New England Patriots: Undrafted rookie wideout Isaiah Zuber is a steal

After the former standout receiver from Kansas State went undrafted, Isaiah Zuber has the opportunity of a lifetime to make the New England Patriots roster.

Undrafted rookie free agent wide receiver Isaiah Zuber could very well be the biggest steal of the year for the New England Patriots.

Isaiah Zuber — 6’0, 190 lbs — spent his first three years playing in every game for Kansas State before playing his final collegiate season at Mississippi State. Zuber left Kansas State ranked eighth in school history with the most career receptions (127), tied for 10th place with the most career touchdowns (11), and his 1,321 career receiving yards ranks him 22nd all-time in school history.

He didn’t play too much last season at Mississippi State, but Zuber did see time in all 13 games (with three starts) for the Bulldogs and caught 14 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns.

Zuber went on to finish his college career with 141 total receptions producing 1,532 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.

It’s fair to say that Zuber — who was primarily a slot receiver in college — joins the New England Patriots with plenty of prior experience already under his belt that could prove beneficial for both him and the team in the near future.

Zuber would be a great addition to the retooling Patriots receiving group, as well as being a great complementary piece to Jarrett Stidham and N’Keal Harry.

The Patriots need to reestablish and reinvent their receiving corps for the betterment of their future. Following the blueprints that have been created over the last 20 years, New England can operate their offense with three capable wide receivers and a tight end.

I truly believe that a future receiving unit of Harry (6’4, 225 lbs) and Jakobi Meyers (6’2, 200 lbs) split out wide will work well with Zuber and Gunner Olszewski (6’, 190 lbs) floating around the slot positions next to them. It would be an amazing thing to happen, seeing as three of the four are undrafted players.

Zuber also established himself as being an elite-level returner, which is something else the Patriots are intrigued by.

In 2018, Zuber ranked at the top of the BIG 12 with the sixth most punt returns (10), the second most punt return yards (178), and the second most punt return touchdowns (1) — which also ranked sixth in the entire NCAA. He finished his college career with 11 punt returns for 180 yards, averaged 16.4 yards per return, and scored one touchdown.

In the same year, Zuber also ranked at the top of the BIG 12 with the sixth most kickoff returns (19), the seventh most kickoff return yards (309), and the seventh most yards per return (16.3).

The following year in 2019, Zuber had 12 kickoff returns — which was good for the fifth most in the SEC. He finished his college career with 33 kickoff returns for 513 yards and averaged 15.5 yards per return.

Although the New England Patriots have brought in seven additional undrafted slot receivers this offseason, Isaiah Zuber has a great deal of experience. Especially when you add in his versatility as a returner, there’s a strong chance that he will be the best of the bunch.