The New England Patriots were spurned by another free agent.
Linebacker Rolando McClain, who reportedly visited the Patriots on Monday, has agreed to a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys, ESPN’s Ed Werder reported. McClain’s contract is worth $3 million with an additional $1 million in incentives. The Patriots also offered McClain a one-year, $4 million contract, a source told the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe.
McClain has a guaranteed role with the Cowboys, with whom he started 12 games last season, whereas he would have had to fight for playing time with the Patriots, who have Dont’a Hightower, Jamie Collins and Jerod Mayo. Hightower and Mayo are recovering from injuries suffered last season, which explains their interest in another high-caliber linebacker.
The Patriots currently lack a dependable reserve linebacker and could be without Hightower throughout training camp as he recovers from a torn labrum. They are likely to address their need at the position in the 2015 NFL draft.
Thumbnail photo via Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports Images
