Caution With Regard to Roster Additions -Check Out Last Year

[mgteich]

Many of us seem to expect several additions before Game 1. We had lots of needs last year as we do now.

While there were lots of bottom of the roster moves between the draft and the final 53 cut, I don't recall any additions that stayed: NONE.

Because of our place in the order, we were able to claim DiVito and Woods the day after the cut, and Gregory a day later. Durden was signed to the Practice Squad and then to the roster on August 6th.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Do you mean "one man's trash" additions from other teams' cuts? Just trying to figure out the terms.

 

[DaBruinz]

Many of us seem to expect several additions before Game 1. We had lots of needs last year as we do now.

While there were lots of bottom of the roster moves between the draft and the final 53 cut, I don't recall any additions that stayed: NONE.

Because of our place in the order, we were able to claim DiVito and Woods the day after the cut, and Gregory a day later. Durden was signed to the Practice Squad and then to the roster on August 6th.

No. Durden wasn't signed to the Roster on August 6th. FFS. Durden was waived by the Giants on August 27th. He was signed to the Pats PS on August 28th and the 53 on September 6th. You can see that on my roster tracker or on his Pro-Football-Reference Player page.

Your entire premise is garbage. There are ALWAYS a ton of "bottom of the roster moves between the draft and final 53 cut downs". For EVERY TEAM. And your premise is incorrect that none of them stayed because the Pats had 3 UDFA in Chism, Ponder and Dippre who contributed all through last year. That's not to mention Mehki Butler and Brandon Crossley who saw multiple stints on the PS and were brought back.

Again, you could see that from the transaction page.

Efton Chism - UDFA WR
Elijah Ponder - UDFA DE
Lan Larison - UDFA RB - IRed
Brock Lampe - UDFA FB - IRed
CJ Dippre - UDFA TE - PS and 53..
Mekhi Butler - UDFA G - On and off the PS
Brandon Crossley - UDFA CB - On and off the PS.

Now, I'm sure you're going to make some excuse that those players are included in your "draft" statement, but they really aren't.

Had you said that no veterans that were signed between the draft and the final 53 cut down made the team, you'd have been more accurate. But there weren't a LOTS of those types of moves. 7 moves when you have a 90-man roster prior to cutdowns is not a lot.

Trayveon Williams, Ma'Mychal Hasty, Cole Fotheringham, Tyler Davis, Alec Lindstrom, David Olajiga, and Tre Avery (claimed off waivers) are the only ones that fit the "Veteran" mold.

All things considered, Vrabel and CO made it a point to get what they could in the primary part of free agency and stick with those guys while focusing on trying to find players who would provide the team with depth by being on the PS. I doubt that any team can foresee having 5 RBs on the IR at the same time as the Pats did at one point when you include Larison and Prince from Pre-season, then Gibson, Jennings and Corbin. I don't know of ANY team that could have 5 RBs on IR and still maintain proper depth there.

 

[DaBruinz]

After Cutdowns, the Pats didn't just add Devito, Gregory, Charles Woods and Durden. The following were players who came in from other teams and went to the Pats PS initially.

They also added:
Andrew Rupcich - OG/OT
Braden Jaimes - OC/OG
Fabian Lovett - DL
Mark Robinson - LB
Thayer Munford - OT
Corey Ballentine - CB

Out side of Devito, who was the Emergency QB, only Rupcich didn't take a snap for the Pats during the regular season..

 

[captain stone]

Many of us seem to expect several additions before Game 1. We had lots of needs last year as we do now.

While there were lots of bottom of the roster moves between the draft and the final 53 cut, I don't recall any additions that stayed: NONE.

Because of our place in the order, we were able to claim DiVito and Woods the day after the cut, and Gregory a day later. Durden was signed to the Practice Squad and then to the roster on August 6th.

Yep; and if the moves the past 24 hours are any indication, it's gonna be the exact same same-old, penny-wise & pound-foolish same-old...

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Your entire premise is garbage. There are ALWAYS a ton of "bottom of the roster moves between the draft and final 53 cut downs". For EVERY TEAM. And your premise is incorrect that none of them stayed because the Pats had 3 UDFA in Chism, Ponder and Dippre who contributed all through last year. That's not to mention Mehki Butler and Brandon Crossley who saw multiple stints on the PS and were brought back.

To be fair, Dippre was only active for two games late in the regular season; he wasn't promoted to the 53 until other teams tried to sign him away in November, and he was a game-day inactive throughout the playoffs.

 

[jmt57]

Each year is different in regards to late transactions. Last year it was releasing Jabrill Peppers on August 29, and in 2024 it was trading Matt Judon (Aug 14), as opposed to signing a well-known player.

It doesn't happen all that often, but adding a 'name' player after training camp opens does happen occasionally.


In 2023 Ezekiel Elliott was signed on Aug 14, though that was more like an act of desperation. A few days earlier the Pats signed Trey Flowers for a 2nd stint, but that didn't work out as his body was a wreck at that point.

