Report: Former U-M QB Devin Gardner headed to Patriots

Devin Gardner traveled a long, winding road to the NFL.

From an elite recruit to enduring two coaches and three offensive coordinators, a position switch and then back again, the former Michigan quarterback showed he was resilient.

But it appears he's landed, after not being drafted, in the best possible spot.

His effort was validated as New England Patriots will sign him to a free-agent contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

There is evidence in New England that it can work, as Schefter pointed out, because Julian Edelman, a quarterback at Kent State, is now a prolific receiver catching passes from another former U-M QB, Tom Brady.

Gardner insisted his plan all along was to be an NFL quarterback and he played the position for 3 ½ of his five years at Michigan, at times producing record-setting numbers.

But it wasn't enough and he embraced the idea of being a receiver, beginning his transition almost as soon as U-M's disappointing 5-7 season ended in late November.

Gardner knew enough about receiver because, in a fortuitous decision, shifted to receiver in 2012 after sitting behind starting quarterback Denard Robinson for two years. Playing there the first 2/3 of the season, he had 16 catches for 266 yards and four touchdowns, showing he was athletic enough to be productive with little background at the spot.

How players with Michigan ties fared in the NFL draft

When Robinson injured his elbow, Gardner switched back to quarterback the next week at Minnesota and threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns, running for another, showing his adaptability.

Over the next 2 ½ years Gardner rode the roller-coaster from 503 and 451 yard passing games in 2013, the two highest in U-M history as he totaled 32 touchdowns that season, to a broken toe that sidelined him for two months.

Expected to break out in 2014, solidifying himself as an NFL quarterback prospect, Gardner struggled, throwing for 10 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

He said last month that some teams talked to him about working at quarterback also, possibly to figure out if he could be a backup on the roster. But his primary position is receiver because that's his best future at 6-foot-4, 216 pounds.

Gardner, who has impressed with his intelligence graduating from U-M in just three years and working on a Master's degree in the two years since, has said he would just be glad to be on a team and be able to compete for a spot.

But he knows also that he is just beginning to learn the position at a high level and has significant room to develop.

Others with Michigan ties who reportedly have inked undrafted free-agent deals: defensive end Brennen Beyer to Baltimore and former tailback Thomas Rawls, who played his fifth year at Central Michigan, to the Seattle Seahawks.

Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder.