HOME > Patriots Blog > Patriots News

MORSE: Patriots Day Three of NFL Draft, UDFA Signings

Patriots' Day Three Draft Picks and Undrafted Free Agent Signings: An In-Depth Analysis

Mark Morse

April 26, 2026 at 4:30 am ET

MORSE: Patriots Day Three of NFL Draft, UDFA Signings

(PHOTO: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

🕑 Read Time: 14 minutes

Posted Under: Patriots News

More Patriots Headlines »

Day Three of the NFL Draft

The Patriots didn’t need Mike Vrabel to be available for the final day of the draft because they punted the day anyway. They traded up in the 1^st and 2^nd rounds and had to give up both 4^th round selections. So they sat out the 4^th round and most of the 5^th round until pick 31 (171 overall). When they did make a selection, they picked a special teams player which they had in for a Top 30 visit.

At pick #191, the Patriots traded away the pick with several quality players on the board. It appeared as if there were no players left on their Draft Board, and they were pivoting themselves to a strategy of adding late picks that would have otherwise been UDFAs they would have to compete with other teams to sign. They did acquire a 2027 6^th round selection for the swap of picks.

5-171 Karon Prunty CB Wake Forest 6’1.4” 190-pounds, 4.45 40, 6.82 3-cone, 4.2 SS

His 4.2 SS would have been 5^th at the Combine

Third Team All-ACC. 57^th on Dane Brugler’s The Beast Draft Guide

NFL Draft Buzz said this about Prunty.

In 2020 as a freshman Prunty saw action in 9 games and played a total of 525 snaps at cornerback for the Jayhawks. He recorded 27 tackles, 5 assists, while adding 8 stops. In coverage Prunty notched up 8 pass breakups, one interception, and an outstanding QB rating when targeted of 40.7.

After the end of the season he transferred to North Carolina A&T where as a sophomore for the Aggies in 2022 Prunty played in 10 games and logged 561 snaps for the Aggies. He made 27 tackles, 5 assists, and had 4 stops. In coverage he totaled one pass breakup, 4 interceptions, and an outstanding QB rating when targeted of 33.1.

In 2023 as a junior Prunty played in 11 games and contributed on 754 snaps. He chalked up 43 tackles, 7 assists, and added 13 stops. In the secondary Prunty forced 4 pass breakups, no interceptions, and gave up QB rating when targeted of 94.7.

Scouting Report: Strengths

Has the change-of-direction ability to mirror underneath but did solid work out of press and off coverage.
Alert defender for zone coverage, showing good understanding of route progressions occurring behind him and a quick burst downhill to break on underneath passes in front of him.
Aware zone cornerback who is also adept in man coverage, flashing physical hand punch at the line and straight-line speed to stay with receivers downfield.
Prunty has the straight-line speed to recover. His ball skills are tremendous, with good hands and the potential to take it to the house any time Prunty gets his hands on the ball.
He’s tall-framed with long arms to match. With his powerful hands, straight-line speed, and fluidity in his hips, turning and chasing downfield shouldn’t be a problem.
Can get up on the line of scrimmage and deliver a solid punch early in routes, then use that quickness to shadow, or back off and close quickly when the ball comes out

Prunty had a Top 30-visit with the Patriots as well as the Packers.

(PHOTO: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)

6-196 Dametrious Crownover OT Texas A&M

Best Player Available or do we have a new Offensive Line controversy? There is no guarantee that Caleb Lomu can play Right Tackle. That is the reason I called the selection of Lomu questionable. We won’t find out that answer until the pads come on in July. Eliot Wolf stated that they had worked out Lomu as a Right Tackle and they were satisfied he could make the switch. However, the Patriots missed the boat in selecting any Guards. They have Ben Brown as a Left Guard backup and could move Alijah Ver-Tucker to Right Guard if anything should happen with Mike Onwenu. The controversy about Will Campbell’s short arms won’t go away. Campbell’s play was average at best before his knee injury. That is not uncommon for any rookie Left tackle. After the knee injury he was awful and got exposed during the Super Bowl. Taking an enormous Right Tackle only adds to this controversy.

I actually like the drafting of Crownover and could see him as the Patriots Right Tackle of the future. In order for that to happen quite a few dominoes would have to drop, and that is the subject for another article.

