The New England Patriots are making a savvy post-draft roster move, reportedly signing undrafted free agent safety Peter Manuma following an impressive tryout at the team's rookie minicamp.

According to The Boston Herald's Doug Kyed, Manuma was one of 17 tryout players invited to the minicamp, and he clearly made the most of his opportunity. His performance was strong enough to earn a contract, filling a notable gap in the Patriots' defensive backfield.

With the team opting not to draft a safety during the NFL Draft, questions lingered about the depth behind starters Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson. Manuma now steps into that conversation, offering a potential solution for a position group that needed reinforcement.

The Hawaii product brings an impressive collegiate résumé. A four-year starter, he was named the team's defensive MVP last season after posting 80 tackles, seven passes defended, one sack, and 2.5 tackles for loss. According to MassLive's Mark Daniels, Manuma also boasts solid athletic measurables, running a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and posting a 35.5-inch vertical jump.

While the Patriots already have Brown, Dell Pettus, John Saunders Jr., and Brenden Schooler on the depth chart, none of those players offer proven in-game reliability behind the starters. That opens the door for Manuma to carve out a meaningful role if he continues to impress through training camp and preseason action.

Making the 53-man roster won't be easy, but Manuma has already cleared a major hurdle by going from undrafted tryout to signed player. For a team still addressing safety depth, this signing is a smart, low-risk move that could pay dividends down the road.