The start of Mike Vrabel’s tenure with the New England Patriots came with the promise of change.
Four months later, the roster looks quite a bit different. They were arguably the most active team in the NFL in free agency, overhauling the defense. They made 11 draft picks. Now they’re on the verge of adding 17 undrafted free agents to provide competition this spring and summer.
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No organization has a track record of keeping undrafted players quite like the Patriots, who have had a UDFA make the initial 53-man roster in 20 of the last 21 years.
To gauge who could follow in those players’ footsteps, let’s rank the likelihood of each UDFA making the team from most to least likely.
The Patriots signed two athletic tight ends after the draft, and the guess here is one of them will make the roster. For now, we’re giving Dippre the edge because he’s a bit bigger and more athletic than Gee Scott. He’s also a good blocker, which the Patriots could use, given that Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper are both good pass catchers, and he played 529 special teams snaps in college. That’s important when discussing undrafted players trying to make the team.
The early (and maybe simple) comp in looking at Larison’s testing numbers is Rex Burkhead. They’re similar sizes, though Larison is a bit faster and a bit less explosive. Larison put up massive numbers at the FCS level (2,387 all-purpose yards in 2024). But since the Patriots have three running backs safely ahead of him and could end up keeping a fullback (see below), Larison will need a strong preseason to make the team. Still, the team clearly sees promise in him, considering they gave him an astounding $175,000 in guaranteed money.
Lan Larison is off to the races 🏃♂️💨 for a 75-yard touchdown run. 48-10 Aggies. 4Q | 14:39. #GoAgs pic.twitter.com/6Xw68KZcjb
— UC Davis Football (@UCDfootball) October 22, 2022
3. Brock Lampe, FB, Northern Illinois
OK, this one is less about the athlete Lampe is (just OK for the position) and more because he’s the only fullback on the projected 90-man roster. Vrabel has a history of using fullbacks, so it won’t be surprising if he keeps one in New England. So far, all signs are pointing to Lampe being that guy. Plus, Lampe contributed on special teams in college.
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Ponder is undersized for an edge rusher, but he’s an incredibly gifted athlete for the position. He posted remarkable testing numbers, including a 41-inch vertical leap, an 11-foot broad jump and a 4.63-second 40. He projects as a speedy edge rusher who could see action in obvious passing situations but is too light to play against the run. Still, the athletic profile offers promise if the Pats can refine his pass-rushing skills.
SIGNED!! ✍️
Elijah Ponder is headed to New England to play for the 6x Super Bowl champs! 🙌 🔥#RideHigh pic.twitter.com/O4lFt7fB2z
— Cal Poly Football (@calpolyfootball) April 27, 2025
Scott was a big-time wide receiver recruit out of high school but switched to tight end after the 2020 season. He’s a bit undersized for an NFL tight end (6-foot-3, 238 pounds) and is more of a pass-catching option, which the Pats don’t need as much from their No. 3 at the position.
He only had one full season as a starter, which might’ve diminished his draft stock, but Ritzie is a great athlete for the position, posting a 35 1/2-inch vertical and running a 5.00-second 40 despite being 294 pounds. That makes him a touch undersized for a defensive tackle, but the athletic profile suggests there’s upside here.
After starting his career at Fresno State, Wooldridge transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette and became a three-year starter. His completion percentage shot up last season from 57 percent in 2022 to 66 percent. For now, he’s one of only three quarterbacks on the roster, which ups his chances of making the team.
The 5-foot-10 cornerback ran a 4.44-second 40, but the rest of his athletic profile isn’t great, as he lacks agility, explosiveness and strength. Still, the Patriots could use a cornerback to step up behind Marcus Jones, so Crossley has a shot.
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9. Jack Conley, OL, Boston College
The Patriots’ group of guards is already a bit crowded, which hurts Conley’s chances. But he’s a tough lineman (60 games played at BC across multiple positions) with good size (6-foot-7, 330 pounds), and those kinds of players tend to find their way at least onto the practice squad.
10. Cam Riley, LB, Florida State
Riley transferred to FSU after four years at Auburn and finished with the fourth-most tackles on the team last season. He’s a bit light for a linebacker (228 pounds), so if he’s going to make the team, it’s likely going to come from carving out a role on special teams.
His highlight reel is fun to watch because he made tacklers miss with ease. But that won’t be as easy in the NFL as it was in the FCS, and Chism’s 4.71-second 40 won’t help. He’ll need to impress offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as a shifty slot receiver, though he’s more likely to be headed to the practice squad in case Demario Douglas gets injured.
.@EWUFootball WR Efton Chism had a strong pro Day in the drills that matter/highlight what he’ll do in the NFL.
Outstanding short shuttle (4.06) and three cone (6.77).
Here’s him as compared to Trent Taylor (5th round pick), Jeremy Kerley (5th round), and Cooper Kupp (for fun)… pic.twitter.com/q8kaq7DnqD
— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) March 21, 2025
It’s going to be difficult for either of the Patriots’ UDFA safety signings to make the team, given the logjam ahead of them. Minkins is a better athlete than Polk, so we’re giving him the nod at this point.
He’s a downhill, hard-hitting safety who forced four fumbles and notched a pair of sacks last season.
Birdow is an athletic and raw offensive lineman who started his career at defensive tackle. But he put himself on NFL radars with an impressive pro day, which included a 32-inch vertical leap.
The path is never easy for any undrafted receiver, and it may be difficult for Blankumsee, considering he’d likely have to beat out three of Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Blankumsee’s stats dipped a bit from his junior (901 yards) to senior year (677 yards), which didn’t help his draft prospects.
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Pene only made four starts during his four-year collegiate career, but he has an interesting background as a native of France who grew up in Connecticut. He didn’t get any guaranteed money in his deal with the Patriots.
Webb didn’t do any athletic testing before the draft, which muddies his outlook, but he caught 36 passes for 649 yards and five touchdowns last season.
(Photo of CJ Dippre: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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