The New England Patriots might have one more splash transaction in them this offseason.
Defensive tackle Nick Fairley told ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner that he will meet with the Patriots at the NFL Annual Meeting. The Detroit Lions selected Fairley in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and Fairley played there from 2011 to 2014. He spent the 2015 season with the St. Louis Rams, recording 29 tackles and 0.5 sacks in 15 games.
The 6-foot-4, 308-pound defensive tackle has 14 sacks in five NFL seasons. The Patriots lost defensive tackle Akiem Hicks in free agency and could use another proven veteran. They currently have Malcom Brown, Alan Branch, Dominique Easley, Chris Jones, Frank Kearse, Ishmaa’ily Kitchen and Joe Vellano on their roster.
The Patriots already have acquired four former first-round picks — guard Jonathan Cooper, linebacker Shea McClellin, defensive end Chris Long and running back Donald Brown — this offseason. The Patriots don’t have a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Thumbnail photo via Brace Hemmelgarn/USA TODAY Sports Images