NFL Draft Buzz had this to say about Crownover. Crownover was recruited as a TE. “That question got answered during his redshirt year when the coaching staff moved Crownover to the offensive line, a transition that began to pay dividends quickly. He appeared in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2022, including his first career start at right tackle against Sam Houston, and took home the Aggie Offensive Unselfish Leadership Award for his willingness to embrace the position switch. By 2023, he was seeing action in all 13 games and earned his first significant start at right tackle in the Texas Bowl, where the offense put up 372 passing yards and allowed just two sacks. He also logged reserve snaps at right tackle against Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Ole Miss, steadily building a foundation for a larger role.

The 2024 season is where Crownover locked down the starting right tackle spot for all 13 games and became a fixture on one of the SEC’s best rushing attacks. Texas A&M ranked 26th nationally and second in the conference at 195.5 rushing yards per game, and Crownover was in the middle of all of it. He helped anchor a line that paved the way for 333 rushing yards against McNeese, 310 at Florida (the first back-to-back 300-yard rushing performances for the program since 2012), and 242 yards with five touchdowns in a statement win over No. 8 LSU. The Aggies recorded multiple rushing touchdowns in six consecutive games down the stretch. Crownover returned for a fifth year in 2025, starting every game at right tackle once again and logging 784 offensive snaps across the season. Over four years of action, he appeared in 45 games with nearly 1,900 blocking snaps at the position.

Scouting Report: Strengths

Rare combination of height, length, and mass at 6-7 and 336 pounds makes him an imposing presence who can wall off the edge and smother speed rushers with his reach.
Runs fast which is genuinely impressive athleticism for a man that big and confirms his movement skills translate beyond the practice field.
Background as a tight end recruit shows up in his ability to move in space, climb to the second level, and locate linebackers on designed runs.
Excels as a double-team partner on combination blocks; he feeds defensive tackles to the guard and covers up targets with ease, which was a hallmark of that dominant 2024 rushing attack.
Plays with real effort and tenacity as a finisher; he runs his feet through contact and does not quit on reps, which coaches will love in the meeting room.
Can reset his hands after losing initial positioning, using his length to reassert control of a pass rusher who gained a brief advantage in the rep.
Kept his quarterback clean at an impressive rate in 2024, allowing zero sacks and just 19 total pressures across the full season as the full-time starter.
Durable and available, logging virtually every blocking snap in three of his four seasons and never missing time due to injury across 45 career games.

(PHOTO: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

6-212 Namdi Obiazor LB TCU 6’2.6” 229, 4.53 40

Obiazor is the only Linebacker drafted by the Patriots. He has Inside Linebacker experience but his main contribution will be on Special Teams.

This from Dane Brugler’s The Beast Draft Guide

STRENGTHS

Worked hard to develop bulk and add good weight
Compete skills immediately noticeable on tape
Sound tackler, using wide base and strong timing to ground his target
Doesn’t always play up to timed speed but plenty fast enough
Not shy using hands to fight off contact
Bursty as a blitzer, with subtle shake moves to get home
Enough quickness to shadow tight ends and backs in coverage
Rock-solid football character; brings coaching points alive on the field
Experienced on punt and punt return coverages

A three-year starter at TCU, Obiazor played inside linebacker in defensive coordinator Andy Avalos’ 4-2-5 base scheme. A 190-pound safety out of high school, he started out at junior college before transferring to Fort Worth, bulking up and moving to linebacker in 2023. He was a dependable player for the Horned Frogs, posting 80-plus tackles each of the past three years. Obiazor is a well-rounded player. He is quick to scrape and maneuver his way through traffic, showing contact balance despite a noticeable lack of length. With large hands and competitive grit, he is a reliable tackler near the line and out in space. Though he plays with route recognition, he tends to bite early, and there is some feast or famine with his coverage reps. Overall, Obiazor has only average instincts versus both the run and pass, but his pursuit speed and compete skills lead to production. He will have a chance to earn a backup and special teams role as a rookie.

Lanc Zierlein Analysis – Obiazor is an assignment-sound inside linebacker with good tape and average short-area athletic ability. His box-score output has stayed nearly identical for three straight years, mirroring his week-to-week reliability. He has a high football IQ with decisive, accurate diagnosis and leverages his run fits by slipping blocks or holding firm with his anchor. A lack of ideal short-area quickness and pursuit burst might require Obiazor to take more chances as a pro. He’s a former safety who sees the field clearly but is average in coverage. He profiles as a dependable backup and core special-teamer.

New England Football Journal

Thoughts on Namdi Obiazor, OLB from TCU. Classic overhang WILL backer who is athletic, twitchy and good in coverage. Covers ground, matches up well and plays downhill fast. Special teamer and back up to start. Fits the Patriots off-ball linebacker body type.

