2026 UDFA Thread - aka Best Thread Of The Year

[manxman2601]

The report that Pavia signed with the Jets wasn't true. He's accepted an invite to the Ravens mini camp.

 

[mgteich]

What is interesting so far is what positions are and are not being added. For instance only 1 TE? Makes sense. 5 WRs? They seem pretty loaded at that spot when you add in AJ Brown. Are they perhaps planning to move on from Boutte before the year? If not it is interesting. You have to assume Brown, Boutte, Doubs, Williams and Hollins will all have roles. That is 5. Douglas/Chism already makes a log jam for the 6th spot. Maybe this is a sign they are looking to trade Boutte for a 2027 draft pick?

Only 1 edge? Do you maybe really like Swinson to compete for that spot and don't see the point of having unneeded competition. Only 1 LB is interesting to, when it is something we all thought was a need before the draft. Are they planning to make a move here?

Perhaps the staff is signing players they think has a wild chance of making the 53 or the Practice Squad.

Just because we want to upgrade from Muma and Swinson doesn't mean that staff thinks that any of the UDFA's have chance to beat them out. Vrabel will certainly be looking among the cuts for the next many months.

As far as WR's, this was a very deep WR draft. We carried 6 WR's last year. We start with Brown, Doubs, Hollins and Williams.

That leaves two potential roster spots. For now, we have Boutte, Douglas and Chism. If Boutte is traded, it seems very likely that a UDFA's might beat out Douglas and or Chism for a roster spot. More likely, they just want some WR's for the backup QB's to practice with and get fans excited.

 

[Gumby]

The report that Pavia signed with the Jets wasn't true. He's accepted an invite to the Ravens mini camp.

Apparently a Rhodes scholar (avoiding jester purgatory)

 

[borisman]

This is definitely my top follow in UDFA

 

[imahobgoblin]

Not a big fan of the UDFA WRs they signed. But willing to give them a chance.

Gotta wonder if Arkin is going to be groomed as a FB with that size.

Kinda surprised they haven't added a center. 10 of the 17 O-line are Offensive Tackles. Which seems excessive.

How could you be a fan if you have never even heard of them? They decided to recruit deep into lower collegiate levels and unheralded programs. It was the strategy from the beginning. lower collegiate levels and unheralded programs. Very few are fans until we see these kids play.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Aw, no relation to Nick.

 

[VJCPatriot]

This is definitely my top follow in UDFA

Jacas is 6'4 260. Foreman is 6'3 270. Patriots definitely seem to have a body type they prefer at EDGE. Both of these guys are also big and strong enough to be capable of setting the edge against the run. I like the fact that you could potentially play them on any of the 3 downs and not weaken yourself against the run game.

 

[n1997y]

I think Kindle Vildor, Kenneth Harris, Karon Prunty and Channing Canada will battle it out for the roster spots behind Gonzo, Davis and Jones. These four are kind of tweeners, not big... but not small slot guys either. Asante Samuel Sr was the patron saint of Patriot tweeners.

They will likely carry five, which means two will make it. They can probably sneak some on the PS afterwards also.

Vildor has the upper hand, he has been in the league since 2020. Kenneth Harris is strong like Vildor plus he's the most agile and really explosive, Prunty has two inches on Harris and was drafted. Canada at 4.3 forty is the fastest. It's a good group to bring in and kick the tires on.

Don’t we still have woods and Dial? Having PS experience might give them sone advantage over rookies?

 

[Wozzy]

Don’t we still have woods and Dial? Having PS experience might give them sone advantage over rookies?

If Dial was going to do something by now, you’d think he’d have done it already… or at least flashed. Woods isn’t athletic.

They needed to add to CB badly behind the big three, the commitment to add there in the draft and UDFA demonstrate that. I like the possibility at least one or more of these new guys will get the job.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The report that Pavia signed with the Jets wasn't true. He's accepted an invite to the Ravens mini camp.

It wasn't a report, it was just a trash post. No UDFA rookie gets a 1-year deal.

 

[bakes781]

He's must be one of Megget's spawn.

 

[n1997y]

If Dial was going to do something by now, you’d think he’d have done it already… or at least flashed. Woods isn’t athletic.

