Patriots: Did Pats scout find hidden gem in newest wide receiver?

The New England Patriots’ elite scouting department helped Bill Belichick and the front office dominate the draft back in April after years of disappointing showings in the annual event.

Well, per the latest offseason buzz, an unnamed member of that group helped the Pats find a potential gem at the wide receiver position.

According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots have elected to sign wideout Devin Ross, who tried out for the team at mandatory minicamp, to their 90-man roster.

The backstory regarding Ross’ deal is particularly noteworthy.

Per Reiss, the Colorado product worked out at Hub2020, a sports performance center in San Diego, where the Patriots’ scout spotted him and invited him for a tryout.

Did a Patriots scout find a hidden gem in new wideout Devin Ross?

The Patriots currently have a logjam at WR, so Ross will have an uphill climb to make the final roster out of training camp. However, the fact the coaching staff even trusted the scout’s intel to give him a tryout and proceeded to sign him to the 90-man roster speaks volumes.

It goes without saying that most NFL teams look for extra bodies during the offseason, but the Ross signing just feels a little different. Over four years at Colorado, the 25-year-old logged 143 catches for 1,643 yards and nine touchdowns, with his best year coming as a junior, when he racked up 69 receptions for 787 yards and five scores.

Ross went undrafted back in 2018 and has yet to appear in a game at the NFL level despite having pit stops with the Titans, Eagles and Pats. That would suggest his odds of making the 53-man roster are slim, but let’s not act like New England’s WR room is loaded with high-end talent.

The way we see it, the fourth, fifth and sixth spots on the team are up for grabs and will come down to Ross, N’Keal Harry, Gunner Olszewski, Isaiah Zuber, Marvin Hall, Devin Smith, Kristian Wilkerson, and seventh-round draft pick Tre Nixon.

The Patriots’ preach roster continuity, and the fact Ross has a history with the franchise bodes well for his rest-of-offseason outlook. The 5-foot-11 speedster spent time with their practice squad last before being cut in October … despite being a standout during training camp.

It’s anyone’s guess as to how long Ross will last with the Patriots this time around, but this is definitely a storyline worth monitoring for fans. After all, New England could use as many dynamic playmakers as the scouting department can find, and Ross seems to fit that bill.

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