ESPN’s Pre-Draft Analysis: “Obiazor has a good combination of size and athleticism for his position. He ran well at the combine, posting a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, but that speed doesn’t show up consistently on film. Obiazor can struggle to diagnose plays, causing him to be a step late in pursuit. However, he does a good job fighting through contact and is a good form tackler when he reaches the ball carrier. He’ll have to refine his overall skills to be effective in the NFL.”

(PHOTO: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images)

7-234 Behren Morton QB Texas Tech 6’2.4” 221-pounds

I hope that Morton can be the 3^rd QB whether it is on the active roster or as a member of the Practice Squad. I thought there were better QB options available when they selected Morton.

This is the analysis from NFL.com Lance Zierlein

Morton is a challenging evaluation given his injury history, but I studied his tape from 2024 and 2025 for my analysis here. He appears to lack the functional arm talent to push the ball into windows or beat safeties over the top into sideline buckets. He’s average with his anticipation and field-reading but is willing to get through progressions while trusting his pocket. He’s extremely tough and has the desired level of competitive spirit needed for the position. He can buy time for his receivers when needed and gets what he can when it’s time to run. Morton’s medicals will be critical, but it will likely be an uphill battle for him to make a roster.

Dane Brugler’s The Beats Draft Guide

Good-enough size, with adequate bulk
Elastic arm to deliver from different angles without sacrificing velocity
Adequate foot quickness and body control to negotiate noisy pockets
Processing took positive steps as a senior
Put examples of throwing with anticipation on tape, primarily on isolation routes
Willing to let it rip over the middle (76.2 percent between the numbers in 2025, with a 13-to-1 TD-to-INT ratio)
Two-year team captain; described as a “natural leader” (NFL scout: “Very prideful about Tech. … The program loves him.”)

A starter for three-and-a-half years at Texas Tech, Morton operated in offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich’s version of the spread, with veer and shoot principles. A Red Raider basically from birth, he helped take the program to new heights and finished his career ranked top five in almost every passing category in the school’s record book. His career ended with a poor performance in the College Football Playoff, but he was a key reason Texas Tech got there (22-to-4 TD-to-INT ratio before the playoffs). Morton delivers with anticipation and touch as a passer to hit receivers in stride. He has a modest build and will struggle to elude NFL pressure, but he uses subtle moves in the pocket to get himself out of trouble. He can be a tick late sorting through coverage, which disrupts the rhythm of his mechanics and, ultimately, his decisions and placement. Overall, Morton needs to develop better passing consistency to make up for his lack of physical upside and to stand out in an NFL camp. He projects as a developmental backup in the NFL.

Morton had a Top-30 visit with the Patriots

7-245 Jam Miller RB Alabama 5’10.2” 209-pounds 4.42

Another Special Teams player? Miller has pro-caliber size, but while some runners get what is blocked, Miller didn’t always take what was there for him. He’s a segmented runner with adequate power but lacks the vision, burst, and decisiveness to rip through creases inside. He’s a hard runner and can get tough yards after contact here and there. He’s not talented enough as a blocker or pass-catcher to play on third downs, so starring on special teams might be required to become an NFL backup.

Dane Brugler had this to say about Miller in his The Beast Draft Guide.

Looks the part with a rocked-up build and developed thickness
Alabama training staff raves about the accountability he shows in taking care of his body
Quick, choppy footwork to find and exploit rush tracks
Coordinated and concise in lateral cuts
Runs with core strength, forcing defenders to slip off him
Stays behind his pads with forward momentum for heavy finish into contact
Pays close attention to ball security
Character feedback is exceptional (NFL scout: “Best worker on the team. … Self-motivated, egoless and same guy every day.”)
Played extensive snaps on special teams coverages as a freshman and sophomore

A starter for one-and-a-half years at Alabama, Miller became the lead back as a senior in offensive coordinator Ryan Grubbs’ scheme. After finishing the 2024 season strong, he entered the 2025 season with buzz among NFL scouts, but injuries held back his overall production and consistency. He posted 504 rushing yards as a senior to lead the team, but averaged fewer than four yards per carry and found the end zone just three times. Miller runs square to the line with the foot quickness to find openings and quickly accelerate to the second level. His instincts are a work in progress as he develops his block-reading tempo, but he can tilt the field and deliver pop when he keeps his pads low. Though he put some big-time blocks on tape, his body of work in pass protection was disappointing and resulted in drive-killing plays. Overall, Miller has the build and athleticism to be a reliable one-cut runner, but he must improve as a receiver and blocker to see quality NFL playing time. Scouts are bullish about his potential on special teams, which will help separate him on a roster.

