Why Patriots kept undrafted Elijah Ponder and cut a 2025 5th-round pick originally appeared on The Sporting News
Mike Vrabel made it clear from the start of his tenure as the New England Patriots' new head coach:
Roster spots would be earned, not given.
Nowhere was that more clear than at linebacker.
The Patriots kept undrafted Elijah Ponder out of Cal Poly, and they cut this year's fifth-round pick, Bradyn Swinson out of LSU.
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ESPN's Mike Clay broke this decision down further in a new article out Sunday:
How undrafted Elijah Ponder made the Patriots' roster
Ponder did everything right during camp, including playing a key role on special teams.