Patriots HC Jerod Mayo has telling answer about one UDFA's chance of making the 53-man roster

FOXBOROUGH, Mass - For a long time, the New England Patriots had a streak of one or more undrafted free agents making the roster at the end of training camp.

But after 19 years, that came to an end going into the 2023 season, which also happened to be Bill Belichick's final season as head coach of the Patriots.

However, when one streak ends, another one can begin.

And that's exactly what new head coach Jerod Mayo said when speaking with reporters on Friday about the importance of UDFA's making the roster. Specifically, he highlighted this because it allows them to know that the Patriots are a team where they will always have a fair shot.

" I always tell those guys they all were on teams in college where a five-star would come in or a four-star would come in and everyone's like, ‘Ooh,’ but they're trash," Mayo explained. "So, you have that one-star player that actually makes the team.

"I think it's important, and once again, going back to competition and going back to [how] my job is to put the best player on the field no matter where you drafted them. So, that's kind of how I think about it."

There have been one name that's continuously come up during each and every practice: Dell Pettus.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound defensive back spent five seasons at Troy, where he started 61 consecutive games. He finished his career with 303 total tackles, 13 passes defended, one sack, and one interception, along with one return touchdown

But the Patriots have a very talented safeties room, including Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers who both signed extensions with the team.

However, that just meant Pettus had to go out there and prove himself. And he has certainly done that, with his efforts not going unnoticed.

"He's done a fantastic job," Mayo said. "There's been a lot of conversation around him, but he's done a fantastic job up until this point."

So what exactly are those conversations? Could they have something to do with him making the 53-man roster?

"But it is important that those guys go out here and realize, ‘I can play at this level.’ There's always this imposter syndrome where, ‘Am I good enough, or am I not good enough?,’ Mayo added. "For a guy like Dell Pettus, for example, to go out and make those plays just continues to boost his confidence."

He's done enough to earn a spot, but it's up to the coaching staff now.