2026 UDFA Thread - aka Best Thread Of The Year

[Wozzy]

The leverage has to be perceived by AJ Brown. He laughs at a "hidden gem". So would I. Nice try though.

The leverage has absolutely nothing to do with AJ Brown's opinion, the Patriots are negotiating with the Eagles.

Sure it can be dismissed. It is an anomaly. You always ignore percentages of success and try to overplay anomalies. You overplay anomalies constantly. Nice try though.

Roughly a quarter of NFL active rosters are made up of UDFA's. Anomaly?

But I find it funny you think Chism is in trouble roster wise because the Patriots brought in (checks notes) a bunch of UDFA's.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

The leverage has absolutely nothing to do with AJ Brown's opinion, the Patriots are negotiating with the Eagles.

Roughly a quarter of NFL active rosters are made up of UDFA's. Anomaly?

But I find it funny you think Chism is in trouble roster wise because the Patriots brought in (checks notes) a bunch of UDFA's.

UDFAs. It is plural not possessive.

 

[Wozzy]

UDFAs. It is plural not possessive.

OMG

 

[JohnJH]

They only have three WR’s under contract for next year, I suspect they also want insurance and leverage in negotiations for AJ Brown.

Chism made the roster last season as an UDFA, he returned kicks. As of now he has a leg up on the rookies coming in.

Chism wasn't very good as a KR, primarily due to not having sufficient straight-line speed, nor the lateral quickness. Kyle Dixon (6'2" 220 Lbs), ran a 4.50 40 (faster than Chism and has the size that's preferred to be a KR.

 

[JohnJH]

I feel Chism might get cut this year unless he blows socks out of everyone in tc and otas

Barring injury, I suspect that Kyle Dixon might make the team. He has the size and speed to make an impact as a KR.

 

[JohnJH]

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.

Agreed. If they're going to give up high draft capital and Jerry doesn't plan on signing Pickens, I'd rather they swing large and for a younger player who could be around for a large part of Maye's career.

 

[Wozzy]

Chism wasn't very good as a KR, primarily due to not having sufficient straight-line speed, nor the lateral quickness. Kyle Dixon (6'2" 220 Lbs), ran a 4.50 40 (faster than Chism and has the size that's preferred to be a KR.

Maybe, but I’d bet on one of the RB’s to do the job. Kickoff are more like a run play now, Jam Miller or whoever wins the backup gig.

Dixon might make the team, he may not… or it might take some time to develop him. Chism already made an NFL roster. He is a comparable athlete and similar quickness to Amendola or Welker, I’d have him returning punts instead if Marcus Jones missed time.

 

[rkarp1]

I think it will be hard for an UDFA to get a spot on the 53 man if;

-both Bryant and Crownover show sufficient upside to not be exposed on the PS. either will be poached
-Wallace shows progression on the IOL position
-Miller proves adept at KR and catching the ball out of the back field

sure, a WR or DB could show out and grab a spot, but the above 5 players/roster slots would make an UDFA grabbing a spot very difficult.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I think the coaches are much higher in Chism than fans are. He was behind Diggs last year so he never got much playing time, but Vrabel had high praise for him every time he was asked.

 

[moosekill]

I think this board often grossly overvalues our own players. I liked Chism, I liked Douglas, I liked Boutte, would I be surprised if 1 or 2 of them were gone this year, not one Iota. Do I think we would get a 3rd for Boutte, if we decided to trade him, I certainly hope so, but seriously doubt it. Do I think we can throw Douglass into a trade for Brown and end up giving them a third instead of a first, nope. Would i be at all surprised if Chism was cut and a UDFA was kept, not one bit.

 

[rkarp1]

I think the coaches are much higher in Chism than fans are. He was behind Diggs last year so he never got much playing time, but Vrabel had high praise for him every time he was asked.

the coaches might be, but stats do not bear out

Diggs, coming off injury, was on a snap count early on, and played about 55% of the offensive snaps all season, including games 1 thru 8, Diggs never dipped below 50% of the offensive snaps all season.
Chism never broke thru on offense, until the last 2 games, both blow outs
maybe something is there, but moreso Hollins, Pop and Boutte kept Chism on the bench all season
might change this season, but if Brown is coming, clearly a numbers game at WR will have 1 or 2 players gone

 

[Wozzy]

the coaches might be, but stats do not bear out

Diggs, coming off injury, was on a snap count early on, and played about 55% of the offensive snaps all season, including games 1 thru 8, Diggs never dipped below 50% of the offensive snaps all season.
Chism never broke thru on offense, until the last 2 games, both blow outs
maybe something is there, but moreso Hollins, Pop and Boutte kept Chism on the bench all season
might change this season, but if Brown is coming, clearly a numbers game at WR will have 1 or 2 players gone

You don’t bench veterans with similar skillsets for rookies behind them on the depth chart unless injury arises. Not playing is an indicator of nothing.

Saying someone didn’t play is completely different from saying they can’t play. This is true of every young player, not just Chism. Depth charts exist, they’re respected in locker rooms.

