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Breakdown of the Patriots’ UDFA signings

ian glendon

Just because the 2017 NFL Draft is over, it doesn’t mean that teams are done with the draft. The Patriots entered the weekend with 65-of-90 roster spots filled and after four draft selections and one player acquisition (TE James O’Shaughnessy) they still have 20 spots to fill heading into mini-camp.

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Enter the undrafted free-agent market.

The Patriots are no stranger to the UDFA market as several of them have had their fingerprints all-over the past two super bowl wins. This year will be no different as the Patriots have already signed a bevy of undrafted free agents, just hours after the conclusion of the draft.

As Saturday night comes to a close, the Patriots have currently signed 17 UDFAs to bring their roster number up to 87, leaving a few open slots for some veteran free agent signings.

The group of 17 players is highlighted by the trio of LB Harvey Langi, WR Austin Carr, and TE Jacob Hollister. Carr, the reigning Big Ten Wide Receiver of the Year, could be the next go-to slot receiver for the Patriots and Hollister could leap-frog Matt Lengel, Mike Williams and James O’Shaughnessy for the third tight-end spot.

Harvey Langi, LB, BYU

Austin Carr, WR, Northwestern

Jacob Hollister, TE, Wyoming

The remaining crop of UDFA signings courtesy of NEPD:

Cody Hollister, WR, Arkansas
Greg Pyke, OL, Georgia
Jason King, OL, Purdue
Jason Thompson, FS, Utah
Josh Augusta, DT, Missouri
Corey Vereen, DL, Tennesse
Damarius Travis, SAF, Minnesota

David Jones, DB, Richmond
Adam Butler, DL, Vanderbilt
Cole Croston, OL, Iowa
LeShun Daniels, RB, Iowa
D.J. Killings, CB, Central Florida
Max Rich, OL, Harvard
Kenny Moore, CB, Valdosta State

Lately, it seems that everything Bill Belichick touches turns to gold and so far that rings true in the first post-draft roster-building step. Malcolm Butler has certainly brought much more attention to the undrafted free agent market for Patriots’ fans in recent years but year-after-year Belichick usually finds a diamond in the rough.

Langi seems to have the clearest path to a roster spot, presumably competing with Shea McClellin and Jonathon Freeny, out of these three players. Hollister could challenge for the back-up role behind Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen, but given the depth at the position it may be hard to crack the 53-man roster.

The same can be said about Carr. The Patriots are deep at most positions but none deeper than the wide-receiver group. Carr would more-than-likely have to unseat fan-favorite Danny Amendola for a roster spot, which would be a tall-order for the Biletnikoff Award finalist. All we know for sure is that it is more probable than not that one of these 17 players will play a huge role in the Patriots’ quest for back-to-back Super Bowl championships.

Really, It could be Carr.


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