A review of the New England Patriots' 2026 undrafted rookie free agent class.
The 2026 NFL Draft has come and gone. Maneuvering all around the board, the New England Patriots selected nine players when they were on the clock.
But when the clock struck zero on the draft, New England’s roster build was still far from complete. With several openings on their initial 90-man roster, the Patriots turned to undrafted rookie free agents to fill slots with developmental talent for the spring and summer — with the opportunity for lesser known players to make a lasting impression and push for a roster spot.
New England had at least one undrafted rookie make the roster in each season from 2004-2022 (19 consecutive seasons), and has rostered at least one undrafted rookie free agent in 21 of the last 22 seasons. Last year, the Patriots’ undrafted rookie class was highlighted by WR Efton Chism III and EDGE Elijah Ponder.
Following this year’s draft, New England filled several positions of need that weren’t addressed in the draft with 12 rookie free agent signings.
Here’s a look at each of them:
Tanner Arkin, TE, Illinois
Tanner Arkin brings good size to the tight end position at 6'4" and 262 pounds, which helped him become a reliable run blocker throughout his college career. After beginning at Colorado State, he transferred to Illinois and caught just 30 passes over his final three seasons. In 2025, he recorded 11 receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns on limited snaps. He developed into a plus in-line blocker that was used primarily as an extension of the offensive line with strong hands and consistent effort. Arkin earned a run blocking grade of 77.2 last season, which ranked fourth among FBS tight ends with at least 300 blocking snaps (per PFF).
David Blay, NT, Miami
David Blay joins the Patriots after earning All-ACC Honorable Mention honors in his final season at Miami. He started his collegiate career in Division II before moving through Conference USA and into the ACC. The nose tackle arrived as more of a penetrator than a space-eater, using quick first-step quickness to collapse pockets and disrupt run lanes. Blay fills one of New England’s lone remaining positions of immediate need, and the front office’s connection with Miami suggests they have solid intel on what the player brings to the table as he makes his way up to Foxboro. Blay is an intriguing undrafted free agent addition.
Channing Canada, CB, TCU
Channing Canada arrived at TCU as a JUCO transfer and went on to play 38 games over three seasons with the Horned Frogs. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback posted two interceptions while showing the ability to stay sticky in coverage against Big 12 receivers. He clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash in the pre-draft process, ranking in the 92nd percentile among cornerbacks since 1999. Canada’s combination of straight-line speed and fluid hip movement gave him the tools to challenge receivers at the line and carry them downfield.
Nick DeGennaro, WR, James Madison
Nick DeGennaro, a six-year senior who previously played at Maryland and Richmond, lined up primarily on the outside and also contributed as a punt returner. The 6-foot, 196-pounder posted 28 catches for 500 yards and five touchdowns in his single season at James Madison in 2025. He produced several key moments in the College Football Playoff and consistently showed reliable hands with the ability to find soft spots in zone coverage.
Kyle Dixon, WR, Culver-Stockton
Kyle Dixon checks in at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds and ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash ahead of the draft. Over 22 games with the NAIA Wildcats, he recorded 143 receptions for 2,394 yards and 24 touchdowns. His combination of size and athleticism made him a standout at the lower level, and he secured one of the stronger guarantee packages among undrafted free agents this spring.
Cameron Dorner, WR, North Texas
Cameron Dorner transferred from Division II and delivered 56 catches for 911 yards and eight touchdowns for North Texas in 2025, earning Third Team All-American Athletic Conference honors. He dropped only one pass all season and repeatedly created yards after the catch with quickness in open space. Dorner helped the Mean Green set a program record for wins while showing dependable hands and the ability to contribute on all three downs.
Kenneth Harris, CB, Oklahoma State
Kenneth Harris is a sixth-year senior and 6-foot cornerback who also saw time at safety during stops at Arkansas State and Oklahoma State. In his final season he tallied 33 tackles, one sack, and six pass breakups. His length and physical style showed up in press coverage and run support, and he turned heads with a viral bench-press video of 22 reps during the pre-draft process.
Khalil Jacobs, LB, Missouri
Khalil Jacobs, a 22-year-old captain at Missouri, recorded 47 tackles in 2025. He earned a Top 30 visit to Foxboro during the pre-draft process and stood out for his sideline-to-sideline speed plus special-teams production. Jacobs displayed assignment soundness and versatility that translated well across multiple defensive schemes for the Tigers.
Jimmy Kibble, WR, Georgetown
Jimmy Kibble served as team captain for Georgetown in his final season and posted a career-high 63 receptions for 1,002 yards and four touchdowns. He finished his college career fourth in program history with 2,593 receiving yards. Kibble was a production machine against solid Patriot League competition, showing reliable hands and the ability to win contested catches.
Myles Montgomery, RB, UCF
Myles Montgomery began his career at Cincinnati before spending two seasons at UCF. Across 41 games and 10 starts he carried the ball 274 times for 1,546 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2025, the 5-foot-10, 205-pound back was named a team captain and led the Knights in rushing with 705 yards and four touchdowns. His low center of gravity and return skills were consistent strengths throughout his career. Montgomery’s athletic profile and special teams versatility make him an undrafted addition to keep an eye on as the Patriots search for an answer behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson in the backfield.
JonDarius Morgan, IOL, UAB
JonDarius Morgan started his career at South Carolina before transferring to UAB, where he started 24 games at right guard over the final two seasons. He showed steady consistency in both pass protection and run blocking at the Group of Five level. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound guard capped 2025 by allowing zero sacks.
Jacob Rizy, IOL, Harvard
Jacob Rizy is a versatile interior lineman who can play center or guard. His quickness and football intelligence helped him maintain balance and effectiveness in pass protection throughout his college career. The Harvard product combines solid size with strong athletic testing, registering a 9.88 Relative Athletic Score in the pre-draft process — making him an intriguing depth addition to an increasingly athletic New England front line.
Looking Ahead
Whether it be along the interior of the offensive line, a run-stuffing nose tackle, a blocking tight end, or developmental talent out-wide, New England’s undrafted rookie free agent class shows promise to provide additional depth at position groups that were running thin.
Who do you think has the best chance to make the Patriots’ final 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2026? Let us know in the comments section below.
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