Former Navy long snapper Joe Cardona has signed a four-year, $2.47 million contract with the New England Patriots.
Cardona was a fifth-round draft pick.
Although Cardona has a five-year military service commitment, Cardona has been able to take part in offseason workouts because of his assignment to the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, R.I.
Cardona worked out privately for the Patriots and visited the Philadelphia Eagles prior to the draft. He also had a dinner meeting with Patriots coach Bill Belichick, an Annapolis native, in Maryland.
Cardona's snaps have been clocked at 41 mph, reaching the punter's hands in less than a second.