The Patriots are adding a player from the International Pathway Program.
One day before their veteran players are scheduled to report to training camp, the New England Patriots have added some depth to their interior defensive line. Second-year DT David Olajiga has been added as a free agent, according to a report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Olajiga, 27, becomes the ninth defensive tackle on the Patriots’ pay roll but he actually will not count against their 90-man roster limit: born in London, he is a participant of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and as such carries a roster exemption.
Olajiga spent his college career at Butler Community College and Central Missouri and did not hear his name called in the 2024 NFL Draft. He eventually joined the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent and went on to see action in three preseason games, registering three tackles.
He was let go ahead of roster cutdowns and later signed to the team’s practice squad. An exempt 17th player, he spent his entire rookie campaign on Los Angeles’ developmental team without seeing any game action. He was released by the team earlier this offseason.
The Patriots are entering their training camp with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams as their top interior D-linemen. Joshua Farmer, Khyiris Tonga, Jeremiah Pharms Jr., Jaquelin Roy, Jahvaree Ritzie, Isaiah Iton and now Olajiga round out the depth chart.
The Patriots’ first practice of this year’s training camp will take place on Wednesday, July 23, at 10:30 a.m. ET.