The New England Patriots made an addition to their defense Thursday with the acquisition of Jason McCourty, and it appears they are not done trying to bolster that unit.
The Patriots reportedly are going to meet with free-agent defensive lineman Adrian Clayborn, according to ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
I’m told free agent DL Adrian Clayborn “is flying to Boston tonight” for a scheduled visit with the #Patriots, per source.
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 15, 2018
ESPN’s Vaughn McClure reported yesterday that the Patriots and a slew of other teams all had reported interest in the defensive end.
DE Adrian Clayborn generating interest as one of the best pass rushers available. Patriots, Colts, Bucs, Browns — and Falcons — appear to be all in the mix, according to source. Clayborn led the Falcons with 9.5 sacks last season. https://t.co/Q6TfIu3Rwz
— vaughn mcclure (@vxmcclure23) March 14, 2018
The seven-year veteran is an established pass rusher, leading the Atlanta Falcons with 9.5 sacks last season. He plays almost exclusively at defensive end, and presumably would help serve as an important pass rusher for the Patriots.
While the 29-year-old certainly would be a valuable addition, it’s worth noting injuries have been an issue throughout his career. He played just three games during his second pro season due to a knee injury, and just one game during the 2014 campaign. Last season, however, he did play all 16 games, marking the fourth time in his career that he played the entire regular season.
