Patriots undrafted free agent profiles: TE Jake Burt

Patriot fans have become accustomed to the ever present undrafted free agent (UDFA) on the roster. Every opening day roster since 2004 has seen one or more UDFA’s, a total of 34 players over that span. This year there are 16 Patriot hopefuls looking to extend the streak and make the final 53. Let’s take a look at each player and how they can make the roster.

Before you get into the magic check out my other profiles.

• Myles Bryant, CB, Washington
• Rashod Berry, TE/DE, Ohio State
• De’Jon “Scoota” Harris, LB, Arkansas
• Brian Lewerke, QB, Michigan State
• Bill Murray, DT, William and Mary
• Nick Coe, DE, Auburn
• Kyahva Tezino, LB, SDSU

Enough schilling my own content. Here’s what Burt is all about.

Jake Burt is living the dream of every New England kid who was born in the past 25 years. He was born in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, attended St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts, spent five years at Boston College and is now a member of the Patriots. I don’t even know if he’s ever left the state (even his agent is from Massachusetts).

Figuring out what kind of player Burt is was a bit of a challenge, though. The 6’3” 260 lbs tight end played in 36 games at BC but only recorded 23 career receptions. His limited production was a product of the Eagles’ offense, or should I say, the A.J. Dillon show. In 2019 Dillon ran the ball a total of 318 times, the Eagles as a team, threw the ball 303 times. No wonder Burt didn’t have many catches.

Through their outrageously predictable offense — Boston College was twice as likely to run the ball then throw it — Burt learned how to run block pretty well. Here are a few examples I shared on Twitter:

Considering what he had to work with, Burt is a pretty impressive player. He’s not going to wow you or anything but he get’s the job done. It will be interesting to see how he fits in New England’s system. The team is likely to keep the two drafted rookies Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene as well as a veteran — either Matt LaCosse or Ryan Izzo — so he’s fighting for a spot that isn’t necessarily there. He will have to carve one out for himself to make this roster.

Burt is projected to see plenty of time in the preseason, however, as I expect the Patriots to run a lot of two tight end sets so that will help him see the field. With only six tight ends (maybe five, Berry listed himself as an outside linebacker on his twitter page) an injury or two may force him onto the roster.

Let me know what you guys think of Burt in the comments. How can he carve out a spot for himself? See you next time.