Meet the 2024 New England Patriots Undrafted Free Agents

Perhaps no NFL franchise has had as much success with undrafted free agents as the New England Patriots. Beginning with Gino Cappelletti in 1960, the franchise had a surplus of successful UDFAs. During Robert Kraft’s tenure as team owner, this has become commonplace. Adam Vinatieri, Malcolm Butler, J.C. Jackson, Jakobi Meyers, Jonathan Jones, and David Andrews are just a handful of success stories for undrafted rookies in Foxboro. These underdogs quickly become fan favorites, as evidenced by Malik Cunningham last preseason.

Who will emerge from the UDFA Class of 2024? There are several players with the potential to stick on the 53-man roster. New England is looking for depth across the roster, so if anyone excels in training camp the opportunity to stick on the squad exists. Contributing to the special teams unit will give players an advantage. Versatility is a plus for any fringe roster players. At the least, these players want to show enough to stick with the practice squad if they don’t make the 53-man roster out of camp.

One thing working to the advantage of all of the undrafted free agents in camp is the knowledge that New England saw enough in them to bring them to camp in the first place. This group enjoys the advantage of a new regime being in place in Foxboro. That means Eliot Wolf, Jerod Mayo, and company are not married to the players on the roster that Bill Belichick brought in. All of these UDFAs were brought in by the new regime. If they show they can contribute, they will have jobs.

Also Read – Kelley: Pre-Training Camp Patriots 53-Man Roster Projection

A closer look at the UDFA prospects in New England:

RB Deshaun Fenwick (Oregon State)

The sixth-year senior earned a grade of 73.0 or better each of the past five seasons from Pro Football Focus. His college career was split with three years each at South Carolina, then Oregon State. Fenwick took a backseat on the Beavers to Damien Martinez, who rushed for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. Deshaun Fenwick totaled 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing over the past two seasons. Fenwick had zero fumbles over 385 college carries. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound back ran a 4.77 40-yard dash at Oregon State’s Pro Day. He is a former South Carolina teammate of Patriots running back Kevin Harris.

RB Terrell Jennings (Florida A&M)

Jennings possesses good size, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 225 pounds. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry in 2023 and scored 10 touchdowns. He finished his four-year career with 1,754 yards and 24 rushing touchdowns. Terrell Jennings ran a 4.47 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. At the NFL Scouting Combine, no running back Jennings’ size ran faster. That combination of size and speed makes Jennings an intriguing prospect. However, the giant leap in competition from the SWAC to the NFL also makes him a total wild card heading into camp. Childhood friend of Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas.

WR David Wallis (Randolph-Macon)

At 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, Wallis saw time in the slot during rookie minicamp. However, he produced all over the field in college. Wallis finished his career at Randolph-Mason with 146 receptions for 3,144 yards and 34 touchdowns. His 21.5 yards per reception is indicative of his big play ability. Wallis caught 41 passes for 1,189 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2022. Last season, he caught 53 passes for 957 yards and 12 touchdowns. As with other small-school players, the leap in competition from the Yellow Jackets to the Patriots will be difficult.

WR JaQuae Jackson (Rutgers)

Jackson is another small-school player. He started college with the California Vulcans in California, Penn. He finished at Rutgers in 2023. Jackson caught 22 passes for 361 yards and one touchdown for the Scarlet Knights. Pro Football Focus gave him a 73.3 grade for the season. His highest game grade (77.5) came against the national champion Michigan Wolverines. Despite a lack of big-time production or experience, New England obviously sees something in Jackson. He stands 6-foot-1, weighs 183 pounds, and ran a 4.51 at Rutgers Pro Day.

TE Jacob Warren (Tennessee)

Warren is a sleeper to make the New England Patriots 53-man roster out of camp. He has the size to fill a role (blocking tight end) that nobody else on the roster seems capable of. Pharaoh Brown occupied that spot last season for New England. Warren played six seasons with the Volunteers. He stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 253 pounds. New England hopes tight ends coach Bob Bicknell helps Warren reach his potential, of which plenty certainly exists. He earned SEC All-Academic Team honors a record five times. Warren was also honored multiple times for his tremendous work in the community and as a team leader, on and off the field. He did not excel as a blocker in college, but with his size, strength, and intelligence, there is reason for optimism that he can become a solid blocker in the NFL if he puts in the work.

OT Zuri Henry (UTEP)

Despite being a sixth-year senior, Henry remains a very raw prospect. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 293 pounds, Henry can still add significant bulk to his frame. This would come with added strength as well. He played in all 13 games in 2023, four at right tackle and nine at left tackle. He committed 12 penalties last season, which doubled his previous high. Henry can develop into a swing tackle if he takes to coaching and puts in the work in the weight room. Henry is unlikely to compete for a roster spot out of camp. The more likely scenario is bringing him back to the practice squad. With added bulk and discipline, Henry could have an NFL future.

