2026 UDFA Thread - aka Best Thread Of The Year

[The Gr8est]

I’d guess all the receivers are cheap AJ Brown insurance.
The lack of investing draft capital suggests it’s likely.
The wealth of udfas suggests it’s not certain.
Just look at the Maxx Crosby deal - handshake deals without a contract are not certain.

I REALLY REALLY hope the Pats doctors are given free reign to check Brown’s knees and will consider their opinions, even to the point of walking away.

I’m worried that Vrabel looks at Brown with the same dreamy look he uses with Diana Russini.

 

[mgteich]

I’d guess all the receivers are cheap AJ Brown insurance.

I think that the UDFA WR;s have nothing at all to do with Brown.

Without Brown, we have Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams, Douglas, and Chism. That's 6 who could easily be on our 53-man roster if we carried six WR's. I think that we also have Webb back from last year's Practice Squad.

So, without Brown, these players would be competing against Douglas and Chism. With Brown, they would be competing with Douglas and Chism (with Boutte likely gone).
==============
That being said, I think that Dixon will make the Practice Squad and could possibly replace Chism if we think that Chism even has a roster spot.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Ratbirds sign the QB I wanted NE to take. Wonder if they've rescinded that invite to Diego Pavia. . . .

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profo...news/ravens-agree-to-sign-udfa-qb-joe-***nano

 

[Betterthanmost]

Ratbirds sign the QB I wanted NE to take. Wonder if they've rescinded that invite to Diego Pavia. . . .

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profo...news/ravens-agree-to-sign-udfa-qb-joe-***nano

This is what he has been up to. Did not know strip clubs were still thing. Pavia that is.

 

[JoeSixPat]

So, these guys are slower than our 7th round short yardage RB. He ran a 4.42

Yes - that's not a bad thing to have a 7th rounder with that speed, but you may notice that UDFAs don't have as eye popping stats.

I'd be willing to guess they're slower than our higher draft picks as well.

Luckily while 4.4 40 times are great, being a 4.5 40 guy doesn't preclude you from being a returner, and there's lots of guys who have even better times than that who still lack the cutting skills needed.

I'd generally say 4.5 is still good enough

Ask some of us old timers here about Tony Simmons, a 2nd round pick in 1998, and how his 4.35 40 time was going to fast track him to Canton as a WR

He never had more than 2 dozen catches, did have a few decent returns, but was gone in 2 years

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I think none of these guys had the incredible production Efton Chism had at EWSU. He also has great off the line quickness although slow as molasses on long routes.

Dixon had 83/1,282/12 in 11 games. If I had to bet on one of the 2026 UDFA WRs making the roster, it'd be him.

 

[manxman2601]

What's everyone's take on the UDFA WR group? Do we have a guy make the 53 man this year like Chism last year? I haven't watched anything on Dorner or Lacey yet. I like what I saw on Kibble, good hands and always seems to get YAC. DeGennaro came from JMU so I saw him live a couple games last year. He is decent, better than the competition but its the Sun Belt we are talking about. He may find his way on the PS or just cut, not expecting much from him. I have searched and can only find a couple plays from Dixon, wish there was more tape out there on him. Still need to look at Lacey and Dorner but as it stands if I had to pick one making the roster I like Kibble.

There's quite a long highlight video of Dixon earlier in the thread. It's still only highlights but much longer than a couple of plays.

 

[mgteich]

Are any of the guards NFL-ready or are they PS material?

 

[PScottman]

Does he know Ron Mexico?

 

[Patsfan1645]

There's quite a long highlight video of Dixon earlier in the thread. It's still only highlights but much longer than a couple of plays.

Found it and thanks. Another guy who stands out against the level of competition he played. I hope one of the 5 UDFA WR we picked up is a diamond in the rough but not counting on it.

 

[imahobgoblin]

I’m worried that Vrabel looks at Brown with the same dreamy look he uses with Diana Russini.

You are a troll. Just shut up and let the man live his life.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I think that the UDFA WR;s have nothing at all to do with Brown.

Without Brown, we have Doubs, Boutte, Hollins, Williams, Douglas, and Chism. That's 6 who could easily be on our 53-man roster if we carried six WR's. I think that we also have Webb back from last year's Practice Squad.

So, without Brown, these players would be competing against Douglas and Chism. With Brown, they would be competing with Douglas and Chism (with Boutte likely gone).
==============
That being said, I think that Dixon will make the Practice Squad and could possibly replace Chism if we think that Chism even has a roster spot.

I'm not sure where we see Chism making the roster. We had hopes that he could be a returner - even though his 40 yard speed was only 4.71 (though he did ok in the shuttle and cone drills

No one here seems to think that we'll have to send a WR to the Eagles for Brown but I'm not so sure (I hope not) but regardless, Chism is the first guy you'd cut from that mix, hoping one of the rookies beats him out for a ST role.

