The Patriots are really getting busy, and they’re focusing more and more on the veteran crop.
Two Pro Bowl veterans are set to visit Foxboro on Friday. The first is former Falcons defensive end John Abraham, who has been in town since Thursday. The second turns out to be former Cardinal safety Adrian Wilson, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
With Devin McCourty already back at safety, the Patriots are established with one player deep in the secondary, but he will need a running mate. Steven Gregory and 2012 second-round pick Tavon Wilson did some good things last season, but adding the more experienced Wilson could make a huge difference in what was one of the NFL’s worst secondaries.
Wilson, 33, has spent the entirety of his 12-year career in Arizona up to this point, but the team released him late last week. He is a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro selection, so the veteran does have some considerable accolades to his name. He also has some good playoff experience, playing a vital role in the Cardinals’ 2008 run to Super Bowl XLIII.
After putting up some big numbers earlier in his career, Wilson’s stats have waned in recent years but his impact over the top is still as prevalent as ever. He’s made some big plays over the course of his career, intercepting 27 passes on the whole, but his picks have been scarce in recent seasons, getting a combined four in the last three seasons.
One thing that isn’t a concern with Wilson is his durability, though. Wilson has played in all 16 games in eight of his 12 seasons and has only missed 11 games total during the course of his career. So, if the Patriots are looking for a reliable and consistent option to put alongside McCourty in the secondary, they may have found their man.
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Photo via Facebook/Adrian Wilson
