Ex-Buccaneers running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn was among Monday’s re-signings.
The New England Patriots signed seven members of the final practice squad to futures contracts as the offseason began Monday.
Running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn, wide receiver T.J. Luther, offensive tackle Andrew Stueber, defensive tackle Trysten Hill, defensive end William Bradley-King, linebacker Joe Giles-Harris and cornerback Azizi Hearn have been retained for 2024, per the NFL transaction wire.
Vaughn, 26, joined New England’s practice squad midway through December after clearing waivers. Selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft at No. 76 overall, the back by way of Illinois and Vanderbilt appeared in 43 games while a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A Super Bowl LV champion, his stay included 465 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns through 103 carries and 14 catches.
Luther, 23, checked in as the first reported futures pact for the Patriots. The wideout out of Wofford and Gardner-Webb signed to the practice squad in September and re-signed in November. Originally entering the league with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent last spring, Luther was waived following his rookie preseason. He caught 55 passes for 1,035 yards and seven touchdowns as a graduate student in 2022.
Stueber, 24, was active as a standard elevation for the final two games of the regular season. Chosen by New England in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL draft at No. 245 overall, the former first-team All-Big Ten offensive lineman out of Michigan product spent his rookie year on the non-football injury list. He signed to the practice squad at its formation after being waived at the league’s 53-man roster deadline in August.
Hill, 25, made his Patriots debut in late October, playing four snaps on the defensive line before reverting. He signed to New England’s practice squad in the weeks prior following a workout. Taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2019 class at No. 58 overall, the Central Florida product made later stops with the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns. He has appeared in 31 career games, starting five starts, to total 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Bradley-King, 26, signed with New England midway through October after being released from the Washington Commanders’ practice squad. Selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft at No. 240 overall, the former transfer from Arkansas State to Baylor has appeared in four career games. Through 83 defensive snaps, he stands with seven tackles and a half-sack.
Giles-Harris, 26, agreed to terms with the Patriots prior to the preseason opener and joined the practice squad at the end of August. Undrafted out of Duke in 2019, the linebacker made previous stops on the practice squads and active rosters of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills. Through 17 career games, including three starts, he has recorded 26 tackles and one sack across 208 snaps on defense and 319 snaps on special teams.
Hearn, 24, signed to New England’s practice squad in September after being waived by the Las Vegas Raiders at the cutdown from 90 to 53 players. The 2023 undrafted arrival closed out his collegiate career at UCLA as a redshirt senior after stints at Wyoming and Arizona. He appeared in a combined 50 games over that span, starting 37, and finished with 146 tackles, 21 pass deflections as well as a fumble return for a touchdown.
Four members of New England’s Week 18 practice squad have yet to finalize contracts for next campaign. That group includes tight end Matt Sokol, guard Kody Russey and cornerbacks Breon Borders and William Hooper.
The organization promoted tight end La’Michael Pettway to the active roster on the eve of Sunday’s finale at Gillette Stadium.
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