Undrafted FA you are excited to see playing for the Pats

Shutdown_Corner said:

I personally think Justin Jones, 6'8" 277 Ibs TE/WR hybrid with a vertical jump of 39" is an interesting prospect. Imagine him and Gronk in red zone plays

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I'm excited for him. If he shows anything in training camp, he can be to us what Joseph Fauria is for the Lions.

Given the type of OL we drafted,Houston has every chance.Finch and Jones are more exciting but Houston is the one id expect too stick

sign a few random UDFA tight ends and hope one or two work out.

that plan worked last year.

Gronkowski123 said:

sign a few random UDFA tight ends and hope one or two work out.

that plan worked last year.

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Last year we had quite a prolific duo at tight end during May. Pretending we knew Hernandez had committed potentially multiple murders and that he was going to jail during the draft and UDFA signing frenzy period is pretty dumb as he wasn't arrested til June or July iirc.

This year it should be pretty clear we're not running a 2 Te base offense anymore. If Keller is signed the TE position which already boasts a top 3 skill position player in the entire NFL will once again be among the most talented of any roster in the NFL. Without Keller we STILL have the best TE in the league and will still run a 3 wr base formation.

Depth is important but over drafting from what looks like an awful tight end class was not the answer. Or at least, with the information currently available should not be the answer. Hindsight may prove this theory wrong but as of right now I support the teams decision to ignore overrated (again, my opinion) prospects at a position with the leagues best player already under contract.

strngplyr said:

Last year we had quite a prolific duo at tight end during May. Pretending we knew Hernandez had committed potentially multiple murders and that he was going to jail during the draft and UDFA signing frenzy period is pretty dumb as he wasn't arrested til June or July iirc.

This year it should be pretty clear we're not running a 2 Te base offense anymore. If Keller is signed the TE position which already boasts a top 3 skill position player in the entire NFL will once again be among the most talented of any roster in the NFL. Without Keller we STILL have the best TE in the league and will still run a 3 wr base formation.

Depth is important but over drafting from what looks like an awful tight end class was not the answer. Or at least, with the information currently available should not be the answer. Hindsight may prove this theory wrong but as of right now I support the teams decision to ignore overrated (again, my opinion) prospects at a position with the leagues best player already under contract.

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If Gronkowski starts the season on PUP, the Patriots will have the worst tight end corps in the NFL.
I agree with both you and strngplyr on not over drafting a TE but what the hell happened after the
draft. The Patriots did not sign any of the top end undrafted tight ends. There were three or four
tight ends in New England better than the guys they signed. The Patriots ignore guys in their own
backyard.

The fact that the team closest to these guys with the easiest access to see them ignores them should say something about their opinions on those players.

It's also entirely possible NE was outbid. You have very limited funds to hand out for UDFA signing bonuses.

Should never assume team a didn't pursue player b when the only information you have access to is that player b signed with team c.

I gotta say. Looking at the UDFA RBs we picked up it really is a pity we drafted White. Not that I don't like White but just I don't feel he is a significant step up from the other guys cause they look so interesting.

BobDigital said:

I gotta say. Looking at the UDFA RBs we picked up it really is a pity we drafted White. Not that I don't like White but just I don't feel he is a significant step up from the other guys cause they look so interesting.

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What I like about White is, like Houston, he averaged over 6 yards a cary. That to me means he can be pretty explosive. But I agree, I wish we drafted a WR in the 4th round. I would have preferred Devin Street from Pittsburgh, or Jared Abbrederis, or TE Arthur Lynch. All taken AFTER White.

scott99 said:

What I like about White is, like Houston, he averaged over 6 yards a cary. That to me means he can be pretty explosive. But I agree, I wish we drafted a WR in the 4th round. I would have preferred Devin Street from Pittsburgh, or Jared Abbrederis, or TE Arthur Lynch. All taken AFTER White.

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And did they have 39 catches and 300 yards as a Big 10 back, with 1400 rushing yards. White is the backup for Vereen (a significant upgrade over Bolden in that role).

Yes, we might have drafted a backup for Ridley in the 6th. Belichick decided to wait. Now we have a couple of UDFA's to compete with Bolden. I also expect us to be carefully watching the waiver list. Belichick likes old vets in the #4 WR role.

Jones looks incredibly slow footed

If Justin Jones can block like Gronk I'd like to see him make the team.

Finch looks awesome - I hope he still has some of that left in him. He can catch too!