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Undrafted Rookie Could have Inside Track to Making Patriots' Roster
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- Undrafted Rookie Could have Inside Track to Making Patriots' Roster
Undrafted Rookie Could have Inside Track to Making Patriots' Roster originally appeared on NESN . Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
When the Patriots take the field for their preseason opener against the Colts , the player to watch could be someone who didn't hear his name called in April's draft.
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Undrafted rookie linebacker Khalil Jacobs is turning heads at Patriots camp, including coach Mike Vrabel's.
"He loves football," Vrabel told reporters . "He's here a lot. He was here in the offseason, through the minicamps, early, staying late. He stays late. I see him here all the time."
Jacobs had five tackles for loss and 47 tackles overall at Missouri in his senior season. While he slid out of the draft due in part to a disappointing 40-yard dash time, Vrabel said the rookie's "play speed" is different than his 40 time would indicate.
"To his credit, he plays a lot faster than whatever his 40 was," Vrabel said. "He has a play speed about him, and sometimes he knows where he's going, and sometimes he doesn't, but he still kind of goes pretty quick wherever he decides to go."
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Jacobs could be in position to make the Patriots' final 53-man roster, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss .
"He's getting reps on top special teams units, and in recent days seems to have overtaken veteran K.J. Britt for a backup role on defense behind starters Robert Spillane , Christian Elliss and No. 3 option Chad Muma ," Reiss reported Saturday.
If Jacobs is indeed the Patriots' fourth linebacker, he is in line to be on the roster after the Aug. 30 deadline and into the regular season.
Here's a closer look at the Patriots' linebacker room.
Patriots LB Depth Chart
| Rank |
LB |
LB |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Robert Spillane |
Christian Elliss |
| 2 |
Chad Muma |
Khalil Jacobs |
| 3 |
Namdi Obiazor |
K.J. Britt |
| 4 |
Spillane and Elliss are locked in as starters for the Patriots, while Muma finished last season with the Patriots and appears to be the lead contender to be New England 's top backup, based on Reiss' reporting.
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Jacobs could have a leg up on Britt for the next spot, while sixth-round rookie Namdi Obiazor and third-year undrafted LB Amari Gainer are also competing for roster spots.