2020: signed K Nick Folk Aug 24 after Stephen Gostkowski's replacement, draft pick Justin Rohrwasser flames out.

2018: signed WR Eric Decker Aug 3; unfortunately Jessie James husband was past his prime and retired before the end of the month.

2017: traded for OLB Marquis Flowers, but this addition wasn't really that big of a deal.

2016: traded for Edge Barkevious Mingo, but the former #6 overall pick was nothing more than a special teamer.

2015: signed WR Reggie Wayne Aug 25, but it was a year or two too late.

2014: traded for former 2nd round pick DT Jerel Worthy, but he only lasted three weeks.
Also traded Logan Mankins to Tampa Bay for TE Tim Wright (six TDs) and a draft pick

2012: signed safety Derrick Martin, FB Kareem Huggins, RB/KR Jeff Demps in August.

2011: Bengals trade Chad Johnson Ochocinco to Pats July 28; trade for Albert Haynesworth July 29; sign Mark Anderson Aug 5, Andre Carter Aug 7, Gerard Warren and Shaun Ellis Aug 8 - though to be fair, there were many late signings due to the lockout not ending until July 25.

2010: traded for OL Quinn Ojinnaka Aug 23; traded for safety Jarrad Page, LB Tracy White Sept 5

2009: signed FA Rob Ninkovich Aug 2; traded for Derrick Burgess Aug 6

2008: signed RB LaMont Jordan July 26; signed safety John Lynch Aug 15; signed CB Deltha O'Neil and claimed OT Mark LeVoir Sept 1

2007: sign QB Vinny Testaverde Aug 18

2006: Junior Seau signs Aug 18

 

[mgteich]

Each year is different in regards to late transactions. Last year it was releasing Jabrill Peppers on August 29, and in 2024 it was trading Matt Judon (Aug 14), as opposed to signing a well-known player.

It doesn't happen all that often, but adding a 'name' player after training camp opens does happen occasionally.


In 2023 Ezekiel Elliott was signed on Aug 14, though that was more like an act of desperation. A few days earlier the Pats signed Trey Flowers for a 2nd stint, but that didn't work out as his body was a wreck at that point.

2020: signed K Nick Folk Aug 24 after Stephen Gostkowski's replacement, draft pick Justin Rohrwasser flames out.

2018: signed WR Eric Decker Aug 3; unfortunately Jessie James husband was past his prime and retired before the end of the month.

2017: traded for OLB Marquis Flowers, but this addition wasn't really that big of a deal.

2016: traded for Edge Barkevious Mingo, but the former #6 overall pick was nothing more than a special teamer.

2015: signed WR Reggie Wayne Aug 25, but it was a year or two too late.

2014: traded for former 2nd round pick DT Jerel Worthy, but he only lasted three weeks.
Also traded Logan Mankins to Tampa Bay for TE Tim Wright (six TDs) and a draft pick

2012: signed safety Derrick Martin, FB Kareem Huggins, RB/KR Jeff Demps in August.

2011: Bengals trade Chad Johnson Ochocinco to Pats July 28; trade for Albert Haynesworth July 29; sign Mark Anderson Aug 5, Andre Carter Aug 7, Gerard Warren and Shaun Ellis Aug 8 - though to be fair, there were many late signings due to the lockout not ending until July 25.

2010: traded for OL Quinn Ojinnaka Aug 23; traded for safety Jarrad Page, LB Tracy White Sept 5

2009: signed FA Rob Ninkovich Aug 2; traded for Derrick Burgess Aug 6

2008: signed RB LaMont Jordan July 26; signed safety John Lynch Aug 15; signed CB Deltha O'Neil and claimed OT Mark LeVoir Sept 1

2007: sign QB Vinny Testaverde Aug 18

2006: Junior Seau signs Aug 18

Thank you for the work!

I wasn't discussing cuts or players that we traded. That is part of the process in the couple of weeks before and after the final cut.

I agree that in prime Belichick times vets were indeed added.

I just wanted to tamp down some of the expectations of signing players who will be expected to contribute this year. As you show, except for STer's Mingo and Folk, there hasn't been much of anything in the past 10 years.

I do expect 2-3 to be added in the weeks before and after the "final" cut. Vrabel seems more active than we have seen in the past. DiVito, Woods, Gregory and Durden were worthwhile additions.

 

[DaBruinz]

To be fair, Dippre was only active for two games late in the regular season; he wasn't promoted to the 53 until other teams tried to sign him away in November, and he was a game-day inactive throughout the playoffs.

You completely missed the point, CT. It doesn't matter that Dippre was only active for two games. He was on the PS and then the 53 all year. He wasn't jettisoned and no re-signed. MG would have everyone believe that NONE of the UDFA matter. That they're wortless and bring no value to the team. He said as much and acts like they're a complete waste of time.

As for Dippre, he was immediately re-signed to the PS. He was on their Scout team the entire year. He could have signed with another team, but chose to sign with the Pats and then to their roster when he had the chance.