The New England Patriots added a fourth option to potentially increase their undrafted free agent streak to an even 20 years Thursday when they signed defensive tackle Justus Tavai after a successful rookie minicamp tryout.

A Patriots undrafted free agent has made the initial 53-man roster for 19 straight years. Tavai joined quarterback Malik Cunningham, tight end Johnny Lumpkin and linebacker Jourdan Heilig in this year’s UDFA class.

So, let’s rank their likelihood of making the initial 53-man roster.

Patriots 2023 undrafted free agents

1. Malik Cunningham

The Patriots have finished three of the last four years with three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. The lone season they ended with just two was in 2022 when they began the year with three signal callers.

If the Patriots keep three QBs, then Cunningham will only need to fend off Trace McSorely for a spot behind Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. The appeal of keeping Cunningham, whose contract included a Patriots UDFA record $200k guarantee, is in his differing play style. While Jones and Zappe are more pocket passers, Cunningham comes with a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, 3,179 college rushing yards and 50 college rushing touchdowns.

He’ll be a project as a passer, but Cunningham has the potential to be used near the goal line or in option looks if New England is willing to take their starter off the field. There’s also the possibility that if playing quarterback doesn’t work out for Cunningham at the pro level that he could switch positions. Cunningham solely played QB at rookie minicamp, however.

The Patriots clearly liked Cunningham as evidenced by his contract guarantees and $30k signing bonus. Now it’s up to him to prove he deserves a spot.

2. TE Johnny Lumpkin

The 6-foot-5, 264-pound tight end doesn’t project as much of a pass-catcher. He didn’t impress at his pro day with a 4.81-second 40-yard dash and caught just 36 passes for 408 yards with six touchdowns in his college career at Louisiana-Lafayette. But he’s big and has insane length (35 1/4-inch arms) and serious potential as a blocker.

New England’s top two tight ends — Hunter Henry and Mike Gesicki — are known more for their pass-catching than run-blocking. The other two tight ends on the roster, Matt Sokol and Scotty Washington, are practice squad-level players.

Lumpkin could make the Patriots’ roster as a blocking specialist if New England would rather use a tight end than a sixth offensive lineman as extra muscle in certain offensive packages.

3. LB Jourdan Heilig

There’s not a ton known about Heilig outside of the fact that Patriots special teams coaches liked him enough to give him a roster spot after he barely played defense during his college career at Appalachian State.

If the Patriots love him, he could make the roster in a Brandon King-esque role as a linebacker by name only but really as a special-teams ace. New England already has a lot of special teams-only players on their roster, however.

4. DT Justus Tavai

Tavai hits No. 4 on the list because he only just signed after a rookie minicamp tryout. He’s undersized at 6-foot-1, 285 pounds but is a decent athlete and played a pretty substantial defensive role for three college seasons at Hawaii and San Diego State.

Tavai’s older brother is Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai. The younger Tavai seems primed for a practice-squad spot.

Featured image via Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK