Previewing the Patriots wide receiver heading into his first NFL season.
As part of their efforts to restock the shelves at the wide receiver position, the New England Patriots brought four rookies in this offseason. Three of those came aboard as undrafted free agents, including South Alabama product Jeremiah Webb.
Hard facts
Name: Jeremiah Webb
Position: Wide receiver
Jersey number: 29 (w)
Opening day age: 24 (5/17/2001)
Measurements: 5’11 1/2”, 198 lbs, 73 5/8” wingspan, 30 1/8” arm length, 9” hand size, 4.49s 40-yard dash, N/A Relative Athletic Score
Experience
NFL: New England Patriots (2025-) | College: South Dakota (2019-21), South Alabama (2022-24)
Webb played multiple positions on both sides of the ball during his high school career at Urban Prep-Bronzeville in Chicago, IL. He originally committed to New Mexico as a two-star recruit but later changed his mind and joined the University of South Dakota in 2019. A redshirt as a true freshman who also did not play the following season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he ended his career as a Coyote with 13 catches for 254 yards and a touchdown in 11 games.
Despite coming off his best season, Webb entered the transfer portal in 2022 and took his talents to South Alabama. He had a quiet first two seasons in Mobile before a breakout campaign of sorts in 2024. In total, Webb caught 38 passes for 701 yards and six touchdowns in 23 games as a Jaguar.
After his college career, Webb joined the Berlin Thunder of the European League of Football. However, just a month later he was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent.
Scouting report
Strengths: At just under 6 feet and 198 pounds, Webb offers good size to compete against NFL-caliber defensive backs. He is a good contested catch receiver, who can generate separation late and combines good concentration and hand-eye coordination to haul in back-shoulder and out-of-frame passes. He also has solid long speed as well as adequate acceleration out of his stance, and has shown some wiggle after the catch.
Weaknesses: Be it in terms of his build and athletic ability, Webb lacks any true standout traits that suggest he will find consistent success against pro-level competition. A significant chunk of his production came against off-man coverage, and he was rarely challenged at the line of scrimmage in the SBC. He also failed to carve out a regular role over his first five years in college, and even in 2024 was not the top option at South Alabama.
2024 review
Stats: 13 games (8 starts) | 493 offensive snaps, 68 special teams snaps | 61 targets, 36 catches (59%), 649 yards, 5 TDs, 4 drops (6.6%) | 1 carry, 18 yards | 3 special teams tackles, 1 missed tackle (25%) | 1 penalty
Season recap: Catching only two passes in his first two years at South Alabama, Webb finally became a regular contributor as a sixth-year senior in 2024. A part-time starter on the perimeter, who served as his team’s No. 2 wide receiver, he set new career highs in virtually every category from snaps (493) to targets (61), catches (36), receiving yards (649) and touchdowns (5).
While his raw numbers stood out, at least relative to his college career up until that point, there was more to his final season in college. Webb, after all, was one of the most efficient pass catchers in the country in some select categories: among qualifying wideouts of at least 60 targets, he finished ninth in the FBS in average depth of target (16.3), 12th in contested catch rate (69.2%) and 15th in yards per catch (18.0).
His best game was his last appearance as a Jaguar. Webb played a pivotal role in South Alabama’s win over Western Michigan in the Salute to Veterans Bowl, catching six passes for 182 yards and a pair of scores en route to a 30-23 victory. He was named the game’s MVP afterwards, ending his college career on a high note.
2025 preview
Position: Rotational Z/X-WR hybrid | Ability: Camp body/Practice squad candidate | Contract: Signed through 2027
What will be his role? Webb was primarily used outside the formation during his college career, and projects as an X/Z-receiver hybrid due to his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands and compete in contested situations down the sideline. He appears to be headed for a depth role, at best.
What is his growth potential? Webb does have some attributes to develop, but his ceiling as a whole seems limited. That said, if he can develop some chemistry with his quarterbacks, he might become a package receiver and spot starter further down the line.
Does he have positional versatility? Versatility may not be Webb’s defining trait, but he does offer some positional flexibility. As a receiver, he aligned mostly outside the formation but also moved into the slot on occasion during his time at South Dakota and South Alabama. In addition, he has experience on four special teams units — kickoff return and coverage, punt return and coverage — and registered six tackles over his college career.
What is his salary cap situation? When the Patriots signed Webb as a UDFA in early May, he put his signature under a standard three-year contract. In 2025, that pact carries a $840,666 salary cap number that consists of a $840,000 base salary plus a fully-guaranteed $666 signing bonus proration. Due to the NFL’s Top 51 rule and Webb’s cap hit not qualifying for it, only that last number is currently counted versus New England’s cap.
How safe is his roster spot? Fellow Patriots UDFA Efton Chism has, rightfully so, gotten plenty of attention during offseason workouts. Webb and the other undrafted wide receivers, on the other hand, have flown mostly under the radar. That does not mean they won’t positively contribute come training camp, but the road to top-level practice reps and by extension the roster seems more challenging for them.
Summary: Webb does have some positive attributes to offer, but he is nonetheless facing a steep uphill battle to make the team. Sure, only four wideouts can be considered fairly safe bets to make the team at the moment — Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas — but the competition ahead of the youngster on the projected depth chart offers considerably more experience and better overall track records. Webb therefore might have to set his sights on the practice squad rather than the 53-man roster.
What do you think about Jeremiah Webb heading into the 2025 season? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.