Corliss Waitman got a late start as an unrestricted free agent, but it didn’t take long for the former South Alabama punter to get a contract.

The New England Patriots signed Waitman on Thursday, the NFL team announced.

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In 2022, Waitman punted more than any player in the NFL with 96 for the Denver Broncos. He averaged 46.6 yards per punt with a net average of 41.4 yards.

Waitman qualified as an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. An ERFA is a player with fewer than three NFL seasons and an expiring contract. A player in this category who receives a contract offer from his current team cannot negotiate with other clubs.

The Broncos made a qualifying offer of $940,000 for the 2023 season to Waitman on March 13, two days before his 2022 contract would expire and he would become an unrestricted free agent.

But on Tuesday, Denver signed Riley Dixon in free agency. Dixon averaged 48.4 yards with a 41.7-yard net on 71 punts for the Los Angeles Rams last season.

When they signed Dixon, the Broncos rescinded their offer to Waitman, which turned him into an unrestricted free agent able to sign with any team.

Waitman had been with the Patriots previously.

Waitman averaged 42.7 yards on 158 punts across four seasons for South Alabama before entering the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2020.

Waitman spent 2020 on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad. He went to training camp with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021 but did make the team’s regular-season roster.

New England signed Waitman for its practice squad on Nov. 23, 2021. On Dec. 25, 2021, the Steelers signed Waitman for their active roster with punter Pressley Harvin III injured.

In his first NFL action, Waitman averaged 52.1 yards on seven punts in two games for Pittsburgh.

Waitman joined the Broncos as a waiver claim the day after Super Bowl LVI.

As the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 3 of the 2022 season, Waitman became the first South Alabama alumnus to win an NFL Player of the Week Award.

In the Broncos’ 11-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 25, Waitman averaged 47.6 yards with a 43.6-yard net on 10 punts. Six of his punts ended up inside the 20-yard line.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.