Preseason record may not matter, but individual performances certainly do. The Patriots finished their trio of games with a 2-1 record, which included both a blowout win and a loss that bracketed a down-to-the-wire game in Minnesota.
Among those who performed admirably through the three games was undrafted rookie Jeremiah Webb. He certainly had an uphill battle to make the roster, and he eventually lost the battle. In the end, eight wideouts officially made the roster, but two were subsequently released (Kendrick Bourne and Javon Baker) to make room for a pair of waiver claims.
Webb ended up on the practice squad, and for good reason. The 24-year-old had just 38 catches that totaled just over 700 yards in his three years at South Alabama, and his impact wasn't much felt at South Dakota before that. Despite this, he managed to make a real impact as a YAC receiver and as a return man.
How will Jeremiah Webb make an impact with the Patriots in 2025?
The former South Alabama Jaguar will struggle to make an immediate impact, but with Bourne and Baker no longer rostered, it seems Webb may have an opportunity to make an impact if someone goes down.
In three preseason games, he finished with six catches for 80 yards, but had a 59-yard kick return at the end of the first half against the Vikings and a 22-yard punt return that offered the offense better field position against the Giants.
New captain Marcus Jones has been a mainstay for the past few seasons as a slot corner, and there's no reason to think he won't continue to be. Should there come a time when he goes down with an injury, perhaps Webb steps in to replace him as a returner. Why risk injury to TreVeyon Henderson or Pop Douglas when the UDFA could get an opportunity to shine?
Although less likely, if Jones becomes too important a player to risk on punt returns, the team at least knows they have a contributor on the practice squad.
While Webb is one of the top candidates to make an impact, he's far from the only. John Jiles is a physical wideout who is entering his second season out of West Florida. He could have special teams upside. Cornerbacks Miles Battle and Kobee Minor played significant roles in the preseason, and both Bradyn Swinson and Truman Jones showed promise.
With practice squad elevations so common now, I'd reason each could see time, but Webb remains my No. 1 for now.