The Patriots' additions this offseason have been widely met with praise from Pats Nation and the broader NFL alike. Things kicked off with the hirings of Josh McDaniels and Terrell Williams to the coordinator positions, followed by the signings of high-profile players like Milton Williams and Robert Spillane on the first day of free agency.
After a highly praised draft, the team looks to be in pole position to make a leap in 2025, but that doesn't mean there isn't an opportunity for some under-the-radar players to grab the final few roster spots.
Long shot candidates to make the 2025 squad are all holdovers from Jerod Mayo's tenure
TE | Jack Westover
The Patriots' tight ends showed some solid play last year, with Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper combining for 111 catches and north of 1,000 yards. With both of them under contract for 2025, the role up for grabs comes through the TE3 slot. 2024 seventh-round pick Jaheim Bell occupied the role last season, catching 2 of 3 targets for 20 yards.
Westover was elevated from the practice squad for the final game of the season, but did not record a snap. With a full offseason ahead, though, he has the opportunity to make a push for the TE3 role. The bulk of Westover's college production at Washington came in his final two seasons, in which he totalled 775 yards from 77 catches and four touchdowns.
He also rushed for a one-yard touchdown during his only carry during his fifth season at UW. His prototypical size is interesting: at 6'3" | 248 lbs, he may offer more as an in-line blocker than Bell does, something the TE3 tends to do a lot of.
While it will certainly be an uphill battle, a full offseason may be what the nearly 26-year-old needs to make a push to be a Patriot in 2025.
LB | Monty Rice
Rice is a particularly intriguing player given his background. A top hundred pick in 2021 from the University of Georgia, he totaled 219 tackles across his four seasons with the Bulldogs. Rice played with college stars Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, who were key to Georgia's stellar 2021 National Championship-winning team.
He ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, and his production combined with this athleticism was enough for then-Titans HC Mike Vrabel to make the call and take him in the third round. After a disappointing rookie year, Rice stepped up in 2022, recording 66 total tackles and a solid 73.8 PFF run defense grade. However, Rice would play just 86 snaps the next season and eventually be released.
The linebacker room is deep, but Rice has a chance to make some waves. Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss seem to be the only true locks at the moment, with the pair receiving new contracts this offseason. Jack Gibbens was signed to a one-year deal, while Jahlani Tavai took a step back from his excellent 2023 season.
If Rice has a strong offseason, the team may be willing to part ways with Tavai's more expensive contract and offer Rice the backup role. With his college play, he won over Vrabel once, and now he has the chance to do so again.
CB | Miles Battle
The addition of Carlton Davis means the team will have a pair of lockdown cornerbacks for Terrell Williams' defense, and with Marcus Jones patrolling the slot, the starters seem pretty secure. Alex Austin has shown strong play over the past two seasons, meaning he will likely slide into the CB4 role, but what might the group look like after that?
During the draft, the team added Mr. Irrelevant, Kobee Minor, from Memphis, and has selected a few defensive backs on day three over the past few seasons. The issue is that none have shown any real juice: Marcellas Dial and Isaiah Bolden have almost exclusively played special teams. Miles Battle was active for only the final game of the season last year, but aside from Joe Milton, he may have had the best day. He allowed a single catch for just 11 yards on five targets and recorded an 80.6 PFF grade.
At 6'4" with 4.3 speed, Battle has shown solid coverage ability and has the makings of a great special-teams player. Of all the backup defensive backs, he may have the greatest opportunity to come out on top as a Patriot in 2025.