Pats Pulpit
Previewing the Patriots safety heading into his second season with the team.
For years, the New England Patriots were a prime destination in the NFL for undrafted free agents: at one point, the team had a 19-year streak of at least one UDFA making its Week 1 roster. The streak found its end in 2023, but was potentially started anew in 2024.
The player who started it? Safety Dell Pettus.
Name: Dell Pettus
Position: Safety/Special teamer
Jersey number: 24
Opening day age: 24 (6/2/2001)
Measurements: 5’10 3/4”, 200 lbs, 29 5/8” arm length, 8 1/4” hand size, 4.51s 40-yard dash, 7.00s 3-cone drill, 4.36s short shuttle, 33 1/2” vertical jump, 10’0” broad jump, 18 bench press reps, 6.39 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: New England Patriots (2024-) | College: Troy (2019-23)
A three-star recruit out of Sparkman High School in Harvest, AL, Pettus joined Troy University in 2019 and spent his entire college career with the Trojans (even though he briefly entered the transfer portal in 2021). Taking advantage of the NCAA’s Covid-19 rules, he had five full years of production: he appeared in a combined 63 games and registered 315 total tackles as well as one interception, fumble recovery and blocked field goal each.
Despite his experience, productivity and individual accolades — he was named to three All-Sun Belt teams (2019 honorable mention; 2020 third team; 2023 second team) — Pettus flew largely under the radar heading toward the NFL. He eventually had to start his pro career as an undrafted free agent with the Patriots, for whom he appeared in 17 games during his 2024 rookie campaign.
Strengths: Pettus offers solid moving skills in the backend, and possesses both the speed and agility to succeed in zone and man coverage looks. He combines it with an intense play style built around his physicality. While not the most imposingly-built player, he is competitive both when coming downhill to fill gaps a run defender or press the pocket as a pass rusher and when following tight ends in man-to-man situations. A sure tackler who offers a “hit first, ask later” play style, he also offers definitive special teams value.
Weaknesses: Pettus’ athletic skills are adequate, but they cannot fully make up for some of the shortcomings and rawness at this stage in his development. His lack of length means that he is only marginally disruptive at the catch point, and he also has limited reactionary skills as a man coverage defender. He also needs to improve his processing and route recognition in zone, while additionally becoming more disciplined against misdirection. He furthermore has yet to become a consistent impact player going back to his college career.
Stats: 17 games (1 start) | 341 defensive snaps (30.5%), 231 special teams snaps (52.9%) | 28 tackles, 1 missed tackle (3.4%), 1 TFL | 13 targets, 8 catches allowed (61.5%), 76 yards | 7 quarterback pressure (1 sack) | 6 special teams tackles,...