NFL Draft Buzz had this to say about Miller

Miller finally took hold of the lead back role under first-year head coach Kalen DeBoer in 2024, finishing with 676 yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 146 attempts while also catching 16 passes for 155 yards and a score. He returned as the starter in 2025 and was named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List, but an upper-body injury in fall camp cost him the first three games. He fought his way back to tally 504 yards and three touchdowns on 130 carries, plus 19 receptions for 109 yards, before another injury in the Iron Bowl against Auburn limited him down the stretch. Over four seasons at Alabama, Miller compiled 1,604 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns on 350 career carries alongside 40 receptions for 336 yards.

Scouting Report: Strengths

Built like a fire hydrant at 221 pounds with a naturally low center of gravity that makes him difficult to square up and knock backward at the point of attack.
Decisive one-cut runner who trusts his reads and hits the hole with conviction instead of dancing around in the backfield waiting for something to develop.
Genuinely physical ball carrier who seeks contact and delivers punishment; you can hear pads pop when he collides with linebackers in the hole.
Outstanding contact balance allows him to absorb shots from bigger defenders, stay on his feet, and consistently fall forward for an extra two or three yards after initial contact.
Impressive leg drive and lower-body power to churn through arm tackles and push the pile, especially in short-yardage and goal-line situations where he thrives.
Clean vision between the tackles with the ability to read frontside blocks, anticipate defensive movement, and redirect to backside lanes with quick jump cuts.
Reliable ball security throughout his college career with only two fumbles on 350 rushing attempts, a trait that will keep coaches trusting him in critical game situations.
Tested with elite straight-line speed at the combine level, which flashes on tape when he finds a crease and gets downhill, even if he does not always separate from pursuit angles.

7-247 Quintayvious Hutchins EDGE Boston College 6’2.7”, 233-pound, 4.74 40

He will have to play outstanding on Special Teams to make the roster.

Lance Zierlein NFL.com

A fifth-year senior, Hutchins has started just 16 games. While he’s light on starting experience, his game is more mature. He’s undersized but stronger than his measurables might suggest. He’s physical in his block take-ons and sets edges with an adequate anchor. Hutchins creates pressure opportunities with his footwork and bend, but a lack of explosiveness in his get-off tends to limit his overall sack production. He’s an above-average athlete with good short-area burst when pursuing runners and quarterbacks. Hutchins should compete for a backup role as a stand-up edge and become a plus contributor on special teams.

Dane Brugler The Beast Draft Guide

Springs out of stance to immediately threaten with his first step
Decent length; extends for swipes and cross-chop rips
Shows life in his hands and won’t concede once he meets resistance
Has some bend to ghost or dip once he attacks blocker’s shoulder
Occasionally showed looping and work-around skills
Understands leverage points in run game to defend wide
Controlled tackler — doesn’t have many misses on tape
Doesn’t look like a fish out of water when dropping (picked off Tyler Shough in 2024)
Voted a team captain in 2025
Was program’s best special-teamer as an underclassman

Dane Brugler The Beats Draft Guide

A two-year starter at Boston College, Hutchins was a stand-up edge rusher in defensive coordinator Tim Lewis’ scheme. He bounced between tight end and defensive end early in his career and was a core-four special-teamer. He played alongside his mentor (Donovan Ezeiruaku) in 2024 and was expected to fill his role in 2025, but Hutchins’ overall production was underwhelming — he combined for 66 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks over his junior and senior seasons. Hutchins was more of a role player than a playmaker in college. He has the get-off and body bend to attack the corner but hasn’t been detailed or impactful enough at the top of his rush to consistently win as a pass rusher. He plays with run-game awareness (playside and backside) and strains through engagement, although his lack of size leaves him at a disadvantage vs. size. Overall, Hutchins has redeeming traits to survive in the NFL, but he doesn’t have the dynamic ability that makes you overly excited about his ceiling. His special teams background will be key for him to make a 53-man roster.

NFL Draft Buzz had this to say about Hutchins

The 2025 season brought a captain’s “C” and a full-time starting role. Playing in 10 games with nine starts before a couple of injury absences, Hutchins posted 35 tackles, two sacks, and seven quarterback hits. He notched sacks against Michigan State’s Aidan Chiles and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, showing he could deliver in marquee matchups. His performance earned him a Senior Bowl invitation, bringing his career full circle back to the Deep South, where family members who had not seen him play since high school could finally watch in person.

