The New England Patriots stood No. 31 in the waiver priority after active rosters around the NFL reduced to 53.
That standing still brought some movement.
The reigning AFC champions claimed tight end Cameron Latu and linebacker Darius Muasau off waivers as the window closed Monday at 1 p.m. ET, according to the transaction wire.
Latu, 26, had been waived by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. The 6-foot-5, 244-pound tight end previously visited Foxborough for joint practices and preseason work earlier in the month. Entering the NFL in the third round of the 2023 draft at pick No. 101 overall out of Alabama, he began his career with the San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns before signing a futures contract in the NFC East in 2025. The former national champion went on to appear in 15 games last season, including a pair of starts. Latu saw 102 snaps on offense to go with 257 snaps on special teams while having a hand in a blocked punt and 11 tackles.
Muasau, 25, went to waivers via the New York Giants as part of the cutdown. The 6-foot, 234-pound off-ball linebacker had landed in East Rutherford in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft at pick No. 183 overall. A former transfer from Hawaii to UCLA, Muasau stands 27 games and 18 starts into his career. He has totaled 106 tackles, one sack and one interception across 890 snaps on defense and 341 snaps on special teams.
To make room on the initial active roster, veteran linebacker K.J. Britt has become one of the corresponding moves for the Patriots, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The formation of the practice squad is also underway amid the musical chairs. But only one of the 28 non-vested veterans involved in the weekend cutdown at Gillette Stadium found a new home via waivers.
The Miami Dolphins were awarded cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. from the AFC East rival.
Dial, 25, was among the first wave of cuts for New England. The 6-foot, 190-pound corner spent last year on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL in training camp. By way of Georgia Military and South Carolina, Dial landed with the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft at No. 180 overall. He appeared in all 17 games as a rookie, notching 12 tackles, one forced fumble and one start while handling 83.3 percent of the workload on special teams.
Last year post-deadline, head coach Mike Vrabel’s contingent claimed quarterback Tommy DeVito and cornerback Charles Woods.