These Are Patriots’ Most Intriguing Undrafted Free Agent Additions

Some say the New England Patriots didn’t make the best picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, the Patriots have an incredible undrafted free agent class packed with talent. New England added sixteen undrafted free agents after the draft.

Running back J.J. Taylor is one of just six running backs on the 90-man roster. If Brandon Bolden, Rex Burkhead, Damien Harris, Sony Michel or James White sustain an injury in training camp, Taylor can easily jump in and help the team win. The running back averaged 5.6 yards per carry in his college career. He picked up 3,263 yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 62 catches, 487 yards and two more receiving touchdowns in four seasons. Taylor returned 41 kicks for 988 yards with a touchdown. He was brilliant at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.15-second short shuttle and 7-second three-cone drill. Taylor ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash with a 34.5-inch vertical leap, 9-feet, 10-inch broad jump and 19 bench press reps of 225 pounds.

How can such an impressive player go undrafted? Taylor is an inch-and-a-half shorter and 8 pounds lighter than Dion Lewis. If you decide to compare these two, you should know that Lewis ran a 4.62-second 40-yard dash at the 2011 combine with a 6.90-second three-cone, 4.18-second short shuttle, 34.5-inch vertical leap and 9-feet, 4-inch broad jump.

The Patriots added more undrafted free agent talents

Wide receiver Will Hastings is a nice addition because he was Jarrett Stidham’s slot receiver in 2017. He missed the NFL Scouting Combine but slipped. Hastings ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash with a rabbit-quick 6.55-second three-cone drill, 4.03-second short shuttle, 33-inch vertical leap and 9-feet, 8-inch broad jump. Hastings measures at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds, and many analysts say that he is undersized. What about Julian Edelman? He had 4.52-second 40-yard dash, 6.62-second three-cone drill, 3.92-second short shuttle, 36.5-inch vertical leap and 10-feet, 3-inch broad jump at 5-foot-10, 195 pounds.

Wide receiver Jeff Thomas was a threat during his college career. He measures at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds. Defensive end Nick Coe measures at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds, and his arms are almost 34 inches.

New England has all the talent to enter September with full speed.