Patriots add Bill Belichick favorite in free agency
The Patriots hosted five free agents on Thursday and are signing one
The New England Patriots are making a special-teams splash in free agency.
The Patriots are signing linebacker/special-teams ace Chris Board to a two-year contract worth up to $6.7 million, a source told NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero. Board visited the Patriots along with four other players on Friday.
Board, 27, played last season with the Detroit Lions and spent the previous four years of his career with the Baltimore Ravens. He came into the league as an undrafted free agent out of North Dakota State. Board has played over 80 percent of special-teams snaps in his last two seasons and over 72 percent in every year of his career. He’s also taken on a bigger defensive role in his last three seasons. He has 115 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, eight QB hits, two pass breakups and three forced fumbles in five seasons.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick specifically praised Board last season before a matchup with the Lions.
“Board, that’s the best special teams player we’ll play against all year. He’s great. A great player,” Belichick said.
The Patriots struggled on special teams last season, so Board will help the unit while filling depth at linebacker.
