Invoice Belichick’s fingerprints throughout this Patriots Tremendous Bowl 2026 run

Invoice Belichick’s bust gained’t be added to the Corridor of Fame this yr, however his fingerprints are throughout Tremendous Bowl 2026. 

Regardless of the removing of a number of big-name Belichick additions over the course of this season — slicing Kendrick Bourne and Jabrill Peppers, and buying and selling Kyle Dugger and Keion White — the previous czar added 16 of the 53 gamers on the Patriots’ Tremendous Bowl 2026 roster throughout his reign as head coach and basic supervisor (2000-23). 

And, in fact, Belichick’s affect is seen in protégé head coach Mike Vrabel’s rules-mastery sport administration. 

“Invoice’s roster constructing was questioned as folks lined as much as take pictures at him,” Ole Miss head coach of offense Joe Decide, a longtime Belichick assistant, instructed The Submit, “nevertheless it’s clear the combo of high-investment draft picks and free brokers he acquired, together with the mid- and late-round picks now actually construct the depth of the roster. You’ll be able to nonetheless see the imaginative and prescient he had on this yr’s Tremendous Bowl, and Vrabel has completed an outstanding job — to say the least. He’s doing issues the precise means.” 

Let’s take a better look: 

Draft picks (10) 

RB Rhamondre Stevenson (2021 fourth-rounder)

The previous 1,000-yard rusher beneath Belichick is a part of a timeshare with TreVeyon Henderson. Stevenson’s touches are down however he had 948 yards from scrimmage and was the 25-carry workhorse within the AFC Championship sport. 

WR DeMario Douglas (2023 sixth-rounder)

Douglas’ numbers slipped to career-lows of 31 catches for 447 yards however his yards per goal jumped to a career-best 9.7. He provides some modern speeding capacity, too. 

WR Kayshon Boutte (2023 sixth-rounder)

A wholesome scratch for eight straight video games as a rookie, Boutte emerged with a second straight productive season. He was among the many league leaders with 16.7 yards per catch, and he scored six touchdowns. 

OL Mike Onwenu (2020 sixth-rounder)

One of many NFL’s most undervalued blockers, Onwenu performed solely proper guard however has lined up at sort out previously. He allowed two sacks and one different quarterback hit, dwelling as much as his three-year, $57 million extension. 

DT Christian Barmore (2021 second-rounder)

Blood clots sidelined Barmore for many of 2024 and left him with 11 profession begins by means of 4 seasons. Barmore took on a much bigger function beneath Vrabel, although he solely has one profession season with greater than three sacks (eight in 2023). 

OLB Anfernee Jennings (2020 third-rounder)

Re-signed throughout Jerod Mayo’s solely offseason as head coach (2024), Jennings began 30 video games in 2023-24 however was a backup (two sacks) this season to free-agent additions Harold Landry and Okay’Lavon Chaisson. He’s the longest-tenured Patriot by in the future over Onwenu. 

LB Marte Mapu (2023 third-rounder)

A hybrid linebacker-safety, Mapu’s defensive function was diminished to 120 snaps throughout 17 video games however he remained a core special-teamer. 

CB Christian Gonzalez (2023 first-rounder)

Considered one of Belichick’s final shrewd strikes was buying and selling from No. 14 to No. 17 to mess with the Jets’ probabilities to draft an offensive sort out and nonetheless winding up with a Professional Bowler who some scouts thought was the most effective cornerback within the class. His fourth profession interception sealed the AFC Championship sport. 

CB Marcus Jones (2022 third-rounder)

The part-time beginning cornerback (22 profession) is electrical with the ball in his palms. The 2-time All-Professional returner has scored 4 touchdowns (two pick-sixes and two punt returns) this season. 

P Bryce Baringer (2023 sixth-rounder)

He punted almost half as usually this season (51) as in his rookie season — due to a greater offense — however averaged 40.6 web yards with 41.2 p.c of his kicks contained in the 20-yard line. 

“In Stevenson and Onwenu, Invoice was in a position to see their upside however knew funding into their growth would repay huge,” Decide mentioned. “Jennings and Boutte slid down lots of draft boards after excessive grades coming into their last yr of faculty, however he had conviction that they might match and turn into important (items).” 

“Gonzalez and Barmore — regardless of inside debates between them and different gamers within the draft — he made the ultimate choices to know they might be the long run at impression positions for the protection.” 

Trades/Free brokers (6) 

TE Hunter Henry (2021)

Earlier than the Patriots’ $364 million free agent spending spree in 2025 was a jackpot, their $290 million outlay in 2021 was a bust. Solely Henry stays, and he simply had a 10-year profession excessive of 768 receiving yards plus 10 touchdowns as Drake Maye’s safety blanket. 

OT Vederian Lowe (2023)

Acquired from the Vikings simply earlier than training-camp cuts as a result of three different backups had been injured, Lowe was a full-time starter in 2024. He was again in his best-suited function as a backup (4 begins) and further blocker briefly yardage beneath Vrabel. 

LB Christian Elliss (2023)

Contemplate him a parting present.The third-to-last participant added by Belichick performed in 4 late-season video games and re-signed throughout Mayo’s reign. He broke out this season with 94 tackles — together with one which alerted Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart to the advantages of sliding — and a pressured fumble in 15 video games. 

LB Jahlani Tavai (2021)

After back-to-back 100-tackle seasons, Tavai missed 5 video games and didn’t begin 5 others as he adjusted to a brand new system prioritizing pace. He was the crew’s recipient of the Ed Block Braveness Award after overcoming a number of off-field hardships. 

CB Alex Austin (2023)

Signed after he was minimize by the Payments and Texans, Austin has hung out on injured reserve the final two seasons. When wholesome, he has supplied depth (two begins in 2024) on protection and particular groups. 

S Brenden Schooler (2022)

Belichick at all times prided himself on uncovering undrafted gems like Schooler, to the purpose that he had 18 on the 53-man roster for the 2017 season Tremendous Bowl. Schooler leads the Patriots in particular groups snaps during the last 4 seasons and was a 2024 First-Staff All-Professional. 

“Schooler and Jones had been taken for fast particular groups worth,” Decide mentioned, “however you might be seeing their growth carry them into defensive gamers. It’s nice to see the Patriots again within the Tremendous Bowl.”