New England Patriots - NESN.com
Former New England Patriots guard Layden Robinson was waived Sunday, marking another hit to the franchise’s 2024 draft class.
Robinson arrived as a fourth-round pick from Texas A&M and started 11 games last season while filling both guard spots. This summer, however, he slipped out of the rotation.
Michael Onwenu locked down the right side, while rookie Jared Wilson and Ben Brown handled most of the reps on the left. Robinson’s release came with an injury designation, which means he will revert to injured reserve if he goes unclaimed, according to Matt Geagen of CBS Boston. His exit trims New England’s roster to 76 players ahead of Tuesday’s cutdown deadline.
The bigger story is what what these transactions say about the Patriots’ depth and about last year’s rookie group. Eight players were drafted, but only quarterback Drake Maye has secured a spot for the coming season.
Ja’Lynn Polk, a second-round wideout, is bound for injured reserve with a shoulder issue. Fellow receiver Javon Baker has contributed on special teams but sits firmly on the bubble.
Offensive lineman Caedan Wallace has yet to earn a stable role, leaving his standing unclear as well.
Several others have already moved on. Joe Milton was shipped to the Dallas Cowboys in a late-summer trade. Marcellas Dial Jr. landed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL. Tight end Jaheim Bell was released during earlier roster moves.
In fact, every name from the Patriots’ 2024 draft class outside of Drake Maye has been treated as expendable in roster projections, as Sara Marshall of Musket Fire pointed out.
For a team still trying to recover from years of uneven drafting, another class gone quiet underscores the scope of the rebuild under head coach Mike Vrabel.
The 2024 haul is barely a year old but already feels like it never arrived.
