MORSE: Patriots Rookie Mini Camp and Signings

The media got access to Saturday’s 90-minute workout, and here’s a quick rundown of what we learned:

Rookie Camp Roster

Other Invitees That Were Not Previously Identified

NUM POS Player School Size

95 DL Olasunkonmi Agunloye Florida International 6’6” 307

60 OL Nate Ozzapardi Idaho 6’2” 301

37 S Tim Coutras Tennessee State 6’ 201

17 TE Jeremiah Franklin Boston College 6’3” 232

6 WR Cade Harris Air Force 5’7” 182

51 DE Xavier Holmes James Madison 6’2” 252

4 WR Jha’Quan Jackson Tulane 5’9” 188

3 CB Dee Williams Tennessee 5’11” 190

Reported Invitees Choose Other Teams for Tryout

WR Demarcus Lacey (Marshall) – Texans Rookie Camp Invitee
DT Korey Foreman (Fresno State) – Bucs Rookie Camp Invitee

Outstanding Players

Behren Morton – “It’s great. A lot of reps, which is really beneficial right now,” Morton said. “I’m just trying to maximize my opportunity every day, learn the playbook, and execute on the practice field.” “Body’s great. This is the healthiest I’ve been in a really long time,” Morton said. “Shoulder hasn’t been this good since high school.” The rookie is also studying Tom Brady’s tape in the Patriots offense to learn offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’s playbook.

Morton’s toughness was one of the traits that drew the Patriots to him. In 2023 and 2024, he had a Grade 3, A/C Joint strain. That bothered him in 2025 as well. The 1^st game of the season last year, he was hit on the leg, and it was thought to be a broken leg. Later, it was ruled to be a hyperextended knee. In October, he took a hit to the head that knocked him out of the game. He was back the next week. Oh, and that hyperextension was actually a hairline fracture of the fibula, which he played on all season. The injury was to his right leg, his plant leg, which he pushed off from. A knock on Morton was that his arm is not strong enough. Given his injuries, he probably couldn’t show what he could do. Morton completed all 11 pass attempts in competitive 11 on 11.

Kyle Dixon – Made 4 catches in 11’s from Morton. Dixon mostly repped as an outside receiver (Z) and made a solid initial impression as the most noticeable receiver in the lone team period of practice. If he is slated for the Z position, that would put him in direct competition with Mack Hollins. I could see a year on the Practice Squad and then assume the Z position next year.

Dee Williams – According to Evan Lazar – Among all the DBs, not just the Invitees, Tennessee CB Dee Williams was a standout. The 5-11, 190-pound corner looked explosive going through drills. Williams made some sudden changes of direction, had decent speed, and was smooth in his backpedal. He moved differently than the other corners.

Olasunkonmi Agunloye – Is another tryout player who stood out to Lazar. The DL from Florida International has great size at 6-6, 307 pounds, and his size was noticeable when he was repping on the interior defensive line. There could be something there as the Patriots kick the tires on big-bodied interior defenders to add to their defensive line room.

CLNS Media’s Mike Kadlick liked S Peter Manuma from Hawaii. The 6’, 205-pound Safety ran a 4.49 40-yard dash, and 3-cone drill of 7.01 seconds. That’s fast for a Safety. He had 80 Tackles last season, playing more of an in-the-box Safety. Manuwa was selected for Mountain West Honorable Mention All-Conference team all 4 years at Hawaii. He was signed today (see below).

Taylor Kyles also pointed out that P Mitch McCarthy (Indiana) might be a candidate to be signed as competition for Bryce Barringer. Kyles noted how big McCarthy was at 6’5” 242-pounds. McCarthy is an Australian punter converting from Australian Rule Football. He came back from an undisclosed injury in August of 2025 which may have kept his average down.

The Patriots have three roster spots open. One should go to AJ Brown once the trade is consummated. That’s two spots for Invitees. Remember the Patriots cut a UDFA they had signed after the rookie mini-camp a few years ago, in order to sign Malcolm Butler. So perhaps they could sign more than two players.

The thing to remember is that these are unpadded practices, and there is no contact.

Other Notes

Number one selection, Caleb Lomu, played strictly at Left Tackle but did some drill work at Right Tackle. Dametrious Crownover played at Right Tackle in 11’s but also worked some at Left Tackle. Crownover hopes to develop into the Swing Tackle.

Gabe Jacas was present but didn’t participate. Eli Rairdon was not present at all. I wonder if the fact they hadn’t signed their contracts has anything to do with it. Ironically, Rairdon signed his contract along with Quintayvious Hutchins.

Jacas, the #55 selection in the draft, is probably angling for a fully guaranteed contract as all 2^nd rounders tried to do last season. The #55 pick should not get fully guaranteed money, so this is something to monitor as it gets closer to mandatory mini-camp.

Tryout Players Signed

Doug Kyed of the Herald announced the Patriots have signed UDFA Tryout Safety Peter Manuma from Hawaii. I highlighted Manuma above.

Mike Reiss also posted on X that the Patriots have signed DE Xavier Holmes. The 6’2” 252-pound EDGE from James Madison ran a 4.79 40, at his Pro Day, a little slower than expected. Last season the transfer from Maine had 30 Tackles, 4 PBUs, 1 INT and 7 QB Hits. He is also a good Special Teams player.

Patriots.com has confirmed the two signings. This fills the two open spots on the roster.

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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.

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