The New England Patriots made a flurry of free agent signings following April's draft. Among them were Illinois tight end Tanner Arkin and Culver-Stockton receiver Kyle Nixon, who were each among the highest-paid UDFAs in the league in terms of guarantees.
New England made several other signings, but after filling their roster at 91 players, it appeared they were satisfied with their rookie class. Instead, New England released three players last week before signing their 12th rookie free agent.
Khalil Jacobs, a linebacker from Missouri, was signed on Friday. The 22-year-old spent two seasons at South Alabama before transferring to the SEC. New England saw Jack Gibbens, Jahlani Tavai, and Marte Mapu all depart this offseason.
Khalil Jacobs has a real shot to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster
Given New England's clearout of the linebacker room, it isn't unreasonable to think Jacobs could find his way onto the roster, despite being signed later than other Patriots UDFAs.
Last season for the Tigers, Jacobs saw a significant increase in defensive snaps after being limited to five games in 2024. His growth as a player was clear during his second season in the SEC, as he recorded 47 tackles, three sacks, and two pass breakups with a 74.5 PFF grade. His missed tackle rate was just 6.4 percent, a fantastic figure.
Aside from his defensive performance last season, he played over 100 snaps on special teams, a key prerequisite for any UDFA looking to make the squad. New England signed veteran K.J. Britt this offseason, drafted Namdi Obiazor in the sixth round, and still has Chad Muma on the roster from last season. Amari Gainer and Otis Reese spent last season on the practice squad. No player stands out as a top depth option.
The interest the Patriots showed in Jacobs is impossible to ignore
Jacobs stands at 6-foot-1, 227 pounds. He ran a 4.77-second 40-yard dash, and his Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was a 6.44 out of 10. While his athleticism and production are generally average on paper, something off the field sticks out.
Jacobs met with the Patriots more than anyone else in the pre-draft process. Bernd Buchmasser of Pats Pulpit wrote the following on the SEC linebacker:
"When it comes to the frequency of meetings, nobody beats Khalil Jacobs. The Missouri linebacker met Patriots representatives at his pro day, later had a virtual meeting with the club, and also visited Gillette Stadium."
Meeting with an eventual UDFA so frequently is rare. All things considered, Jacobs making the team ahead of other linebackers on the roster bubble seems reasonable. Last season, the team had six linebackers on the roster by the end of the season.
Robert Spillane, Christian Elliss, and Muma are the three who remain, but Muma is far from a roster lock. Britt and Obiazor would appear to be the next in line, but Jacobs could prove to have enough value on special teams and as a blitzer (32 percent career pressure rate) to nab one of the final roster spots.
A strong summer will be key for the Florida native, but he would appear to have an inside track to nab one of the final roster spots, given his significant ties to the Patriots during the pre-draft process.
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