Overview
- Kobe Prentice was claimed by the New England Patriots on Saturday after the Carolina Panthers waived him earlier in the week, and he will join training-camp competition in Foxborough.
- The Patriots freed a roster spot for Prentice by waiving offensive lineman Sebastian Gutierrez the same day the claim was announced.
- Prentice is a 22-year-old undrafted rookie who played at Alabama and Baylor and clocked an approximately 4.37-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.
- Coaches view Prentice as a bottom-of-roster candidate whose best path to sticking is on special teams or as a kickoff and punt returner rather than as an immediate offensive contributor.
- The rapid pickup after Carolina's brief roster stint underscores how teams use the waiver wire in late July to shuffle camp rosters and quickly audition speed-oriented receivers for depth and return roles.