2026 UDFA Thread - aka Best Thread Of The Year

[Wozzy]

I have always thought the udfa interest was over blown. typically a development project, that the team does not want to expose.
I thought Ponder showed some promise. imo, Chism was an emergency KR when others injured, and was reliable, if not very effective.
certainly year 2 offers the hope for improvement, but nothing is certain, especially a roster spot.

I honestly see no shot at an udfa WR on the 53 man this year, unless 3 other roster moves are made first (trade, release, IR).

The hype for an UDFA isn’t much different than the hype for a 5th, 6th or 7th rounder. The expectations are lower than early round picks, but if you like a prospect it doesn’t matter what round he was taken in.

I was pounding the table last offseason for them to draft CJ Dippre in the late rounds, they got him in free agency. I still think he’s the best chance at a dominant blocking TE on the roster now.

Also Ponder and Chism didn’t get lucky, they earned their snaps.

 

[Toofy]

The hype for an UDFA isn’t much different than the hype for a 5th, 6th or 7th rounder. The expectations are lower than early round picks, but if you like a prospect it doesn’t matter what round he was taken in.

I was pounding the table last offseason for them to draft CJ Dippre in the late rounds, they got him in free agency. I still think he’s the best chance at a dominant blocking TE on the roster now.

Also Ponder and Chism didn’t get lucky, they earned their snaps.

I think our cupboard was barren. So lots of rookies got play time and I believe Vrabel was planning for 2026 though he did not voice it out explicitly.

We had a easy schedule and lots of things around league fell our way . This year chances of UDFA making team will be remote maybe 1 at max. Last year close to 4-6 folks I believe . That just talks about lack of contribution from other draft picks .

Since we have 10 contributors from prior class and possibly 4-6 from this years class , UDFA options are pretty limited.

 

[Wozzy]

I think our cupboard was barren. So lots of rookies got play time and I believe Vrabel was planning for 2026 though he did not voice it out explicitly.

We had a easy schedule and lots of things around league fell our way . This year chances of UDFA making team will be remote maybe 1 at max. Last year close to 4-6 folks I believe . That just talks about lack of contribution from other draft picks .

Since we have 10 contributors from prior class and possibly 4-6 from this years class , UDFA options are pretty limited.

Nah… these rookies played well. It wasn’t just a case of the warm body gets a job.

Schedule be damned, they beat good teams as well as bad. You don’t fall backwards into the best record in the NFL and a Super Bowl appearance. The Dolphins and Jets played the same schedule the Pats did.

The front office did a great job with the team build, they signed smart free agents and drafted well. The polar opposite of the year prior.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think our cupboard was barren. So lots of rookies got play time and I believe Vrabel was planning for 2026 though he did not voice it out explicitly.

We had a easy schedule and lots of things around league fell our way . This year chances of UDFA making team will be remote maybe 1 at max. Last year close to 4-6 folks I believe . That just talks about lack of contribution from other draft picks .

Since we have 10 contributors from prior class and possibly 4-6 from this years class , UDFA options are pretty limited.

Vrabel said it wasn't a 1 year rebuild. He's stuck to his plan despite the success the Pats had in 2025. Which is the right thing to do.

With having read up that Rizy has played every position on the O-line, he's got a shot to stick as a back-up guard behind Brown. His ability to play center will make him a likely PS candidate if he doesn't make the 53.

The Pats have 8 IOL on the Roster now.
Wilson, AVT, Onwenu, Brown, Rupcich, Wallace, Butler, Rizy. The 5th IOL spot is wide open. Rupcich (OG/OT), Wallace (OG/OT) and Rizy (OC/OG/OT) have a lot of versatility. Butler is an OG only as far as I know.

The Pats clearly saw something in Butler to bring him back after nearly 3 months to the PS and then re-sign him with a Future's Contract.

Khalil Jacobs has a shot at the team. The fact that the team is lacking in LB depth will help with that. Neither Muma nor Britt are guaranteed spots.

Myles Montgomery has an outside shot at the 3rd/4th RB spot. Yes, it means beating out Terrell Jennings and Jam Miller, but given a fair shake, he could surprise.

The Pats clearly think they need to improve the depth behind Gonzalez, Davis, and Jones. That's why they signed Vildor, drafted Prunty, and signed Canada and Harris. Woods and Minor clearly need to up their games because there are 4 hungry guys looking to take their jobs..