The Patriots’ preseason is a wrap, and now it’s time to crunch the roster and look forward to the real thing. New England added blue chip talent in the offseason, like wide receiver A.J. Brown, but they also have returning talent who look particularly feisty compared to last year. Here are five players who could make a big jump this year:
DeMario Douglas
Pop has emerged as a consistent WR 3 this summer, and he’s been the perfect complementary piece to the threatening duo of Brown and Romeo Doubs. The undersized slot receiver has shown improved footwork and has been a surprising red zone target for quarterback Drake Maye as of late. Douglas has never passed 621 yards in a season, but he also missed time in his rookie year due to injury.
Douglas is also in a contract year. He got a bit lost in the crowded room of receivers last season, especially when Stefon Diggs lined up in the slot. Brown should also play that role at times, but with Kayshon Boutte traded to Houston, Maye will need a downfield target. Douglas has a lot to play for and always keeps a sunny attitude.
Craig Woodson
Woodson enters his sophomore season with a stellar playoff campaign on his resume: he played 95.5% of snaps, defended six passes, and tallied four tackles for loss during the postseason. He shined brightest against the Houston Texans in the divisional round when he recovered a fumble and picked off C.J. Stroud.
The 2025 fourth-round pick is only going to get better playing next to All-Pro safety Kevin Byard in what may be the league’s best secondary, (depending on the availability and contract status of Christian Gonzalez, of course). If he follows Byard’s lead, he could generate a few more turnovers this year, (Byard led the league in picks last season with seven).
“Taking the ball away showed up more this camp than it did last year,” defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr shared on WEEI’s ‘Jones and Keefe’ this week.
Elijah Ponder
Ponder’s second-year leap may come by necessity for the Patriots, as the edge rusher position appears to be among the weakest and thinnest position groups on the team. The second-year linebacker played in 15 games during the 2025 season, both as a special teamer and edge rusher, and tallied four sacks and two fumble recoveries, (one on defense, one on special teams).
Ponder has gotten a lot of experience outside this summer and had a productive camp.
“The joint practices, he looked like he belongs,” Kuhr said. “Just seeing his development, man, it makes us all happy. He’s going to be a big piece for the defense.”
The Patriots lost K’Lavon Chaisson in free agency, and sacks leader Harold Landry III remains on the Physically Unable to Perform list, so Ponder should get his chances this year.
Lan Larison
Larison isn’t even a lock to make the 53-man roster, but he’s had a late surge this summer and looks well-positioned to round out the running back room led by the two-headed monster of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson.
The mustached speedster would provide New England with some great versatility, and his performance in the second preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles caught head coach Mike Vrabel’s attention.
“Lan certainly had a good performance, a gritty, tough performance tonight, and did some really good things,” he said postgame.
Larison, who the Patriots signed as a rookie free agent in 2025, spent last year on Injured Reserve. If he can stay healthy this year, the Patriots could find some fun ways to incorporate him as both a rusher and receiver.
