patchick

Despite the perpetually deep roster, a UDFA makes the Pats' 53 straight out of camp every year:

2005: Mike Wright
2006: Pierre Woods
2007: Matt Gutierrez
2008: Gary Guyton

It's a great symbol of how BB looks past draft status and "names" to assemble the team...and it's also a great recruiting tool when you're jostling to sign priority UDFAs.

But good luck this year, kids. As far as I can tell, it's Brian Hoyer or bust. Does anybody see another UDFA with even the remotest shot at a roster spot?

spacecrime

What about Randall Gay in 2004?

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“When we look at the board, based on everything we want in a football player at that particular time, we evaluate them and take the player that fits best for our football team. That’s what we always do, and I think the last nine years we’ve put a pretty competitive team out there on the field every year. I think that’s how you do it – you get good football players. Sometimes they are not always at the No. 1 position, but I don’t think you pass up good football players to get the guys who aren’t as good just because they’re at a position that somebody feels you need.”
BB on his draft philosophy, April 2010

patchick

I got lazy.

spacecrime

How about Shawn Mayer in 2003? I think he was an UDFA, also. Not sure how to find out.

__________________
“When we look at the board, based on everything we want in a football player at that particular time, we evaluate them and take the player that fits best for our football team. That’s what we always do, and I think the last nine years we’ve put a pretty competitive team out there on the field every year. I think that’s how you do it – you get good football players. Sometimes they are not always at the No. 1 position, but I don’t think you pass up good football players to get the guys who aren’t as good just because they’re at a position that somebody feels you need.”
BB on his draft philosophy, April 2010

spacecrime

2002? Steven Neal? Pretty sure he wasn't drafted. Anyone know about Shawn mayer in 2003?

2001 We had a couple of DT's that were UFDAs, I think. Jase Saylor was one.

Did Tuitele get picked up in 2000? Or was it 1999 or 2001? Is there a place to find UDFAs by year?

How far back IS the Pats record?

__________________
“When we look at the board, based on everything we want in a football player at that particular time, we evaluate them and take the player that fits best for our football team. That’s what we always do, and I think the last nine years we’ve put a pretty competitive team out there on the field every year. I think that’s how you do it – you get good football players. Sometimes they are not always at the No. 1 position, but I don’t think you pass up good football players to get the guys who aren’t as good just because they’re at a position that somebody feels you need.”
BB on his draft philosophy, April 2010

patchick

Neal didn't make the 53 directly, he bounced around a bit (maybe to the Eagles?)

Mayer was definitely a UDFA, but I can't recall for certain whether he made the team week 1.

jmt57

Even though there is typically about a 20% turnover of the roster every year, if there is one season that no undrafted free agents make the roster then this would be it. Without looking up the stats (and I'm sure somebody will very quickly correct me if I am wrong) there seems to be (a) fewer free agents that left the team this year than in the past; (b) more veteran free agent signings than veteran free agent departures this offseason; and (c) more rookies drafted this year than are typically drafted in the past. In other words training camp roster position "X" that in past years was an UDFA will now be a 6th or 7th round draft pick this year; that slot that previously would have gone to an UDFA will most likely go to a second day draft pick in 2009.

patchick

It's a good point -- with so many draft picks, there just aren't that many UDFAs in camp, period.

So come on, Hoyer! How hard can it be to beat out that Gutierrez fellow? Heck he wasn't even drafted!

farn

I think Hoyer will get a serious look... will he be around for the PS ? Maybe more realistic than the 53. But who knows ?

ctpatsfan77

On the flip side, remember the league incentivizes carrying three QBs. . . .

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"Momentum was quickly snatched away by New England, who once again proved that any Patriot, at any moment, can make a play." —Inside the NFL, Packers v. Patriots

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