Patriots sign 4 UDFAs, release veteran running back
The New England Patriots signed four players off tryout contract from rookie minicamp on Monday, and released a veteran running back to make room.
Coming off of rookie minicamp last week and looking ahead to the start of OTAs next week, the New England Patriots did some roster shuffling on Monday. They added four undrafted rookies (UDFAs) while releasing a veteran running back.
The moves, announced by the team Monday afternoon, included signing running back Terrell Jennings, guard Ryan Johnson, linebacker Jay Person, and defensive end Jotham Russell. The team also released veteran running back KeShawn Vaughn.
READ MORE:
—Patriots rookie minicamp notebook
—Jerod Mayo’s initial impressions of Drake Maye
—WATCH: Evan Lazar joins Alex Barth to discuss what they saw at Patriots rookie minicamp
All four rookies who signed with the team were in Foxborough over the weekend for rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. With Monday’s moves they’re now signed to full UDFA contracts.
Jennings ran for a career-high 673 yards in 13 games last year for Florida A&M. The 6-foot, 217-pound back scored 10 touchdowns on just 120 carries. He also caught seven passes for 60 yards.
Johnson started the last two years at right guard for Youngstown State. He allowed a total of 29 pressures and three sacks in 1,443 snaps in that span.
Person, whose signing was reported earlier on Monday, is a pass rushing specialist from Chattanooga. He had 23 sacks in 33 games over the last three years.
The Patriots final signing is Russell, who is a 20-year-old rugby player from Canberra, Australia. Russell is looking to become the latest rugby player to make the switch to American football, and will try to do so in New England at defensive end.
Russell is part of the International Player Pathway Program, which means he won’t count against the Patriots’ roster limit for the time being. The Patriots can keep Russell on the practice squad as an IPPP player without losing a practice squad spot, but he wouldn’t be eligible to be activated for games. If the Patriots want to add him to their active roster, he’d lose his IPPP status. This is what the team did with fullback Jakob Johnson, who joined the team in 2019 as an IPPP player from Germany.
In addition to those signings the Patriots released Vaughn, a 27-year-old running back. He was signed by the Patriots off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad in December, but never appeared in a game in New England.
Between all of those moves, the Patriots’ active roster is now full at 90 players (not counting Russell as an IPPP player).
Read more about New England Patriots rookie minicamp below…
Patriots rookie minicamp notebook: First look at the Class of 2024
The zip is real from these quarterbacks
May 11, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) throws a pass at the New England Patriots rookie camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
We didn’t see too many deep balls thrown on Saturday, but the arm strength of both Drake Maye and Joe Milton was easy to see. The way the ball zipped out of their hands comes across at another level in person than it does on tape.
They did open it up a little bit throwing individually to receivers midway through practice. Both connected easily on deep corners, and then Maye threw a ball deep up the seam to tryout tight end Owen Glascoe. Maye also showed a strong command of the offense when it came to reps that featured a more complete offense (rather than just individual drills).
As for Milton, the zip was once again real – but hurt him as much as it helped him at times. More of his incompletions were due to the ball bouncing off the hands of receivers on shorter routes rather than outright misses. Milton’s velocity will be something the receivers will need time to get used to, but at the same time he’ll need to work on utilizing more touch passes as well.
When it comes to the coaching staff, Mayo told reporters before practice that offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt will be “the lead guy” from the coaching staff responsible for working with the quarterbacks on a day-to-day basis. “There has to be balance there, you don’t want Drake hearing too many voices,” Mayo explained. “Once again, that’s why I’m saying that AVP (Alex Van Pelt) will be the lead guy as far as that communication with Drake.”
That played out in reality at practice. Van Pelt was in Maye’s ear for most of the afternoon, while quarterbacks coach T.C. McCartney split his time between Maye and Milton.
Ja’Lynn Polk stands out
May 11, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk (1) arrives at practice at the New England Patriots rookie camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
The Patriots have three drafted pass-catchers in this minicamp – wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker and tight end Jaheim Bell. Polk, a second-round pick, seems to have emerged as the leader of the group, going first in drills and appearing to be the more vocal of the players.
During drills, that biggest thing that stood out about Polk is how smoothly he moves. Listed at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds he’s much more crisp in his routes and quick in and out of cuts than is expected as a player of his size.
With Baker, his approach at the catch point was on display. He would attack the ball with his hands, reaching out and snatching throws out of the air rather than waiting for the ball to come to him.
As for Bell, a big question for him coming out of the draft is what position he’d play. In college, he moved all around the formation. Saturday didn’t see Bell doing too much out of the ordinary, but it is still early and this period of the offseason is more about general fundamentals than getting into the nitty gritty of assignments.
Along the offensive line
May 11, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive tackle Caedan Wallace (70) and guard Layden Robinson (63) arrive at practice at the New England Patriots rookie camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
For the few instances the offense worked in a team setting, the Patriots put their two draft picks – tackle Caedan Wallace and guard Layden Robinson – on the left side. Given the Patriots’ open door at left tackle (Eliot Wolf said before the draft Chuks Okorafor is the leading candidate to be the starter) and questions about Cole Strange’s health to start the season, those are the two spots where they will likely have the best chance at earning playing time early.
Other standouts
May 11, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver David Wallace (87) arrives at practice at the New England Patriots rookie camp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
In addition to the Patriots’ draft picks, the practice also included UDFAs and player who are with the team on a tryout basis (who don’t count against the roster). Rookie minicamp can be the start of a roster push for those players.
From the UDFA group, running back DeShaun Fenwick was moving well during handoff drills. This all comes with a grain of salt as there wasn’t a ton of true football involvement from the running back position, but the brief chances for Fenwick, who comes in at 6-foot-1, 223 pounds were encouraging.
As for the tryout players, the coaching staff seemed to want an extended look at wide receiver David Wallis. Wallis, from Division-III Randolph-Macon, saw the most time in team drills of any of the tryout skill position players. He’ll be a name to watch for the Patriots to potentially add to the roster before or during training camp.
Attendance
Oklahoma’s Isaiah Coe (94) tries to get past UTEP’s Zuri Henry (68) during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the UTEP Miners at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. Oklahoma won 45-13. (Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network)
Only one player listed on the roster wasn’t spotted at Saturday’s practice. UDFA offensive lineman Zuri Henry wasn’t on the field. Between the Patriots’ draft picks and UDFAs, he’s the only one with significant experience at left tackle.
What’s next?
The Patriots’ practice fields behind Gillette Stadium (Alex Barth/98.5 The Sports Hub)
Next time the Patriots’ are on the practice fields it will be with the full team – not just the rookies. OTAs begin May 20, with the first practice scheduled to be open to the media.
