Going into the 2025 offseason, it was clear significant changes were going to be made to the roster under new head coach Mike Vrabel. This was further highlighted by the decision not to re-sign, and the release of nearly all the team's longest-tenured players, including David Andrews, Joe Cardona, and Deatrich Wise Jr.
All of those decisions meant pass rusher Anfernee Jennings became the last remaining player to have been on the team for more than three years. It also meant that he was put under the microscope during the offseason and now training camp, as many defenders were signed or drafted who were handpicked by the new regime.
Although Jennings has been far from a bust since he was drafted in the third round of the 2020 draft, he hasn't made the kind of mark that the team was hoping for. His most productive season was last year, prompting many to believe he might build upon that, but Vrabel's decision to keep him in for almost the entirety of the preseason opener seems to indicate he hasn't done that yet.
Anfernee Jennings still in the game with a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. Not an encouraging sign for one of the Patriots' longest-tenured players.
— Zack Cox (@zm_cox) August 9, 2025
Anfernee Jennings has a long way to go before securing a spot on the Patriots' 2025 roster
The Patriots' depth on the edge is considered one of the weaker areas on the roster, so that seemed to give a player like Jennings an open door to compete for a spot on the team. There was hope from fans that he would rise to the occasion, while some already predicted he had almost no chance of making the team.
The unfortunate part about his summer so far is that other players are taking the spotlight and proving they can be more of a force on the field than he, especially players with whom Vrabel has a history, like Harold Landry. That's only making Jennings' path to the roster even more difficult.
He certainly didn't help himself with a less-than-memorable performance against the Commanders on Friday night, and that was on full display due to Vrabel keeping him in the game much longer than any other potential starter.
That's not a great sign for Jennings' future in New England, but he still has two more games and plenty of practices to change the coach's opinion, and he will have to ensure that happens as soon as possible. Otherwise, he will likely be looking for a new team before the regular season begins.