They needed to add to CB badly behind the big three, the commitment to add there in the draft and UDFA demonstrate that. I like the possibility at least one or more of these new guys will get the job.

I agree we needed CB depth. I’ve been beating that drum all offseason. But it seems we get all excited about every new addition and if they don’t make immediate impact we are quick to give up on them and move on to the next bright shiny new hopefuls. Every player that isn’t a rookie gets the same disrespect: “why haven’t they?”

Sometimes it’s injury, sometimes it’s guys in front of them. For Dial it was injury. Bryant had a logjam in front of him, as did Jiles and Webb, and Roy, and several other PS guys. I think it is as interesting to see if any of them have developed and can compete for a bigger role this season as it is rooting for UDFA binkies.

As for Dial, he played in all 17 games his rookie season, then injured his ACL in camp and missed the entire season last year. So arguably he has done something, playing every game his rookie season is better than a lot of players. Even if it was only ST at least he made the gameday roster. It’s quite possible none of your binkies will do it this year. The ACL was a major setback, but let’s see how he comes back from it. Diggs showed it can be done physically, but how much did it stunt his development? It’ll be a test of his mental toughness, but I’m not writing him off yet.

From Wikipedia:

 

[Wozzy]

I agree we needed CB depth. I’ve been beating that drum all offseason. But it seems we get all excited about every new addition and if they don’t make immediate impact we are quick to give up on them and move on to the next bright shiny new hopefuls. Every player that isn’t a rookie gets the same disrespect: “why haven’t they?”

Sometimes it’s injury, sometimes it’s guys in front of them. For Dial it was injury. Bryant had a logjam in front of him, as did Jiles and Webb, and Roy, and several other PS guys. I think it is as interesting to see if any of them have developed and can compete for a bigger role this season as it is rooting for UDFA binkies.

As for Dial, he played in all 17 games his rookie season, then injured his ACL in camp and missed the entire season last year. So arguably he has done something, playing every game his rookie season is better than a lot of players. Even if it was only ST at least he made the gameday roster. It’s quite possible none of your binkies will do it this year. The ACL was a major setback, but let’s see how he comes back from it. Diggs showed it can be done physically, but how much did it stunt his development? It’ll be a test of his mental toughness, but I’m not writing him off yet.

From Wikipedia:

I haven't lost all hope with Dial, he can't wait any longer either.

He needs to stay healthy and show out this preseason.

 

[Wozzy]

I must have missed the Fresno State OLB Korey Foreman invite earlier. This kid has real potential. He's strong and fairly athletic. This is the kind of edge player you can go after in the UDFA ranks.

Hawaii S Peter Manuma and Incarnate Word ILB Declan Williams also have some tools to work with.

 

[rkarp1]

Bedard was commenting that the knock on Swinson was his body, and strength.
he said in recent pictures, it appears Swinson did not put in the work this offseason.
need to see it play out over the summer, but it would appear he is a long shot.

 

[manxman2601]

 

[Wozzy]

Bedard was commenting that the knock on Swinson was his body, and strength.
he said in recent pictures, it appears Swinson did not put in the work this offseason.
need to see it play out over the summer, but it would appear he is a long shot.

He’d better show up this preseason, they’re bringing in a lot of talented competition.

 

[DaBruinz]

How could you be a fan if you have never even heard of them? They decided to recruit deep into lower collegiate levels and unheralded programs. It was the strategy from the beginning. lower collegiate levels and unheralded programs. Very few are fans until we see these kids play.

It's called doing a bit of research prior to posting. I had my binky who outperformed these guys that the Pats signed. He wasn't the fastest, but he was a 6'2 version of Edelman in terms of quickness.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Looks like a few of Belichick's players got picked up as UDFAs

Good that at least 4 have a shot - this is the first time in 10 years that there have been no UNC players drafted - even in down years they had one or two. Heck, last year they even had one.

 

[p8ryts]

Looks like a few of Belichick's players got picked up as UDFAs

Good that at least 4 have a shot - this is the first time in 10 years that there have been no UNC players drafted - even in down years they had one or two. Heck, last year they even had one.

Maybe an NFL FU. Looking for to what Bill does this year.