The New England Patriots are staring down some seriously unsettling decisions as they gear up for roster cutdowns on August 30. After six weeks of training camp and two preseason matchups against the Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles, it’s clear a glaring lack of depth across multiple positions is pushing the team brass to the edge.
The QB Room: Maye, DeVito, and the Rookie Wildcard
You gotta hand it to them, the Patriots are probably feeling pretty good about their top two signal-callers, Drake Maye and Tommy DeVito, heading into the final stretch. Even if DeVito’s decisiveness could’ve been sharper in preseason, his overall productive summer has likely locked him in as Maye’s backup for 2026. But here’s where it gets interesting: seventh-round rookie Behren Morton isn’t just a camp body. This kid might have solidified his spot as the emergency third option, especially after his performance against Philadelphia. Morton made smart decisions, threw with accuracy, piled up 129 yards, and completed 13 of 17 passes, even delivering a game-winning deep touchdown strike to Nick DeGennaro. Seriously, risking the Texas Tech product on waivers just to keep an extra guy elsewhere? That feels like a bad bet.
Running Back Roulette and the Fullback Surprise
Things get a lot murkier in the backfield. After last year’s third running back, Terrell Jennings, got waived following a season-ending IR stint, New England brought in some veterans: Hassan Haskins and a familiar face, JaMycal Hasty. Haskins, who was drafted by Vrabel in Tennessee back in 2022, is leaning on that experience to edge out the competition for the third spot. But don’t sleep on Lan Larison. Coach Vrabel called his Saturday performance “good, gritty and tough,” and that kind of effort absolutely pushes for a job. Seventh-round rookie Jam Miller also caught Vrabel’s eye with his physical playstyle against Indianapolis, making him a prime practice squad candidate. Meanwhile, Reggie Gilliam is absolutely locked in at fullback after signing a multi-year deal that makes him the fourth-highest-paid fullback in the entire NFL by average annual value. This 29-year-old was pivotal in Buffalo becoming the top rushing offense in 2025, so New England is clearly hoping he brings that same magic.
Wideout Depth and Looming Cutdowns
The wide receiver room is set to feature A.J. Brown, Romeo Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Efton Chism III. But beyond that, there’s not much clarity, and it highlights that overall depth concern the Patriots are grappling with. As the August 30 cutdown date looms large, these “unsettling decisions” are only going to get tougher. You know the front office is going to be scrambling to piece together a 53-man roster that can actually compete.
It’s going to be a nail-biter right up to August 30 for the Patriots and their fans. With so many positions lacking clear depth, every cut will feel like a gamble. These decisions aren’t just about making numbers work; they’re about building a team for the season ahead. While we’re all watching the rest of the league, our own Seahawks just wrapped up a tough game, falling to the Tennessee Titans 19-16. You can bet Coach Macdonald and the squad are back in the film room, already looking ahead.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pats Pulpit.
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