FOXBORO — Patriots rookies and tryout players were introduced to the cold and rainy spring conditions of New England on Saturday.
This was the first opportunity for reporters to watch the Patriots’ rookies, who began minicamp on Friday.
Though the session mostly involved instructional work in individual drills, the offense and defense did come together for two unpadded 11-on-11 sessions. It was a strong showing from the offense, especially quarterback Behren Morton, a seventh-round pick out of Texas Tech, and wide receiver Kyle Dixon, an undrafted free agent from NAIA Culver-Stockton.
Attendance
There were nine draft picks and 12 undrafted free agents expected on the practice field for Day 2 of rookie minicamp. In addition, the Patriots invited 17 tryout players to the session. There were also three participants from the Patriots’ 90-man roster: offensive tackle Lorenz Metz, who’s in the international player pathway program, guard Mekhi Butler and cornerback Brandon Crossley.
New England Patriots 2025-2026 linebacker Gabe Jacas (50) as the Patriots hold rookie mini camp. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
New England Patriots 2025-2026 linebacker Gabe Jacas (50) as the Patriots hold rookie mini camp. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
Edge defender Gabe Jacas, a second-round pick, did not participate, though he was on the field in uniform without a helmet. Third-round tight end Eli Raridon also didn’t participate.
First-round tackle Caleb Lomu, fifth-round cornerback Karon Prunty, sixth-round offensive tackle Dametrious Crownover and linebacker Namdi Obiazor, and Morton, running back Jam Miller and edge defender Quintayvious Hutchins, all seventh-round picks, were on the field.
The Patriots officially signed their 12-player undrafted free-agent class on Friday. Running back Myles Montgomery, wide receivers Nick DeGennaro, Dixon, Cameron Dorner and Jimmy Kibble, tight end Tanner Arkin, offensive linemen JonDarius Morgan and Jacob Rizy, defensive tackle David Blay Jr., linebacker Khalil Jacobs, and cornerbacks Channing Canada and Kenneth Harris were also participating.
Among the 18 tryout players, three — wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson, cornerback Dee Williams and long snapper Kneeland Hibbertt — were veterans with some NFL experience. The rest of the tryouts, wide receiver Cade Harris, tight end Jeremiah Franklin, offensive linemen Nate Azzopardi and Elijah Simonson, defensive linemen Tyrell Martin and Olasunkonmi Agunloye, linebackers Jordan Kwiatkowski and Declan Williams, edge defender Xavier Holmes, cornerbacks Logan Collier and Malcolm Greene, safeties Peter Manuma and Tim Coutras, and punter Mitch McCarthy, were all rookies.
Injuries
Hutchins left practice early with head athletic trainer Jim Whalen. After walking into the training shed midway through practice, Hutchins departed the practice field.
Hutchins was the Patriots’ final pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and comes out of Boston College.
Takeaways
— Lomu spent all of practice at left tackle. The 28th overall pick was Utah’s starting left tackle for the past two seasons. Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said after the first round of the draft that he believed Lomu has the versatility to play multiple spots along the offensive line, but the Patriots stuck him in one spot Saturday. Lomu is not expected to start this season behind left tackle Will Campbell, left guard Alijah Vera-Tucker, cener Jared Wilson, right guard Mike Onwenu and right tackle Morgan Moses. Expect him to move around more once the veterans join the group.
— Crowover stuck at right tackle, though he said after the session that he feels like he has the flexibility to play on the left side as a swing tackle if needed. The rest of the Patriots’ top offensive line: LG Butler, C Rizy, RG Morgan.
— Morton was 11-of-11 in the Patriots’ first full-team drill and 1-of-1 in their next set. He had completions to Arkin (1), Dixon (4), Jackson (3), Dorner (1), Harris (1), Kibble (1) and Franklin.
— Dixon’s rookie contract includes $252,000 in total guarantees, making him one of the favorites to at least land on the Patriots’ practice squad. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Dixon ran a 4.51-second 40-yard dash with a 1.53-second 10-yard split, 40-inch vertical leap, 10-feet, 11-inch broad jump, 4.51-second short shuttle, 7.05-second 3-cone drill and 15 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at Missouri’s pro day in March. In two seasons at Culver-Stockton, he caught 143 passes for 2,394 yards with 24 touchdowns. Dixon, 25, began his collegiate career as a pitcher at Southern Illinois and Georgia-Gwinnet College.
— Prunty looked smooth as a boundary cornerback on defense. His length stands out on the practice field.
New England Patriots 2025-2026 tight end Tanner Arkin (84) works with head coach Mike Vrabel as the Patriots hold rookie mini camp. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
New England Patriots 2025-2026 tight end Tanner Arkin (84) works with head coach Mike Vrabel as the Patriots hold rookie mini camp. (staff photo by Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)
— Miller and Montgomery split carries during 11-on-11 drills. It will be interesting to watch them compete with Lan Larison and Terrell Jennings for the Patriots’ third running back spot behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson this spring and summer. They’re roughly the same size and had similar production in college. Miller (5-10, 209) ran for 1,596 yards on 349 carries with 13 touchdowns at Alabama while adding 40 catches for 336 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Montgomery (5-10, 205) ran for 1,546 yards on 274 carries with 11 touchdowns while adding 26 catches for 257 yards and one touchdown through the air. Miller might get a slight edge as a late seventh-round pick, but Montgomery looked a bit more decisive in Saturday’s practice.
— Head coach Mike Vrabel was in the middle of the action, instructing players and getting hands-on throughout the session. He had particular pointers for Jacobs and Crownover during Saturday’s practice.
— The Patriots still have two open roster spots. They could save one for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown, assuming a deal gets done after June 1. McCarthy could be brought to camp as competition for Bryce Baringer. McCarthy is 27 years old, from Australia and played at UCF and Indiana.