The New England Patriots made nine selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, with five coming on offense and four on defense. Following the draft, they made a flurry of free agent signings, the most notable being Illinois tight end Tanner Arkin and Culver-Stockton wide receiver Kyle Nixon.
The Patriots began inviting players to their rookie minicamp this week, and several could be worth keeping an eye out for this preseason. Nine players were invited, including two-time All-MAC linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski and Indiana's National Championship-winning punter Mitch McCarthy.
One player who could make waves this offseason who's gotten less hype is Logan Collier. Collier, soon to be 26, played four seasons of college football at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky before transferring to North Alabama ahead of the 2024 season. After an unsuccessful mini-camp with the Bills last offseason, he went overseas to play for the Tampere Saints of the Finnish Maple League.
Collier finds himself with an AFC East minicamp invite for the second straight year, a massive opportunity to nab himself an NFL roster spot.
The Patriots could use help in the kick return game
The Patriots prioritize special teams now just as they did when Bill Belichick was the head coach. Even at their lowest during back-to-back 4-13 seasons, the unit has consistently been a bright spot.
Despite Mike Vrabel's hiring and inevitable staff overhaul ahead of the 2025 season, special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer was allowed to remain. Earlier this offseason, he inked a two-year extension with the team.
Players like Andy Borregales, Brenden Schooler, and Marcus Jones make the unit tick, but talent could still be added. Antonio Gibson had an excellent five-week stint as the primary kick returner last season before tearing his ACL, and the team struggled to find a capable replacement.
Towards the end of the season, it could be argued that the team's kick return game was a weakness.
Logan Collier could carve out a special teams role
Collier never blossomed as a receiver in college. In four seasons at LWU, he recorded 77 catches for 1,142 yards and 11 touchdowns. He never eclipsed 400 yards in a season. After transferring, he had only two catches for 39 yards in his single season with UNA.
While Collier's impact as a receiver was limited, he was a major asset in the return game. On 19 kick returns at LWU, he averaged 35.6 yards per return with four scores. He returned nine punts during his time in Kentucky, averaging 21.1 yards per return and finding the end zone once. At UNA, his return success was more limited. He averaged 22.6 yards per kick return and just 5.9 per punt return.
While the low level of competition in Collier's competition is a concern, his athleticism is not. He recently ran a 4.36s 40-yard dash, showing exactly why he was such an elite return man at the college level.
While Collier's journey may not be the most traditional, his grit could win him a roster spot. Three-time Pro Bowl return man KaVontae Turpin made stops in the Fan Controlled Football League and Poland before landing with the Cowboys less than a week before turning 26. While it's a long shot, perhaps Collier's journey could be similar.
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