The New England Patriots enter the first full-pads practices of training camp with an active roster of 75.
That number is subject to change. But eight draft rounds will continue to comprise it by the time the calendar turns to September.
Here’s the list of players climbing the stairs to the Gillette Stadium backfields by their NFL arrival times, ranging from a former Carolina Panthers No. 1 overall pick to a homegrown rookie free agent now in his third tour with New England.
FIRST ROUND: 6
- Stephon Gilmore – Bills, 2012
- N’Keal Harry
- Devin McCourty
- Sony Michel
- Cam Newton – Panthers, 2011
- Isaiah Wynn
A 2015 NFL MVP and a 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year can be found in the first-round tier for the Patriots. As can a member the franchise’s All-Decade team in safety Devin McCourty and three players who remain on their rookie deals. But veteran linebacker Dont’a Hightower, taken No. 25 overall in 2012, would be among eight New England opt-outs.
SECOND ROUND: 3
- Kyle Dugger
- Josh Uche
- Joejuan Williams
Each second-rounder on New England’s active roster had their draft card filled out over the last two springs. A notable omission is opt-out safety Patrick Chung, who went No. 34 overall out of Oregon in 2009.
THIRD ROUND: 11
- Devin Asiasi
- Terrence Brooks – Ravens, 2014
- Yodny Cajuste
- Shilique Calhoun – Raiders, 2016
- Damien Harris
- Anfernee Jennings
- Dalton Keene
- Derek Rivers
- Mohamed Sanu – Bengals, 2012
- Joe Thuney
- Chase Winovich
The third round stands as the densest before undrafted free agency for New England. The war room has drafted six prospects in that range since 2019, with tight ends Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene as well as outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings hearing their names called this April.
FOURTH ROUND: 7
- Hjalte Froholdt
- Shaq Mason
- Lamar Miller – Dolphins, 2012
- John Simon – Ravens, 2013
- Jarrett Stidham
- James White
- Deatrich Wise
A two-time 1,000-yard rusher became the latest addition to New England’s fourth-round assortment last week, and Lamar Miller is in the backfield company of team captain James White.
FIFTH ROUND: 8
- Jake Bailey
- Ja’Whaun Bentley
- Joe Cardona
- Byron Cowart
- Jermaine Eluemunor – Ravens, 2017
- Michael Jackson – Cowboys, 2019
- Justin Rohrwasser
- Matthew Slater
All-Pro Matthew Slater’s tenure is the longest of any player in New England’s locker room. Among the shortest is cornerback Michael Jackson, a 2019 Dallas Cowboys draft choice who was acquired from the Detroit Lions in exchange for a future conditional pick this August.
SIXTH ROUND: 7
- Justin Bethel – Cardinals, 2012
- Rex Burkhead – Bengals, 2013
- Justin Herron
- Darius Kilgo – Broncos, 2015
- Cassh Maluia
- Jason McCourty – Titans, 2009
- Michael Onwenu
The Patriots remained on the clock to select Michigan guard Michael Onwenu, Wyoming linebacker Cassh Maluia and Wake Forest offensive tackle Justin Herron in the sixth round of the 2020 draft.
SEVENTH ROUND: 5
- Beau Allen – Eagles, 2014
- Korey Cunningham – Cardinals, 2018
- Julian Edelman
- Lawrence Guy – Packers, 2011
- Ryan Izzo
Center Dustin Woodard, a 52-game starter for the Memphis Tigers who went No. 230 overall this spring, was placed on the retired list last Thursday. That transaction left the Patriots with a handful from the seventh round.
UNDRAFTED: 28
- David Andrews
- Rashod Berry
- Tashawn Bower – Vikings, 2017
- Myles Bryant
- Jake Burt
- Adam Butler
- Damiere Byrd – Panthers, 2015
- Brandon Copeland – Ravens, 2013
- Cody Davis – Rams, 2013
- Tyler Gauthier
- Terez Hall
- De’Jon Harris
- Will Hastings
- Brian Hoyer
- J.C. Jackson
- Jakob Johnson
- Jonathan Jones
- Brian Lewerke
- Jakobi Meyers
- Bill Murray
- Gunner Olszewski
- Adrian Phillips – Chargers, 2014
- D’Angelo Ross
- Devin Ross – Titans, 2018
- J.J. Taylor
- Jeff Thomas
- Nick Thurman – Texans, 2018
- Isaiah Zuber
From quarterbacks Brian Hoyer and Brian Lewerke to cornerbacks Jonathan Jones and J.C. Jackson, a total of 28 undrafted players from past and present find themselves in the active fold for the Patriots. Core special-teamer Brandon King, who has been moved to the reserve-PUP list while working back from a torn quad, does not count among them.
But from the first round up through rookie tryouts, 52 of New England’s current 75 signed their initial NFL contracts with the organization.