Patriots haven’t missed on re-signing defensive free agents
Another defender was re-signed Friday morning.
The New England Patriots re-signed yet another defensive free agent Friday when they retained defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale, per NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero.
Ekuale joins a list of returning defensive free agents that includes defensive tackle Carl Davis, linebackers Raekwon McMillan and Mack Wilson, cornerbacks Jonathan Jones and Myles Bryant and safety Jabrill Peppers.
The only defender they’ve lost so far is safety Devin McCourty to retirement. The lone internal defender remaining available in free agency is cornerback Joejuan Williams as long as you don’t count special-teamer/safety Cody Davis.
It makes sense to keep the 2022 Patriots defense that finished third in EPA per play in place. They brought four defenders in for free-agent visits Thursday, but none were immediately reported to have signed, and safety Taylor Rapp and edge defender Andrew Van Ginkel left for other visits. The other free-agent defenders to visit Gillette Stadium were old friend defensive end Trey Flowers linebacker/special-teamer Chris Board.
