The New England Patriots’ rookies keep standing out as the offseason workout program rolls along.

Third-round pick Marte Mapu was the top standout in Friday’s organized team activities practice, intercepting and breaking up a pass during 11-on-11 drills from the safety position against quarterback Bailey Zappe. Mapu has moved around the Patriots’ defense from safety to linebacker. He is officially listed on the roster as a linebacker, but the positions are somewhat interchangeable in New England’s defense. Mapu primarily played defensive back in college.

Here’s what we saw at Friday’s session:

— The following players were absent: defensive back Jalen Mills, wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, outside linebacker Matt Judon, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton, cornerback Jonathan Jones, cornerback Quandre Mosely, outside linebacker Josh Uche, outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, linebacker Terez Hall, punter Bryce Baringer, guard Mike Onwenu, offensive tackle Riley Reiff, offensive tackle Trent Brown and defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Lawrence Guy.

— Mills, Jones, Mosely, Uche, Jennings, Boutte, Hall, Reiff and Godchaux were newly absent.

— Kicker Nick Folk, offensive tackle Conor McDermott and wide receiver Kendick Bourne were back at practice.

— Running back Rhamondre Stevenson, safety Cody Davis and cornerback Marcus Jones were among those limited.

— Quarterback Mac Jones was 8-of-13 with an interception in 11-on-11 drills. Zappe was 13-of-18 also with an interception.

— Mapu and safety Kyle Dugger hauled in interceptions. Mapu stole the ball away from tight end Matt Sokol. Dugger’s was deflected by linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley. Cornerback Ameer Speed, linebacker Mack Wilson, Bentley and Mapu had pass breakups.

— It's been interesting to see Mapu playing a deep safety role. The Patriots clearly like his range and instincts at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds.

— Jones began 11-on-11s going 6-of-7 with completions to wide receiver DeVante Parker (two), tight end Hunter Henry, Bourne, tight end Mike Gesicki and running back Pierre Strong. His next series went spike, completion to Parker, breakup by Wilson, drop by Parker, completion to Bourne and interception by Dugger.

— Running back James Robinson also had a drop. Wide receiver Raleigh Webb dropped some passes during individual drills.

— Guard Bill Murray filled in for Onwenu on the top offensive line. Rookie Atonio Mafi also mixed in. Strong also got notable work with the top unit.

— On the first defensive series of full-team drills, rookies Christian Gonzalez and Keion White were on the field along with Jack Jones, Jabrill Peppers, Adrian Phillips, Deatrich Wise, Daniel Ekuale, Carl Davis, Bentley, Wilson and Myles Bryant. There was another series when Gonzalez, White and Mapu — all rookies — shared the field with the top defense.

— Undrafted free agent Malik Cunningham — a quarterback in college who’s playing wide receiver in OTAs — did catch one pass in 11-on-11s from Zappe, but he didn’t win a contested catch with Shaun Wade in coverage and was on the receiving end of Speed’s breakup.

Featured image via Sacramento State Athletics