Chism averaged 24 yards per KR which I guess isn't awful - he was much better than Henderson - but it's just average, with no real long runs broken. Would love to see someone faster beat him out, even if we don't lose Boutte or Williams in a trade with Philly

 

[The Gr8est]

I'm not sure where we see Chism making the roster. We had hopes that he could be a returner - even though his 40 yard speed was only 4.71 (though he did ok in the shuttle and cone drills

No one here seems to think that we'll have to send a WR to the Eagles for Brown but I'm not so sure (I hope not) but regardless, Chism is the first guy you'd cut from that mix, hoping one of the rookies beats him out for a ST role.

Chism averaged 24 yards per KR which I guess isn't awful - he was much better than Henderson - but it's just average, with no real long runs broken. Would love to see someone faster beat him out, even if we don't lose Boutte or Williams in a trade with Philly

Including Williams in a trade to Philly, I hope would be a non-starter.

 

[mgteich]

I'm not sure where we see Chism making the roster. We had hopes that he could be a returner - even though his 40 yard speed was only 4.71 (though he did ok in the shuttle and cone drills

No one here seems to think that we'll have to send a WR to the Eagles for Brown but I'm not so sure (I hope not) but regardless, Chism is the first guy you'd cut from that mix, hoping one of the rookies beats him out for a ST role.

Chism averaged 24 yards per KR which I guess isn't awful - he was much better than Henderson - but it's just average, with no real long runs broken. Would love to see someone faster beat him out, even if we don't lose Boutte or Williams in a trade with Philly

After the trade is final, I think that Chism will be the 7th or 8th best WR and that we will keep 5.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'm not sure where we see Chism making the roster. We had hopes that he could be a returner - even though his 40 yard speed was only 4.71 (though he did ok in the shuttle and cone drills

Chism averaged 24 yards per KR which I guess isn't awful - he was much better than Henderson - but it's just average, with no real long runs broken. Would love to see someone faster beat him out, even if we don't lose Boutte or Williams in a trade with Philly

On the one hand, he was probably their second best blocking WR after Hollins, but that wasn't enough to have him active in the playoffs when Hollins was healthy. On the other hand, he also managed to somehow get 20+ yards or a TD on all four of his receptions, and it was very difficult for any single DB to stop him. So, if he makes a second-year leap, he could definitely earn a spot.

 

[JoeSixPat]

After the trade is final, I think that Chism will be the 7th or 8th best WR and that we will keep 5.

Not that any of us know, but who do you think will handle KR duties this season?

If a WR takes that role that'd be 6 - though we kept 7 out of camp for the last 2 years I think. I don't think we should be asking Henderson to take on return duties as he's 1.) not great and 2.) might do better focusing on 1a RB duties.

On that note I felt we were thin at RB last season but I'm still thinking we carry 3 with Jam Miller, who is fast but hasn't returned kicks in college

I assume Marcus Jones will continue at PR

 

[DaBruinz]

Not that any of us know, but who do you think will handle KR duties this season?

If a WR takes that role that'd be 6 - though we kept 7 out of camp for the last 2 years I think. I don't think we should be asking Henderson to take on return duties as he's 1.) not great and 2.) might do better focusing on 1a RB duties.

On that note I felt we were thin at RB last season but I'm still thinking we carry 3 with Jam Miller, who is fast but hasn't returned kicks in college

I assume Marcus Jones will continue at PR

Terrell Jennings averaged 29.5, but small sample size.
Kyle Williams averaged 26.4 on 11 returns. 11 was the 3rd highest number of returns behinds Chism and D'Ernest Johnson.

I wouldn't be surprised if they asked Jam Miller to try doing returns. Same with Larison.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

Boldin was 4.71, I don't want to hear about that ****, it doesn't matter if you know how to get open, some people SEE the holes in coverage, and know how to exploit them.
Let's see what happens this year, ya know, his 2nd year...I know, should have 1300 yds already....

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Boldin was 4.71, I don't want to hear about that ****, it doesn't matter if you know how to get open, some people SEE the holes in coverage, and know how to exploit them.

You give one example to support your claim. Why didn't you mention the other 200+ guys that ran a 4.7+ 40 and failed? You think one guy that succeeded in the last 20 years (2003 - 2017), ONE GUY, proves your point. You think Chism III is the next ONE GUY for the next 20 years (2025 - 2039)? C'mon dude. Be real. Bah, Bah, Bah.

Let's see what happens this year, ya know, his 2nd year...I know, should have 1300 yds already....

Yes, we should give a guy that was starting a lot in his rookie year when Hollins was out, and looked awful, another full year? Dude, Chism III sucks, we need a new Slot. Bah, Bah, Bah

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Boldin was 4.71, I don't want to hear about that ****, it doesn't matter if you know how to get open, some people SEE the holes in coverage, and know how to exploit them.
Let's see what happens this year, ya know, his 2nd year...I know, should have 1300 yds already....

Seeing the holes in the coverage reminds of Welker. I remember one article he talked about his soccer background and how it helped him look at a defense before the snap and know where the open spot would be.