The Patriots are adding two young players to their 90-man roster.
According to multiple sources, the Patriots are signing defensive tackle Isaiah Iton and offensive guard Mehki Butler. The team also signed undrafted free agent defensive end Wilfried Pene, who will take up an international spot, which means he won’t count on the 90-man roster.
The Patriots subsequently cut undrafted free agent tackle Cole Birdow.
Butler earned his roster spot after a successful three-day rookie minicamp. The undrafted free agent from Arkansas State was invited to New England as a tryout player. After three practices, the coaches must have liked what they saw.
Butler started his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College where he was a NJCAA First Team All-American. That led him to Arkansas State, where he started at left guard. Last year, he was the top-rated guard in the Sun Belt Conference, according to Pro Football Focus.
Butler started at left guard for the last three seasons for Arkansas State. That’s a position where the Patriots will have a competition this season. Players such as Layden Robinson, Cole Strange, Wes Schweitzer, Jack Conley, and now Butler could all factor in.
Iton comes to the Patriots after one season in Tennessee. Last year, he signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers. He was waived at the end of training camp and signed with Tennessee’s practice squad.
Iton played in college at Northern Colorado, Hutchinson Community College, Ole Miss, and Rutgers.
Iton was signed to a futures contract by the Titans this offseason but released on April 16. His connection to the Patriots is through new director of pro scouting A.J. Highsmith. Highsmith was the director of scouting for the Titans last season.
Pene is from Tours, France and played football at Virginia Tech and Old Dominion. Last year, he finished with 33 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Pene qualifies for an international roster exemption, so he doesn’t count on the Patriots 90-man roster. He too was at Patriots minicamp last weekend.