No Invitation

The NFL Scouting Combine has concluded. Some players really helped their draft status by what they did there. As the coaches often say, "It doesn't matter how you get to the NFL, as long as you get there". The Pats drafted several players in the past who made the team, but were never invited to the Combine.

OL Sebastian Vollmer raised a lot of eyebrows in 2009 when the Pats selected him in the 2nd round. They later followed up with WR Julien Edelman in the 7th round, but at the time, he was still playing quarterback. DB's Tavon Wilson and Nate Ebner were drafted in the 2nd and 6th round respectively in 2012. Duron Harmon joined the other DB's when he was selected last year in the 2nd round.

All of these players made an impact on the team. It's the same all around the league. Every year there are players who were not invited, but got drafted. Some of those who were there, will never get drafted and won't make a roster as a free agent.