Patriots Sign Five Free Agents

After locking up some of their own, the Patriots came out swinging on Thursday with five reported signings.

No, there wasn’t a Golden Tate-sized blockbuster or anything, but there was a collection of solid moves on veterans who will stabilize the middle and bottom of the roster. And who knows, one of them just might take to the Patriots and emerge as a key contributor.

Here’s a quick look at all five of the signings and where they fit on the roster.

Mike Pennel – Defensive Tackle

Pennel is another slam dunk move, signing a two-year deal to help replace Malcom Brown who signed with the Saints. He spent three seasons with the Packers and the last two with the Jets, playing 16 games both seasons.

Pennel is an easy schematic projection, a big-bodied (6’4″, 332) badass who fits the Alan Branch, Lawrence Guy mold. He’ll be a first and second down run-stopper and gives the Patriots a solid veteran. Though technically a “starter” the defensive tackles are far more specialized positions now and Pennel is a good fit.

Stopping the run is critical and hopefully Pennel can embrace taking on multiple blockers inside as he’s been asked to do many times before.

Matt Lacosse – Tight End

Lacosse broke through in 2018 after entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2015 with the Giants. He played 15 games for the Broncos last year and chipped in with 24 catches for 250 yards and one touchdown. He also played almost a quarter of their special teams snaps.

This is another baseline tight end insurance pre-draft. Lacosse is an affordable option but there isn’t a lot in his game that makes me holding out hope he’s even as effective as Dwayne Allen was, much less someone who could be an every-down tight end should Gronk not be there.

Expect there to be some draft capital invested at the position as well to compete with Lacosse, Ryan Izzo, Stephen Anderson and Jacob Hollister.

Bruce Ellington – Wide Receiver

Ellington is a four-year veteran and has spent time with former Patriot coaches like Bill O’Brien and Matt Patricia. A highly-athletic prospect when he entered the league, Ellington has played in 44 games, started nine and picked up 79 catches and five touchdowns.

In a perfect world, he can win the fourth-receiver spot and chip in like Amendola and Patterson did the last few seasons. He hasn’t returned a kick in two years, but is a depth player at both the kick return and punt returner spots as well.

Maurice Harris – Wide Receiver

At 6’3″ Harris provides a bit of needed size to the receiver crew. While Ellington projects more as a Z receiver, Harris has the potential to play outside at the X spot.

Harris had just 28 catches for 304 yards but immediately looks like a viable Chris Hogan replacement. His hands and route running remind me a bit of Malcolm Mitchell. In Washington he showed good toughness over the middle and then ability to make contested catches.

With the wide receiver spots wide open, Harris is an intriguing value add.

Terrence Brooks – Special Teams/Safety

Brooks has spent time with the Ravens, Eagles and Jets and brings the kind of toughness you’d expect from those kind of teams. He played 79 percent of the special teams snaps for the Jets in 2018 and is the kind of player Belichick always pounces on.

The Patriots special teams took a downturn for a bit in 2018. They turned it around with in-season acquisitions Ramon Humber and Albert McClellan. By grabbing Brooks it’s another move to reinforce a unit that dropped from 3rd to 16th in DVOA.

None of these five signings are blockbusters, most are modest two-year deals. But it’s players like these, guys who have bounced around the league a bit and might blossom in a football-only atmosphere, that the Patriots dynasty has been built on.

All could potentially be upgraded in the draft, but they also offer enough flexibility that you don’t have to find a wide receiver or defensive tackle rookie starter.