The New England Patriots finally hit the gridiron this offseason when they held their annual rookie minicamp over the weekend. The first glimpse of the 2025 rookie class went off without a hitch, leaving the Patriots to focus on the upcoming organized team activities (OTAs) that will begin on Monday, May 19.
A couple of newcomers will be attending the Patriots' OTAs after impressing Vrabel's coaching staff throughout minicamp. Defensive tackles Isaiah Iton, Mehki Butler, and Wilfried Pene have all been signed to NFL contracts, according to ESPN insider Miek Reiss, leaving time to tell if they will continue to impress once OTAs begin.
Unfortunately, the Patriots' latest roster transactions weren't great news for all of the latest minicamp attendees.
Patriots transactions:
🏈Released undrafted rookie OL Cole Birdow (Merrimack)
🏈Signed first-year DT Isaiah Iton (Titans/Rutgers) and undrafted rookie free agent G Mehki Butler (Arkansas State) and DT Wilfried Pene (Virginia Tech)
All 4 players were part of rookie minicamp.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 12, 2025
Patriots Release Rookie OL Cole Birdow Before OTAs
Reiss also reported that, along with their three signings, the Patriots released rookie offensive lineman Cole Birdow from his contract. The first-year blocker was one of New England's many undrafted free-agent signings since the 2025 NFL draft concluded.
Birdow, 24, is a local talent who began his collegiate career as a defensive lineman at Old Dominion in 2018. The 6-foot-5, 315-pounder only played three games with the Monarches before transferring to Merrimack College, which ended up being a terrific career move.
The fresh start eventually came with a position change, as Birdow transitioned to the offensive line during his Warriors run. His blocking improved with each passing season, culminating in career-best Pro Football Focus grades regarding pass protection (78.0), run blocking (62.7), and overall offense (67.1) in 2024.
Much to his dismay, Birdow couldn't parlay that success into a Patriots roster spot. Instead, the local rookie must wait for his next NFL opportunity to arise, potentially with a team that picks up some OL-related injuries once OTAs truly get underway.
In the meantime, Birdow's release indicates the Patriots are content with the new faces on their offensive line. Rookie blockers Will Campbell (4th overall), Jared Wilson (95th), and Marcus Bryant (220th) have the potential to be O-line mainstays for years to come, leaving it up to the first-year trio to prove exactly what they can do when OTAs begin next week.
New England's outlook will look that much better if rookie and veteran OLs step up to provide quarterback Drake Maye with the best protection possible. If everyone plays their part, the Patriots will be in a good spot to capitalize on their -145 odds on FanDuel Sportsbook to finish the 2025 campaign with over 7.5 wins.
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