Patriots hosting Super Bowl champion safety on visit

The Patriots are busy visiting with free agents on Thursday.

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Taylor Rapp Patriots visit
Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

There’s a flurry of activity at Gillette Stadium on Thursday as the New England Patriots continue to work on making free agency signings.

The Patriots will host free-agent safety Taylor Rapp on Thursday, ESPN’s Field Yates first reported.

Rapp, a second-round pick out of Washington in 2019, has started 48 of 57 games played since entering the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams. He has nine interceptions, 23 pass breakups, one forced fumble, three fumble recoviers, 1.5 sacks, 330 tackles, eight tackles for loss and five QB hits in four seasons. The 26-year-old is a versatile playmaker who split his snaps between free safety (524 snaps), the box (277 snaps), the slot (168 snaps) and cornerback (seven snaps) in 2022.

Rapp played more in the box as a rookie but has spent over 500 snaps at free safety in the past two seasons. The Patriots are looking for a free safety after Devin McCourty’s retirement. They already have three box safeties in Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips and Jabrill Peppers.

Rapp, who ran a 4.61-second 40-yard dash coming out of Washington, doesn’t have McCourty’s speed, but it’s possible New England will be looking to adjust its defense for McCourty’s departure. It’s also possible the Patriots could use re-signed cornerback Jonathan Jones at safety and use Rapp more in the slot if signed.

The Patriots also are hosting ex-Miami Dolphins pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel on a visit Thursday.

Rapp won Super Bowl LVI as a member of the Rams.