1 undrafted free agent who will make Patriots’ 2024 roster

Now that the 2024 NFL Draft is well over, it’s time for teams like the New England Patriots to start figuring out their eventual 53-man roster.

This could be something that seems a lot easier said than done for this once-dominating franchise. The 2024 Patriots will be one far removed from the once long-standing dynasty, needing to fill a bunch of holes in their roster where talent and proven starters are lacking.

The Patriots walked out of the 2024 NFL Draft with eight picks, which they acquired over all seven rounds except for the fifth. But like with every draft, there are always some players left over that didn’t have the luxury of being selected in the draft’s seven rounds.

Trying to help build their roster through veteran free agency and then the draft, New England decided they needed to make some further additions by doing what all NFL teams do and dipping into the undrafted free agency pool, where they added 10 players.

Here are all 10 undrafted free agents the Patriots signed, per the team’s site:

• Charles Turner, OL, LSU
• Zuri Henry, OT, UTEP
• DeShaun Fenwick, RB, Oregon State
• Jacob Warren, TE, Tennessee
• S Dell Pettus, S, Troy
• Mikey Victor, CB, Alabama State
• Kaleb Ford-Dement, CB, Texas State
• John Morgan III, Edge, Arkansas
• Jett Bush, LB, Texas
• Jontrey Hunter, LB, Georgia State

These 10 players now have a chance to make a name for themselves, earning a second chance of sorts to make the Patriots’ roster and begin their professional careers. It’s a long road to making the 53-man roster, though, where each of these undrafted free agents will have to make it through things like mini-camps and OTAs before the 2024 NFL season kicks off in early September.

Looking at all 10 undrafted free agents the Patriots picked up, there are a few players that could easily find their way onto the roster simply because of position need alone. But if we had to pick only one to make the 53-man roster on the next-to-last Tuesday before the regular season begins, it would probably be Oregon State running back DeShaun Fenwick.

Oregon State’s DeShaun Fenwick has the best chance to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster

The former Patriots regime was notorious for signing undrafted free agents to their rosters over the years. In fact, it wasn’t until last season that New England ended an almost two-decade span by not having at least one undrafted rookie free agent signed make the regular season roster. That probably won’t be the case this year.

For one, the Patriots need to fill a lot of holes on their roster, specifically on the offensive side where they lack playmakers. That’s where DeShaun Fenwick could find his way onto the 53-man roster.

Fenwick is a big-bodied back who could find his way onto this year’s Patriots team as an early-down back. He started his career at South Carolina before transferring to Oregon State for the final three seasons of his collegiate career. He comes to the Patriots with tons of experience, playing in 50 total games. For his career, he averaged 5.3 yards per carry, recorded 20 total touchdowns from scrimmage, and gained 2,252 yards, per Sports-Reference. If not for Pac-12 leading rusher Damien Martinez, Fenwick likely could have had more production than he did.

Again, like most positions on offense, the running back position needs some added depth and talent. The Patriots did sign Antonio Gibson in free agency to go alongside Rhamondre Stevenson as the main backs. At 6 feet 2 inches, 230 pounds.