The Patriots just grabbed a defensive tackle who’s played all of 35 snaps in his entire NFL career. Sounds like a gamble, right? Look at the numbers instead. Casey Rogers posted a 9.82 Relative Athletic Score, which ranks him 34th out of 1,809 defensive tackles from 1987 to 2024. According to Pats Pulpit, that metric flags him as an elite athlete who never got a fair shot to prove his worth on the field.
Most teams chase veterans with big stats, but New England is betting on pure physical tools. Rogers is 27, stands 6-foot-4, and weighs in at 294 pounds. He hit the ground running in East Rutherford for a workout and locked up a contract before the weekend even wrapped. The team cut linebacker Otis Reese to clear the spot, proving they value a pass-rushing interior lineman over a depth linebacker right now. This move fills the roster while adding a player who excels at attacking from the 3-technique position.
That’s the real story here.
The Coaching Connection
This isn’t just about body type; the Patriots know this player from the inside out. Defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr worked with Rogers when he was a defensive assistant for the New York Giants. Shane Bowen, the former Giants defensive coordinator, knows the Oregon product well since he joined the Patriots as an analyst earlier this year. Even Ryan Cowden, the vice president of player personnel, was part of the New York staff that signed Rogers as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Per Pats Pulpit, this deep familiarity with the coaching staff should make his transition to the Patriots system much smoother than a typical rookie.
Rogers spent time with the Giants and the Buffalo Bills, but he never got on the field enough to show his skills. He played just three career games and recorded zero statistics. His most recent stop was with the UFL’s DC Defenders, where he likely kept his legs sharp for a return to the NFL. The coaching staff sees a player who is “best suited to attack” and brings an “intriguing athletic profile” that the current roster lacks. They aren’t signing him to stop the run immediately; they want him to collapse the pocket and pressure the quarterback.
Roster Chaos and Practice Returns
The signing created immediate ripple effects on the 90-man roster. Rogers took jersey number 96, which was previously assigned to undrafted rookie David Blay Jr. Blay Jr. was notably absent from practice on Monday, suggesting he has been cut or moved to make room. The Patriots now have 10 defensive tackles on the roster, a number that feels heavy but necessary for a long training camp. Terrell Jennings, the running back, debuted in practice on Monday following his activation from the non-football injury list.
Jennings is 25 and has appeared in 10 games, tallying 115 yards and a touchdown. His return adds depth to a backfield that needs bodies as the season approaches. Bad weather drove the team’s eighth training camp session indoors on Monday, though the squad did hold it. Fans couldn’t attend this session, which was moved to a closed facility. The next practice is set for Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. ET, and the team will likely continue to trim the roster as camp wears on.
This signing is a classic low-risk, high-reward play by a staff that knows exactly what it’s getting. Rogers has the tools to be a rotational force, and the coaching staff is ready to teach him the system. If he can finally get on the field and use that 9.82 athletic score, he could become a key piece for the defense. The Patriots are building a squad that can protect Drake Maye, and a pass-rushing tackle is exactly what they need to make that happen.
