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Patriots Sign Adrian Wilson, Adding Punishing Safety Alongside Devin McCourty

It’s no secret the Patriots have needed help in the secondary for some time. Well, it appears they’ve found at least one impact player to help out.

The Patriots have agreed to terms with former Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson to a three-year deal, as his agent Tom Dandy confirmed via Twitter.

Wilson spent the first 12 years of his career with the Cardinals, but the team released him late last week. He was in Foxboro on Friday for a visit with the Patriots and it looks like he’ll be around a while longer.

The Patriots need at cornerback has been well-documented with the uncertain return of Aqib Talib and their lack of activity in the market besides re-signing Kyle Arrington to a four-year deal. Aside from the corners, though, the Patriots also have a need at the safety position.

Devin McCourty has quickly developed into one of the better young safeties in football, but his skills lie in coverage as something of a more traditional free safety. The Patriots do have both Steve Gregory and 2012 second-rounder Tavon Wilson on the roster, but adding a player with the caliber of Wilson will be a huge boost to the unit.

Wilson, 33, is a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection. He is a strong tackler and exactly the type of heavy hitter that the Patriots could use alongside McCourty.

Some may view Wilson as nothing more than a rotational player, but Rodney Harrison signed and remained a key component of this defense well into his 30s. There are some similarities between the two given their punishing style of defense.

There is no certainty that Wilson will be the starter or even that he’ll make the roster after training camp, but he does seem to have plenty left in the tank and if healthy would help improve one the league’s worst secondaries.

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Photo via Facebook/Adrian Wilson