Efton Chism III might’ve received more headlines and hype to this point, but he wasn’t the only undrafted rookie to earn a spot on the New England Patriots.
Elijah Ponder, a fellow undrafted rookie and product of the Big Sky Conference, continues to fly under the radar despite having cracked the initial 53-man roster.
Ponder did so as one of five edge defenders alongside veterans Harold Landry III, K’Lavon Chaisson, Keion White and Anfernee Jennings. Ponder beat out fifth-round pick Bradyn Swinson, who since has returned to the practice squad, as well as roster hopeful Truman Jones and others.
Patriots insider Phil Perry went in-depth on Ponder during the Next Pats podcast, which included an exclusive interview with the Cal Poly product.
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“He competed and performed well alongside and up against real NFL players,” Perry said of the 6-foot-3, 261-pound linebacker. “This guy was not a fifth-string wonder. Relatively early in camp they were giving him chances against real NFL linemen, guys who are on the team right now.”
Ponder was listed on Perry’s 53-man roster projection ahead of the roster cutdown Tuesday afternoon, an inclusion largely based on his athleticism and potential.
Ponder offers rare athletic traits, and it’s stuck out to New England’s coaching staff, as Perry pointed out.
“He was a guy that nobody was looking at, but if you look at his athletic ability, it’s off the charts,” Patriots outside linebackers coach Mike Smith said. “He’s a big rusher. He moves great in space. He’s not scared to go put his face right down the middle of you if you saw him in a game. But he’s got this very rare ability of picking things up quick and look like he’s done it from day one. It’s just remarkable.
“That is another one that has an extremely bright future,” Smith continued. “Probably one of the best undrafted free-agent pickups that I’ve ever seen.”
It’s no certainty that Ponder will play a role when the Patriots give out 46 jerseys on gameday. And if he does, it’s likely to be on special teams with Landry, Chaisson and White serving as the top edge options.
Nevertheless, New England might have found a developmental piece in Ponder.
“He’s the kind of guy I think you can bank on improving over time and eventually developing a real role on the defensive side of the ball,” Perry said. “And who knows where it goes from there.”
Also in this episode:
- Phil Perry’s exclusive interview with Elijah Ponder
- Mailbag questions
