The New England Patriots concluded the 2026 NFL Draft with nine new players, but the additions didn't stop there. New England signed 11 UDFAs, among them four wide receivers, a pair of offensive linemen, and two cornerbacks.
While each went unselected and would thus be considered a long shot to make the team, two players stood out as ones the team may especially like.
In Mike Vrabel's first season as the head coach, three undrafted rookies stood out. Tight end C.J. Dippre, wide receiver Efton Chism III, and running back Lan Larison were all highly touted college players the team brought in to fill out their roster.
Dippre was the second strongest player at the NFL Combine with an Alabama pedigree, while Chism and Larison were each tremendous players at smaller colleges.
A fascinating aspect of each of their contracts was the significant guaranteed sums. Dippre received $264k, Chism $259k, and Larison $175k in guarantees through the lifetime of their contract. While it certainly doesn't make them a roster lock, it does often mean they are far closer to a spot on the final 53 than other UDFAs.
For example, Merrimack's Cole Birdow, who received only $20k in guarantees that same offseason, was waived in May.
If we take a look at UDFA contracts this year, two players stick out as having significant guaranteed money: Illinois tight end Tanner Arkin and Culver-Stockton wide receiver Kyle Nixon.
Two UDFAs could make the Patriots' roster in shocking fashion
Illinois's Arkin is a player I mentioned months ago as a great fit in Mike Vrabel's system as a blocker. Blocking tight ends are at a premium in today's game, and while Julian Hill was inked to do just that, it shouldn't leave the 22-year-old out of the picture if he has a strong camp.
His $272.5k guaranteed is the most ever given out during Vrabel's two-season tenure as head coach and the 8th most for any UDFA, according to Spotrac. Only one skill position player was paid more.
Furthermore, Culver-Stockton's Kyle Nixon has a chance to make a roster push. He reportedly received over $250k in guaranteed compensation in Vrabel's eyes. While each plays a significantly different role, there's reason to believe both could find their way onto the roster.
Tanner Arkin could carve out a role with his blocking
If you look at Arkin's college stats, they won't wow you. Tight ends are generally underutilized in the college game anyway, but he totaled just 114 yards all season from 13 catches, though he did nab a pair of touchdowns.
He had a 79.5 PFF run blocking grade, while halving his penalties to just two all season. His two touchdowns this year were both from play-action passes inside the ten.
Arkin, admittedly, doesn't offer much in the way of a receiver, but he won't have to in his projected role. Arkin will initially compete with C.J. Dippre and Jack Westover for a depth role, but could find himself an easier path to a roster spot in the event of an injury to Julian Hill or fellow rookie Eli Raridon.
A.J. Brown would throw a wrench in the receiver room
The Patriots' receiving corps is deep for now, but it may not be for long. A.J. Brown being traded to New England in June seems all but official at this point, while the compensation is expected to be a 2028 first-round pick, per Adam Schefter.
Brown is a superstar, but he also makes some players surplus to requirements, especially with the signing of Romeo Doubs. Specifically, Kayshon Boutte is a player who could either be included in the deal or otherwise shipped elsewhere.
Beyond Boutte, Mack Hollins is turning 33 and in a contract year, while Pop Douglas will also be a free agent at the end of the season. Hollins doesn't have trade value, but Douglas could be traded elsewhere for a Day 3 pick.
If Boutte and Douglas both have different homes come the start of the season, the receiving corps would feature Brown, Doubs, Hollins, Kyle Williams, and Chism. That's a strong room, but one that could fit one more if someone shows promise in preseason.
Kyle Dixon may be closer to a roster spot than we think
Last season, Nixon exploded for Culver-Stockton, an NAIA college in Canton, Missouri. In 11 games, he had 83 catches for 1,282 yards and 12 touchdowns. The season prior, he had similar success, with 60 catches for 1,112 yards and 12 touchdowns.
He played only two seasons of college football, beginning his career as a baseball player for Southern Illinois. In his first college football game, he had five catches for 189 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Coming in at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, he ran a 4.50s 40-yard dash and was ranked the 244th most athletic receiver out of 4,190 from 1987-2026, per the relative athletic score (RAS) metric. This puts him in the 94th percentile.
Should Dixon prove his worth in the preseason, he could be a major asset for New England. An athletic receiver with a background in a different sport sounds awfully Chris Hogan-esque, and the former lacrosse player thrived in Josh McDaniels' system during the mid-2010s.
The NAIA product would need a very strong offseason to force his way onto the roster, but given his contract, he is clearly well thought of by the staff and scouting department.
A long shot, but not unreasonable
Arkin and Nixon are far from roster locks, but they have a real shot to make the team. 2025 saw C.J. Dippre play in two games despite not making the initial roster, Chism catch 4 balls for 95 yards in three weeks, and Larison score a preseason touchdown before being placed on IR.
Impressive financial guarantees don't guarantee a roster spot, however. Jahvaree Ritzie signed a deal with $210k in guarantees last season, and he wasn't even offered a practice squad role. Conversely, Cal Poly's Elijah Ponder saw just $10k at signing ($110k in total guarantees), but had 4.0 sacks and a key fumble recovery in the AFCCG.
The Patriots have a talented roster, but expect the unexpected when it comes to Tanner Arkin and Kyle Nixon.
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