FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today that they have signed three rookie free agents: LB D.J. Lynch (Bowling Green), TE Jimmay Mundine (Kansas) and TE Logan Stokes (Louisiana State). In addition, the Patriots released QB Garrett Gilbert, rookie WR Zach D'Orazio and veteran TE Tim Wright.
Lynch, 22, played in 48 games with 26 starts at Bowling Green and finished with 230 total tackles. The 6-foot, 252-pounder, had his best season as a junior in 2013 when he started all 14 games and was named All-MAC after finishing with a team-high of 83 total tackles.
Mundine, 23, played in 45 games with 19 starts at tight end and closed his career as Kansas' third-ranked tight end in terms of yards and receptions with 1,082 yards on 86 receptions. The 6-foot-2, 240-pounder, has the most touchdowns by a tight end in school history with 11. Last season, Mundine started in all 12 games and set a single season record for a tight end in school history with 584 receiving yards.
Stokes, 22, began his college career at Northeast Mississippi Community College for two seasons (2011-12) before transferring to LSU for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder, was utilized mainly as a blocking tight end during his time at LSU. He played in 13 games last season and caught his only reception on a three-yard touchdown pass in LSU's 10-7 win over Ole Miss.
Gilbert, 23, was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft (214th pick overall) out of Southern Methodist. The 6-foot-4, 221-pounder, was released by St. Louis on Aug. 30, 2014, and signed to the practice squad on Sept. 1. He was released from the St. Louis practice squad on Oct. 28 and joined the New England practice squad on Dec. 17, 22014. As a senior at SMU in 2013, Gilbert set a school record for completions (335) and finished second in passing with 3,528 yards. He also threw 21 touchdowns as a senior.
D'Orazio, 23, was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Akron on May 26, 2015. The 6-foot-2, 212-pounder, was a two-year starter at Akron, appearing in 28 games at wide receiver and finished his career with 119 receptions for 1,422 yards and five touchdowns. D'Orazio began his college career as a quarterback before switching to wide receiver in 2012.
Wright, 25, is a veteran of two NFL seasons with Tampa Bay (2013) and New England (2014). The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder, was acquired by the Patriots from the Buccaneers in a trade on Aug. 26, 2014. He has played in 32 NFL games with 10 starts and has 80 receptions for 830 yards and 11 touchdowns. Last season with the Patriots, Wright played in 16 games with two starts and finished with 26 receptions for 259 yards with six touchdowns. He played in all three postseason games last season, including Super Bowl XLIX, but did not record any receptions.