OC Charles Turner III (LSU)

Turner started two seasons at center for LSU. He played some tackle but has been called a “center-only” prospect by some draft analysts. Turner participated in both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 309 pounds. Pro Football Focus gave Turner a 66.6 grade for his 2023 season when he was a fifth-year senior. In the Seven Round NFL Mock Draft on Patriots Football Now, Turner was a Round 7 selection. If he wants to make the 53-man roster, Turner must show that he can play more than just center. Any reserve needs to show they can play multiple positions. If the Patriots can get him back on the practice squad, they can try to develop Turner to be a future replacement for David Andrews.

DE John Morgan III (Arkansas)

Morgan is a unique prospect. He has good size (270 lbs) but less-than-ideal height on the edge at 6-foot-2. He played five seasons at Pitt, where he was a disruptive force. Morgan had 36 QB pressures in his final season with the Panthers. Morgan took a step backward in his lone season with Arkansas. He has good athleticism for a man of his size, running a 4.60 40-yard dash and posting a 35″ vertical jump. The New England Patriots lack players who can put their hand in the dirt at defensive end, outside of starters Deatrich Wise Jr. and Keion White. This leaves an opening for Morgan to make an impression in camp.

DE Jothan Russell (Australia/IPPP)

Russell is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. As a result, he does not count towards the Patriots 90-man roster. He is only 20 years old, so there is still plenty of time for him to adapt to the NFL game. Russell, a former rugby player, stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 239 pounds. He needs to bulk up to play defensive end in the NFL. He could make an impression on special teams, especially with the league’s new kickoff rules. New England had previous success through the IPPP with fullback Jakob Johnson.

LB Steele Chambers (Ohio State)

Chambers began his Buckeyes career as a running back, appearing in 11 games. He switched to linebacker, where he played 39 games over the past three seasons. This included his final 29 games as a starter. His 50 games of big-time college football make him an experienced rookie. Like Turner, Chambers was projected by PFN to get selected in the draft. He is undersized for a linebacker at 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds. He ran a 4.58 40-yard dash at Ohio State’s Pro Day. If Chambers sticks with the Patriots his best path is to contribute on special teams. New England could also attempt to make him a hybrid linebacker-safety in the mold of Marte Mapu.

CB Kaleb Ford-Dement (Texas State)

Ford-Dement did not play high school football until his senior season. So, despite six years in college, he is still a player with great potential to continue improving. His college stops included Kilgore College, Old Dominion, and Washington State, before finishing up at Texas State. When the cornerback entered the transfer portal after leaving Old Dominion, he held offers from many major programs, including Georgia. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder ran a 4.47 in the 40. Cornerback has been one of the most successful positions for UDFAs in New England, so Fore-Dement is a player worth watching.

CB Mikey Victor (Alabama State)

Victor attended junior college and then UNLV before transferring to Alabama State where he played the past two seasons. He has excellent size to play cornerback, listed at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds. Last season he played in 10 games, recording 36 tackles (31 solo) and two interceptions. He was the only non-Crimson Tide player invited to participate in Alabama’s Pro Day this spring. Playing among some of the top prospects in the draft, Victor fit right in and impressed. The Raiders draft his brother Azeem Victor in the sixth round (No. 216) of the 2018 NFL Draft. Like Ford-Dement, the opening is there for Victor to make the team if he impresses in camp. His unique combination of size and athleticism makes him in intriguing prospect.

S Dell Pettus (Troy)

Pettus was not on many pre-draft boards, but clearly caught the attention of the Patriots’ front office. His signing was the first announced for New England following the draft. Pettus brings plenty of experience after starting 61 consecutive games for the Trojans. Pettus made Pro Football Focus’ freshman All-American Team in 2019. He finished his collegiate career with 326 tackles (254 solo), He played over 3,500 career snaps. Like most UDFA prospects, Pettus showing he can contribute on special teams and as a safety is important if he hopes to impress in training camp. Behind starters Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers, opportunity exits. Jaylinn Hawkins is new to New England, Marte Mapu is a hybrid safety, and Joshuah Bledsoe has yet to stick with the 53-man roster thus far. Dell Pettus could be this year’s surprise on the 53-man roster.

At least eight of these players have a legitimate opportunity to make the New England Patriots 53-man roster with a big showing in training camp This means showing something every day in practice, in workouts, and in the preseason games. Others have a chance to stick as part of the practice squad and develop further. Eliot Wolf has been stressing the importance of “draft and develop” but these undrafted players are looking to show they can play too.