New England Patriots add four players to 53-man roster with No. 3 waiver claim

Eliot Wolf said the New England Patriots were going to be busy with the waiver wire on Wednesday, and he wasn't kidding.

The team had the No. 3 waiver claim and signed four players to the 53-man roster.

"Yeah, I mean, I think it's very clear. We have to improve as a whole," Mayo said about the decision to claim four players. "We have to improve up front. We felt like we did that with claiming those players."

So here's a little bit more about the four new faces on the Patriots roster:

OT Zachary Thomas

It's no secret that the New England Patriots need some help at tackle. So the team picked up two players on the waiver wire after final roster cuts. Thomas was drafted out of San Diego State in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound tackle started his rookie year on the Chicago Bears practice squad. However, in November, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams off the Bears practice squad. But after spending part of the 2022 season and all of the 2023 preseason with the Rams, he was released and claimed by the Patriots.

Thomas is versatile, having moved to guard this preseason despite being drafted as a tackle.

OT Demontrey Jacobs

Next up is Demontry Jacobs who went undrafted out of USF in 2023. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive tackle comes from the Denver Broncos after spending his entire rookie season on the practice squad.

LB Curtis Jacobs

Curtis Jacobs went undrafted in 2024 and was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs after the preseason. The 6-foot-1, 241-pound linebacker started 36 games at Penn State, recording 170 tackles and 9.5 sacks. He also ended with one forced fumble, two interceptions, and one touchdown.

DT Eric Johnson

Johnson joins the Patriots from the Indianapolis Colts after being selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The 6-foot-4, 299-pound defensive lineman appeared in 28 games with the Colts, finishing with 18 total tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery.

To make room for the four players claimed off waivers, the Patriots released four players: CB Isaiah Bolden, DT Trysten Hill, G Michael Jordan and WR Jalen Reagor.

Patriots sign 7 players to the practice squad:

T Liam Fornadel
RB Kevin Harris
RB Terrell Jennings
WR Matt Landers
DE Jotham Russell
DB A.J. Thomas
TE Mitchell Wilcox