have until 4 p.m. ET Tuesday to reach the league-mandated 53-man roster.