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

Significantly undersized for the position at 240 pounds, sitting at the very bottom among edge rushers, and lacks the length to keep blockers off his frame consistently.
First-step explosiveness is merely adequate, which means offensive tackles with good feet can mirror him and prevent clean outside wins on the snap.
Taller, longer tackles can wall him off and neutralize his rush entirely, erasing his bend advantage before he can ever get to the corner.
Penalty issues surfaced in 2025 with eight flags, suggesting some discipline concerns that need cleaning up before he can be trusted in situational roles.
Run defense can be swallowed up when bigger bodies collapse on him inside the box, leaving him unable to hold his gap or shed blocks against double teams.

Hutchins attended the Patriots Local Pro Day at Gillette and Mike Vrabel worked out at the Boston College Pro Day.

Patriots UnDrafted Free Agent Signings

From Pats Pulpit

Jacob Rizy OG Florida State

Rizy is a 6-foot-5, 310-pound offensive lineman with local ties. He started his collegiate career at Harvard. He transferred to Florida State in 2024. Rizy made starts at left guard, right guard, center and right tackle.

Kyle Dixon WR Cluver-Stockton

A small-school prospect, Dixon is a 6-foot-2, 215 pound outside receiver. He caught 83 passes for 1,282 yards with 12 touchdowns last season. Dixon finished with 143 receptions, 2,394 yards and 24 touchdowns over the last two seasons at the NAIA level.

Channing Canada CB TCU

A 6-foot-1 cornerback, Canada started every game for TCU last season. He finished with 30 tackles with an interception and pass breakup. He earned First-Team Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2023.

Nick DeGennaro WR James Madison

DeGennaro is a 6-foot, 190-pound receiver who caught 28 passes for 500 yards with five touchdowns last season. He started his career at Maryland. In 2024, he transferred to Richmond, where he caught 40 passes for 576 yards and four touchdowns. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at his Pro Day.

Myles Montgomery RB Central Florida

Montgomery is a 5-foot-11 running back who was productive last season for Central Florida. A team captain, he ran for 705 yards with four touchdowns. He also added 17 catches for 182 yards.

Cameron Dorner WR North Texas

Dorner is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver who finished with 50 catches, 845 yards and six touchdowns. He earned Third Team All-American Conference honors. Dorner spent his first three seasons at Division II Shepard University.

Tanner Arkin TE Illinois

Arkin is a 6-foot-4, 265-pound tight end who started the last two seasons for Illinois. A team captain, he caught 13 passes for 144 yards last year.

Jimmy Kibble WR Georgetown

A team captain for the Hoyas last season, Kibble had a career-year with 63 receptions, 1,002 yards and four touchdowns. The 6-foot-1 receiver finished his Georgetown career fourth in program history with 2593 career receiving yards.

JonDarius Morgan OG UAB

After starting his career at South Carolina, Morgan transferred to UAB where he went on to start 24 games at right guard over the last two seasons. The 6-foot-4, 320 pound guard finished on a high note not allowing allowing a sack last season.

David Blay DT Miami

The Patriots dip into their Miami connections to add a nose tackle, who comes in a different shape than Khyiris Tonga, as more of a penetrator. Blay was an All-ACC Honorable Mention last season after starting his collegiate career in Division II and then Conference USA.

CB Kenneth Harris CB Oklahoma State

A sixth-year senior, Harris is a 6-foot cornerback who also spent some time at safety over his collegiate career at both Arkansas State and Oklahoma State.

Rookie Camp Invite

Korey Foreman EDGE Fresno State

Fresno State announced that Foreman has been invited to attend the Patriots rookie minicamp. Foreman’s a 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge rusher who has 20 tackles and three sacks last season. In 2021, Foreman was a 5-star recruit and ranked No. 3 in the nation by ESPN. He signed with USC, spending three seasons there.

Like this article?
Support Mark and buy him a coffee.

READ NEXT:

Patriots News 04-26, Meet The Patriots’ 2026 Draft Class

About Mark Morse

Merrimack Valley native and lifelong fan of the New England Patriots. My earliest memories of the Patriots were attending as a child with my dad, the off-season practice at Phillips Academy. I was at the Patriots game at Harvard Stadium in 1970 where Bob “Harpo” Gladieux was called out of the stands by the stadium announcer over the PA to play in the game. Analyzing the draft since ESPN first started to televise it in 1980 and former writer for the Lowell Sun Newspaper.