Pen met paper as rookie minicamp kicked off at Gillette Stadium.
Five members of the 2026 New England Patriots draft class signed their NFL contracts on Friday, the organization announced.
The rookie deals now on the books include cornerback Karon Prunty, offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover, linebacker Namdi Obiazor, quarterback Behren Morton and running back Jam Miller.
Prunty, 24, landed in the fifth round at No. 171 overall and became the club’s first reported selection signing last week. The 6-foot-1, 192-pound cornerback made stops at Kansas and North Carolina A&T before transferring to Wake Forest in 2025. From there, while eclipsing 3,000 career defensive snaps and 50 starts, he went from a third-team All-CAA selection to a third-team All-ACC selection. Prunty appeared in all 13 games last fall for the Demon Deacons, totaling 40 tackles, one sack, one interception, eight pass breakups as well as one forced fumble and one recovery.
Advertisement
Crownover, 24, got the call from New England in the sixth round at No. 196 overall. The 6-foot-7, 319-pound offensive tackle saw action in 47 contests during his tenure at Texas A&M. Making his initial start for the Aggies on the left side of the line, Crownover went on to start 27 games on the right side. He finished with a College Football Playoff appearance as a graduate student. Invitations to the NFL Scouting Combine and Senior Bowl followed.
Obiazor, 24, entered the picture in the sixth round at No. 212 overall. A 6-foot-3, 219-pound convert from safety, the linebacker spent two years at Iowa Western Community College before enrolling at Texas Christian in 2022. He went on to start 40 of his 53 games for Horned Frogs, logging 302 tackles, including 17 for loss, along with 8.5 sacks. The former All-Big 12 honorable mention also had a hand in two forced fumbles and three interceptions en route to the Senior Bowl and Lucas Oil Stadium.
Morton, 24, arrived in the seventh round at No. 234 overall. The 6-foot-2, 218-pound quarterback appeared in 45 games for Texas Tech dating back to his redshirt year of 2021. He made 36 starts over that span while completing 62.8 percent of his passes for 8,986 yards with 71 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. A two-time captain and three-time All-Big 12 honorable mention, Morton went 26-10 as the Red Raiders’ starter and added seven rushing touchdowns.
Miller, 22, had his card filled out in the seventh round at No. 245 overall. The 5-foot-10, 209-pound running back appeared in 50 games at Alabama and made 15 starts between his junior and senior seasons. Carving a place on special teams early, he turned 349 carries into 1,596 yards and 40 catches into 336 yards altogether. Along the way came 15 total touchdowns and back-to-back seasons as the Crimson Tide’s leading rusher before clocking the 40-yard dash in 4.42 seconds in Indianapolis.
Advertisement
Each selection signing carries a four-year pact. And for the Patriots, that leaves first-rounder Caleb Lomu, second-rounder Gabe Jacas, third-rounder Eli Raridon and seventh-rounder Quintayvious Hutchins still to go from April’s haul.
In addition, 12 undrafted free agents officially agreed to terms with New England entering the weekend.
The three-year UDFA deals include running back Myles Montgomery, wide receivers Jimmy Kibble, Nick DeGennaro, Kyle Dixon and Cameron Dorner, tight end Tanner Arkin, offensive linemen JonDarius Morgan and Jacob Rizy, defensive tackle David Blay Jr., linebacker Khalil Jacobs, as well as defensive backs Channing Canada and Kenneth Harris.
Advertisement
Montgomery, 23, spent three campaigns at Cincinnati before transferring to Central Florida in 2024. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound running back served as a team captain for the Knights last fall and started 10 games. He turned 143 carries into 705 yards and four touchdowns during his final year of eligibility, adding 17 catches for 182 receiving yards.
Kibble, 22, appeared in 39 games during his stay at Georgetown. The 6-foot-1, 199-pound wide receiver caught 149 passes for 2,642 yards and 16 touchdowns in the process. As a team captain for the Hoyas last season, he earned first-team All-Patriot League recognition after reeling in 63 receptions for 1,002 yards and four touchdowns.
DeGennaro, 25, finished his collegiate run at James Madison in 2025 after stints at Maryland and Richmond. The 6-foot, 196-pound wideout appeared in 52 games over that span while notching 193 receptions for 2,544 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Dixon, 25, appeared in 22 games out wide at Culver-Stockton and hauled in 143 passes for 2,394 yards and 24 touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound ex-baseball pitcher by way of Southern Illinois and Georgia-Gwinnet College amassed 83 receptions for 1,282 yards and 12 scores during his 2025 campaign in the NAIA.
Advertisement
Dorner, 22, spent three years in the Division II ranks at Shepherd before enrolling at North Texas in 2025. From there, the 6-foot-1, 188-pound wide receiver went on to rank second on the Mean Green with 56 receptions for 911 yards and eight touchdowns.
Arkin, 22, accrued two seasons at Colorado State before transferring to Illinois for his final three years of eligibility. Twice an Illini captain, the 6-foot-4, 262-pound tight end finished his career with 45 receptions for 351 yards and six touchdowns.
Morgan, 23, operated as the starting right guard for UAB last season and has also seen time at tackle during his NCAA journey. The 6-foot-3, 321-pound offensive lineman spent two years at South Carolina before moving on to the Blazers in 2024.
Rizy, 24, started 20 games for Harvard’s offensive line while going from a second-team to a first-team All-Ivy League selection. The 6-foot-5, 306-pounder transferred to Florida State for his final two seasons made seven starts. He got the nod at center, both guard spots and right tackle dating back to 2021.
Advertisement
Blay, 23, began his collegiate career at West Chester before making stops at Louisiana Tech and Miami. From Conference USA to ACC play, the 6-foot-2, 292-pound defensive tackle appeared in 35 games while handling 90 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
Jacobs, 22, spent two years at South Alabama before finishing with two years at Missouri. The 6-foot-1, 227-pound linebacker appeared in all 13 games for the Tigers last campaign on the way to 47 tackles and three sacks.
Canada, 23, played three seasons at Texas Christian after landing by way of Trinity Valley Community College. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound cornerback started all 13 games in 2025 while posting 30 tackles and one pass breakup.
Harris, 23, began his career at Arkansas State and played his final three seasons of eligibility at Oklahoma State. Between corner and safety last year, the 6-foot-1, 188-pound defensive back tallied 33 tackles, one sack and six passes defensed.
Advertisement
With tryout players also on hand, rookie minicamp runs from Friday through Sunday in Foxborough.