Patriots host two more on visits, including familiar face
New England brought back a two-time Super Bowl champ to the facility.
The New England Patriots brought back a two-time Super Bowl champion for a free-agent visit on Thursday.
New England hosted five players total on Thursday, including former Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers and linebacker Chris Board, according to the NFL transaction wire. We already knew the Patriots had hosted safety Taylor Rapp, outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and wide receiver Bisi Johnson.
Flowers was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Arkansas. After playing just one game as a rookie, Flowers became a key playmaker for the Patriots over the next three seasons, helping to win Super Bowls in 2016 and 2018. He left in free agency on a big contract with the Detroit Lions and spent last season with the Miami Dolphins.
In four seasons, Flowers registered 21 sacks, 100 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 59 QB hits. He was a stout run defender and an accomplished pass rusher in New England who contributed 5.5 sacks in nine playoff games, including 2.5 in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Flowers has played just 18 games over the last three seasons, however.
Board has played five seasons since going undrafted out of North Dakota State in 2018. He’s been a special-teams ace with the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions, playing over 80 percent of special-teams snaps in his last two seasons and over 72 percent in every year of his career. Board has 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, a major proponent of special teams, specifically praised Board last season.
“Board, that’s the best special teams player we’ll play against all year. He’s great. A great player,” Belichick said.
The Patriots could use another pass rusher to join Matthew Judon, Deatrich Wise, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings. They had one of the NFL's worst special-teams units last season, so Board would help, as well, while filling depth at linebacker.