 

[DaBruinz]

the coaches might be, but stats do not bear out

Diggs, coming off injury, was on a snap count early on, and played about 55% of the offensive snaps all season, including games 1 thru 8, Diggs never dipped below 50% of the offensive snaps all season.
Chism never broke thru on offense, until the last 2 games, both blow outs
maybe something is there, but moreso Hollins, Pop and Boutte kept Chism on the bench all season
might change this season, but if Brown is coming, clearly a numbers game at WR will have 1 or 2 players gone

How many years did it take Edelman, Welker, and Troy Brown to break out?

Edelaman took 5 years.
Wes Welker took 3
Troy Brown took 5 years.

The point is that there are players you have to give time to. Particularly late round and UDFAs.

 

[rkarp1]

You don’t bench veterans with similar skillsets for rookies behind them on the depth chart unless injury arises. Not playing is an indicator of nothing.

Saying someone didn’t play is completely different from saying they can’t play. This is true of every young player, not just Chism. Depth charts exist, they’re respected in locker rooms.

huh?
when rookies are ready, and cost peanuts, vets are traded or released.

no one said Chism cannot play
I did post, that he did not play last year, and the reason was not because of Diggs. It was because Chism cold not beat out Boutte, Hollins, Pop and Diggs. He also could not supplant Williams for an active roster spot.
as of today, if Brown come on board, with out a vet traded or released, it appears a long shot for Chism again

 

[patfanken]

the coaches might be, but stats do not bear out

Diggs, coming off injury, was on a snap count early on, and played about 55% of the offensive snaps all season, including games 1 thru 8, Diggs never dipped below 50% of the offensive snaps all season.
Chism never broke thru on offense, until the last 2 games, both blow outs
maybe something is there, but moreso Hollins, Pop and Boutte kept Chism on the bench all season
might change this season, but if Brown is coming, clearly a numbers game at WR will have 1 or 2 players gone

All this Chism talk is a waste because I doubt very much, he makes the 53 this season. The reason is I think we only keep 5 WR's this season. With the big investment in TE's and FB I wonder just how much we are going to have 3 WR's on the field this season. So even if he comes into camp and looks better than his rookie season, it is simply a numbers game. Brown, Doubs, Boutee, Williams and Hollins are all ahead of him, let alone one of the UDFA's shock everyone and knocks out one of the top 5.

I DO think we keep at least 3 WR's on the PS for depth and practice purposes, but I will be shocked if we keep more than 5 WR's on the 53

 

[rkarp1]

How many years did it take Edelman, Welker, and Troy Brown to break out?

Edelaman took 5 years.
Wes Welker took 3
Troy Brown took 5 years.

The point is that there are players you have to give time to. Particularly late round and UDFAs.

I agree 100%
the question is how long, and where do you put a player that has potential, assuming he could get poached from the PS.
If Bryant and Crownover both show potetial, and are not on the PS, are you keeping 5 or 6 WR's on the 53 man?
I assume that is impossible

 

[DaBruinz]

All this Chism talk is a waste because I doubt very much, he makes the 53 this season. The reason is I think we only keep 5 WR's this season. With the big investment in TE's and FB I wonder just how much we are going to have 3 WR's on the field this season. So even if he comes into camp and looks better than his rookie season, it is simply a numbers game. Brown, Doubs, Boutee, Williams and Hollins are all ahead of him, let alone one of the UDFA's shock everyone and knocks out one of the top 5.

I DO think we keep at least 3 WR's on the PS for depth and practice purposes, but I will be shocked if we keep more than 5 WR's on the 53

@patfanken - I wouldn't expect Brown to be here. I also wouldn't expect one of the UDFA WRs to make the team, honestly. If the Pats were getting Brown, they wouldn't have brought in all the UDFAs. I know people are wowed by Dixon, but he he's more likely to be a PS player to replace Jiles than he is to be the #5 WR. He's extremely raw. Yes, he has talent, but his traits translate into him being a possession type receiver on the outside. Where the Pats have Boutte, Doubs and Hollins. Boutte is slightly miscast by McDaniels with the deeper plays because he doesn't have the long speed that Williams does.

As I pointed out above in another post, it took Brown, Edelman and Welker 3-5 years to break out. And we all know that Brown and Welker both got cut. Brown after his 1st year. Welker after his 1st week. So, Dixon getting cut shouldn't surprise anyone if/when it happens.

Like you, I don't believe the Pats are going to keep more than 5 WR. Because they added Hill, Raridon, and Gilliam. Hill replaces Hooper, Gilliam replaces Westover and Raridon is the 3rd TE. A spot that Dipper had from November 17th onward, but only saw snaps in weeks 17 and 18.. I also think that the Pats will carry a 4th RB while keeping 2 on the PS.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

Agreed. If they're going to give up high draft capital and Jerry doesn't plan on signing Pickens, I'd rather they swing large and for a younger player who could be around for a large part of Maye's career.

No you wouldn’t. Trust me. Pickens is not a good guy.

 

[UGAPatsfan]

How many years did it take Edelman, Welker, and Troy Brown to break out?

Edelaman took 5 years.
Wes Welker took 3
Troy Brown took 5 years.

The point is that there are players you have to give time to. Particularly late round and UDFAs.

Issue with Chism is he isn’t getting faster.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Edelaman took 5 years.

That is on Brady and the coaching staff more than on Edelman. Edelman was already leading all rookies in receptions (and I think on targets) when he broke his arm as a rookie.