Patriots announce official signing of 3 rookies, 9 UDFAs

Rookie minicamp is underway for the New England Patriots this weekend, marking the first time their draft picks from the 2024 NFL Draft and undrafted free agents (UDFAs) take part in an NFL practice. For a few of the Patriots rookies Friday marked another big step - signing their first NFL contracts.

On Friday afternoon, the Patriots announced three draft picks have officially signed their rookie contracts. They also announced the signing of nine UDFAs.

NFL rookie contracts are mostly pre-determined, but aren't always signed right away. Signings typically continue league-wide leading up to training camp in July. Players who haven't signed can still take part in spring practices.

The Patriots began the process with their three final draft picks. Sixth-round picks defensive back Marcellas Dial and quarterback Joe Milton and seventh-round pick tight end Jaheim Bell have all now signed their rookie deals, according to the team.

All three contracts - as is the case for all rookies drafted from the second round on - are four-year deals. According to Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan, All three contracts are projected as worth up to just over $4 million over four years. Dial’s estimates out to $212K in guaranteed money and will count $848K against the salary cap in 2024. Milton's contract includes $183K in guaranteed money, with a projected 2024 cap hit of $840K. Bell's contract has $106K in guaranteed money, with a $821K cap hit.

In addition to those three signings, the Patriots announced the official addition of nine undrafted free agents. That group is make up of running back DeShaun Fenwick, tight end Jacob Warren, offensive linemen Zuri Henry and Charles Turner, defensive lineman John Morgan, linebacker Jontrey Hunter, and defensive backs Kaleb Ford-Demont, Mikey Victor, and Dell Pettus.

Following the draft the Patriots were initially reported to have signed 10 UDFAs. The University of Texas football X/Twitter account had shared that EDGE rusher Jett Bush was signing with the team, but Bush wasn't included in Friday's announcement with the other Patriots rookies. It's possible Bush was brought it for a rookie minicamp tryout rather than on a full contract, or he won't be joining the team after all.

We'll get a chance to see if Bush is on the field with the rest of the Patriots rookie on Saturday, when the team opens up one day of rookie minicamp to the media. 985TheSportsHub.com will have full coverage, with head coach Jerod Mayo set to speak at 10:45 a.m. ahead of the 11:00 practice.

Read more about the Patriots rookies below...

On Thursday, the New England Patriots' 2024 rookie class reported to Gillette Stadium ahead of the start of rookie minicamp this weekend. Before their first practice, the rookies were given their jersey numbers for the 2024 season. The team announced those numbers on Friday.

For the better part of the second half of Bill Belichick's tenure as head coach, rookies weren't assigned their real jersey numbers until just before the preseason game. Instead the first draft pick would get No. 50 as a place holder, the second pick No. 51, etc. with the idea being the rookie had to 'earn' their numbers.

This year, Jerod Mayo is making a change. All of the numbers assigned to this year's draft picks are numbers that fit for their positions and could continue into the regular season (but that doesn't mean they won't change after roster cuts, as players sometimes do).

Here's a look at this year's Patriots rookie jersey numbers as rookie minicamp gets underway...

Maye's number was already known after the Patriots' social media team shared his locker setup when he made his initial visit to Gillette Stadium after the draft. Maye takes the number over from Mac Jones, who was the Patriots' last first-round pick at quarterback. 10 was also worn by Jimmy Garoppolo, another Patriots quarterback draft pick who was once viewed as a potential future franchise quarterback.

Polk wore two numbers in college. Last year he was No. 2, which is currently taken by veteran wide receiver K.J. Osborn. Before that he wore No. 12, which obviously wasn't happening either. Instead he takes over No. 1, which last year belonged to wide receiver DeVante Parker.

Wallace wore No. 79 in college, but that number is retired by the Patriots for defensive tackle Jim Lee Hunt. Instead he'll wear No. 70. That number was last worn briefly by defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms before he switched to No. 98 last year. It hasn't been worn regularly by any Patriots player since guard Logan Mankins wore it from 2005 to 2013.

Robinson wore No. 64 in college, but that's currently taken by tackle Andrew Stueber. Instead he gets No. 63, which hasn't been worn by the Patriots player since Yasir Durant in 2021. The last player to wear the number for multiple seasons was center Dan Connolly from 2008 to 2014. Only two other players - Tre' Jackson and Brian Schwenke - have worn it since.

Baker wore No. 1 at UCF, but it seems like Polk got to that number first. Prior to transferring to UCF from Alabama, he wore No. 5, but that's taken by Jabrill Peppers. Instead he ends up with No. 6, which was worn by Christian Gonzalez last year (he's switching to No. 0 this year).

In college Dial wore both No. 24 and No. 6. Those are both taken currently in New England. He'll take over No. 27, which belong to Myles Bryant for for the last two seasons and J.C. Jackson for four seasons before that.

No. 19 became the de facto number for the Patriots' third-string quarterbacks last year. It was worn by both Will Grier and Matt Corral. Now, it's Milton's turn. His college No. 7 is currently taken by JuJu Smith-Schuster, but Milton could be a candidate to change his number before the regular season if he makes the team and Smith-Schuster doesn't.

The eighth pick gets No. 88. Bell wore No. 23, No. 0, and No. 6 during the course of his college career - all of which are taken in New England. Mike Gesicki wore 88 last year.

The Patriots didn't release the jersey numbers for their undrafted rookies on Friday. However, we'll get those numbers during Saturday's open rookie minicamp practice.

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.