The New England Patriots are all-in on second-tier free agents.
The Patriots reportedly are hosting cornerback Delvin Breaux and offensive tackle Matt Tobin. The Breaux news comes courtesy of the Charlotte Observer’s Joe Person, while ESPN’s Field Yates reported the Tobin visit.
Breaux, 28, is a 6-foot-1, 210-pound cornerback out of LSU. He missed all of 2017 with a broken fibula but started 22 games in 2015 and 2016 with the New Orleans Saints. He had 66 tackles, 20 pass breakups and three interceptions over those two seasons. The Saints declined to tender Breaux as a restricted free agent after he was misdiagnosed by team doctors last season.
Breaux went to LSU but never played after suffering a spinal fracture in high school. Breaux was signed by the Saints after playing in the CFL, Arena Football League and Gridiron Developmental Football League.
Tobin, 27, is a 6-foot-3, 303-pound offensive tackle out of Iowa. He played 15 games with the Seattle Seahawks in 2017. He started 21 games with the Philadelphia Eagles between 2013 and 2016.
He originally came into the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2013.
The Patriots have a greater need at offensive tackle than cornerback. They lost starting left tackle Nate Solder in free agency and have yet to re-sign backups LaAdrian Waddle and Cameron Fleming.
The Patriots traded for cornerback Jason McCourty on Thursday. Breaux could bring some competition to the position group, where the Patriots also have Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, Jonathan Jones, Cyrus Jones, Ryan Lewis and Jomal Wiltz.
