New England Patriots Sign 10 Undrafted Free Agents

A closer look at the group of UDFA prospects heading to New England:

S Dell Pettus, Troy

Pettus was not on many pre-draft boards, but clearly caught the attention of the Patriots’ front office. His signing was the first announced for New England following the draft. Pettus brings plenty of experience to the table after starting 61 consecutive games for the Trojans. Dell Pettus made Pro Football Focus’ freshman All-American Team in 2019. He finished his collegiate career with 326 tackles (254 solo), He played over 3,500 career snaps. Like most UDFA prospects, Pettus showing he can contribute on special teams and as a safety is important if he hopes to impress in training camp.

OL Charles Turner III, LSU

Turner started the past two seasons at center for LSU. He played some tackle but has been called a “center-only” prospect by some draft analysts. Turner participated in both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine. He stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 309 pounds. Pro Football Focus gave Turner a 66.6 grade for his 2023 season when he was a fifth-year senior. In the Seven Round NFL Mock Draft on Patriots Football Now, Turner was taken in the seventh round (No. 234). He will compete with Jake Andrews, among others, to be David Andrews’ backup and heir apparent in New England.

CB Mikey Victor, Alabama State

After attending junior college and then UNLV, Victor transferred to Alabama State for the past two seasons. He has excellent size to play cornerback, listed at 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds. Last season he played in 10 games, recording 36 tackles (31 solo) and two interceptions. He was the lone non-Crimson Tide player invited to participate in Alabama’s Pro Day. Playing among some of the top prospects in the draft, Victor fit right in and impressed. The Raiders draft his brother Azeem Victor in the sixth round (No. 216) of the 2018 NFL Draft.

ED John Morgan III, Arkansas

Morgan began his college career at Pittsburgh. He played five seasons with the Panthers before heading to Arkansas for his final season in 2023. His production took a step backward during his lone season in the SEC. He went from 36 QB pressures down to 10. It marked Morgan’s lowest season total since 2018 when he only played 10 snaps all season. John Morgan III participated in Arkansas’ Pro Day. He measured 6-foot-2 and weighed 270 pounds. Morgan ran a 4.69 40-yard dash and posted a 35″ vertical jump. Both are impressive for a man weighing 270. He has experience and athleticism working in his favor.

OT Zuri Henry, UTEP

Based on their visits, one might have expected Tulsa’a Darrell Simpson or South Florida’s Donovan Jennings to be a UDFA signing along the offensive line. But the lone offensive tackle in the group was UTEP’s Zuri Henry. Despite being a sixth-year senior, Henry remains a very raw prospect. Standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 293 pounds, Henry can still add significant bulk to his frame. This would come with added strength as well. He played in all 13 games in 2023, four at right tackle and nine at left tackle. He committed 12 penalties last season, which doubled his previous high. Henry can develop into a swing tackle if he takes to coaching and puts in the work in the weight room.

RB Deshaun Fenwick, Oregon State

Fenwick was not among the Top 30 Running Backs ranked on Patriots Football Now. But the sixth-year senior earned a grade of 73.0 or better each of the past five seasons. He split his college career with three years at South Carolina before finishing with three years at Oregon State. Fenwick took a backseat on the Beavers to Damien Martinez, who rushed for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023. Deshaun Fenwick totaled 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing over the past two seasons. Fenwick had zero fumbles over 385 college carries. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound back ran a 4.77 40-yard dash at Oregon State’s Pro Day.

TE Jacob Warren, Tennessee

Warren spent six seasons with the Volunteers. He split time at tight end with McCallan Castles (who was ranked here as the No. 2 UDFA tight end, though Castles has since signed with the Philadelphia Eagles). Jacob Warren has great size for the position, standing 6-foot-6 and weighing 253 pounds. His size and strength give him a lot of potential as a blocking tight end, though that was not an area he consistently excelled at in college. New England hopes tight ends coach Bob Bicknell helps Warren reach his potential, of which plenty certainly exists. He earned SEC All-Academic Team honors a record five times. Warren was also honored multiple times for his tremendous work in the community and as a team leader, on and off the field.

CB Kaleb Ford-Dement, Texas State

Ford-Dement did not play high school football until his senior season. So, despite six years in college, he is still a player with great potential to continue improving. His college stops included Kilgore College, Old Dominion, and Washington State, before finishing up at Texas State. When the cornerback entered the transfer portal after leaving Old Dominion, he held offers from many major programs, including Georgia. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder ran a 4.47 in the 40.

LB Jontrey Hunter, Georgia State

The New England Patriots brought in Georgia State’s Travis Glover on a Top 30 visit but ended up signing his teammate Jontrey Hunter. Patriots Football Now projected Hunter to be selected in the Seven Round NFL Mock Draft posted on this site. Hunter is slightly undersized for a three-down linebacker at 6-foot-2, 236 pounds. But he does have the athleticism to cover tackles. His 4.91 40-time at his Pro Day likely squashed his draft hopes, though Glover does play faster than that time. He finished 2023 with 104 tackles (75 sol0) in 12 games. Jontrey Hunter will attempt to make an impression on special teams while trying to develop into something more.

Jett Bush, Texas

Bush played in 800 defensive snaps for Texas over the past four seasons. He showed tremendous improvement in 2023. After 15 total quarterback pressures over the prior three years, he had 16 in 2023. But special teams are where Jett Bush made his mark. He was a core special teams player his entire time with the Longhorns. Bush will try to follow in the footsteps of fellow Longhorn Brendan Schooler in making an impression on special teams with the New England Patriots. He stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 242 pounds. After making the Texas team as a walkon before earning a scholarship in 2020, Bush is no stranger to putting in hard work and beating long odds.