Patriots Ink Undrafted Defensive Back out of Michigan

The New England Patriots seem to be collecting the final pieces of the puzzle. Head coach Bill Belichick made some big moves in the offseason and gathered the players who will fill up the holes on the roster. He is not done making changes as the Patriots have just decided to sign an undrafted defensive back.

Dough Kyed from Pro Football Focus was among the first to report that Brad Hawkins will get a deal with the Patriots after his tryout with the team.

Hawkins saw action in 56 games during his time with the Wolverines. He started 34 games, and yes, Belichick likes his potential. The 24-year-old is a former wide receiver. Will the Patriots make him switch positions? Hawkins delivered 178 tackles, eight pass deflections, and two forced fumbles at college. He played East-West Shrine Bowl but the Atlanta Falcons waived him in July.

Patriots sign defensive back, work out other players

Belichick had a chance to watch Jalen Elliott, Devin Hafford, and Daniel Wright perform on the field. These players tried their chances with the Patriots and we have a feeling that Belichick will make a few more moves heading into the new season.

The Detroit Lions got Elliott as an undrafted rookie in 2020 and he spent two seasons with the team. Matt Patricia worked with him during his time with the Lions and this connection may be really beneficial for the 24-year-old.

The Patriots signed Hafford as an undrafted player. However, they waived him before spring OTAs. Hafford saw action in 56 games and delivered 243 tackles, 12 interceptions, four fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble at college. In 2021, he picked off six passes.

Wright played 59 games with the Crimson Tide, delivering 115 tackles, one sac, and a couple of interceptions returned for 65 yards and one touchdown.

The Patriots seem to be well-prepared for the new season. Belichick and his players will meet Josh McDaniels in the preseason. It’s a challenging season for every member of the Patriots family, including both players and coaches. Let’s see if this is the right roster for the team.