The New England Patriots might have discovered a diamond within the tough.
Undrafted free agent Elijah Ponder appeared like an extended shot to make the 53-man roster, however judging by his place coach’s phrases, that will now not be the case.
Patriots OLB coach Mike Smith had nothing however constructive issues to say concerning the Cal Poly product.
“He’s bought this very uncommon capability of choosing up issues fast and appear to be he’s finished it from Day One. … Has an especially vibrant future. In all probability among the finest free agent pickups I’ve ever seen,” Smith mentioned, through Phil Perry of NBCS Boston.
Patriots OLB coach Mike Smith on undrafted rookie Elijah Ponder:
“He’s bought this very uncommon capability of choosing up issues fast and appear to be he’s finished it from Day 1… Has an especially vibrant future. In all probability among the finest free agent pickups I’ve ever seen.“ pic.twitter.com/AcEx9SmO3o
— Phil Perry (@PhilAPerry) August 19, 2025
The Patriots emphasised bolstering their move rush this offseason.
They chose Bradyn Swinson within the fifth spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft, signed Okay’Lavon Chaisson, and spent to reunite former Tennessee Titans star Harold Landry III with head coach Mike Vrabel.
Swinson and Chaisson needs to be forward of Ponder on the depth chart, however that may not be the case for for much longer.
Ponder is a mesmerizing athlete, and although he could also be just a little undersized for the place, he has the explosiveness and aggressiveness to make up for that.
He’s finished a stable job of choosing issues up instantly, and that may take a hard-working participant a great distance.
The athleticism is there, and the Patriots know they’re nonetheless a methods away from getting again to their profitable custom.
So they’ll depart no stone unturned of their pursuit of the hardest-working opponents, even when they didn’t enter the league with a variety of hype or spectacular draft credentials.
