FOXBORO -- The Patriots have a long history of holding onto undrafted players and turning them into contributors. This year, they decided to take four onto their initial 53-man roster.
Tight end Jacob Hollister, offensive lineman Cole Croston, linebacker Harvey Langi and defensive lineman Adam Butler all remained on Bill Belichick's active roster after cuts were made Saturday. They join the likes of Malcolm Butler, David Andrews and Jonathan Jones as the three most recent examples of undrafted players winning roster spots following impressive rookie camps.
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Notable names who did not make the cut were running back Brandon Bolden, tight end James O'Shaughnessy, defensive end Geneo Grissom, running back DJ Foster, receiver Devin Lucien, defensive lineman Darius Kilgo, guard Jamil Douglas, center James Ferentz, fullback Glenn Gronkowski, defensive lineman Woodrow Hamilton, offensive lineman Ted Karras, receivers KJ Maye and Tony Washington, and linebackers Trevor Bates and Jonathan Freeny. Rookie offensive lineman Conor McDermott, taken in the sixth round out of UCLA, was also waived.
A number of undrafted rookies were also released, including receivers Austin Carr and Cody Hollister (Jacob's twin brother), corners Kenny Moore and DJ Killings, safeties David Jones, Demarius Travis and Jason Thompson, corner/punt-returner Will Likely, defenisve lineman Josh Augusta, running back LeShun Daniels, linebacker Brooks Ellis, tight end Sam Cotton, defensive ends Mikey Bart and Nick Usher, and offensive linemen Max Rich and Jason King.
Undrafted rookie offensive lineman Andrew Jelks and defensive end Keionta Davis landed on the non-football injury list. Patriots third-round draft pick Antonio Garcia was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list.
New England Patriots
Julian Edelman, Cyrus Jones and Derek Rivers all landed on season-ending injured reserve.
The Patriots made a handful of trades this week -- including three on Saturday -- leading receiver Phillip Dorsett, linebacker Marquis Flowers, defensive end Cassius Marsh and corner Johnson Bademosi to land spots on the roster.