There are 11 former New England Patriots currently under contract with other AFC East organizations.
Given that the 2017 league year is only a couple weeks old – and given that rosters will be filled to 90 apiece before long – the divisional tally figures expand before it is trimmed back down in late August.
Though as it stands, the list of 11 does not include Darrelle Revis – a recent New York Jets release – nor does it include Buffalo Bills unrestricted free agents in Brandon Spikes, Sergio Brown and James Ihedigbo.
But additional ex-Patriots remain nearby.
Here’s a glance through the familiar faces with the Jets, Bills and Miami Dolphins as the second wave of free agency rolls on.
BUFFALO
Andre Holmes, wide receiver – Holmes joined the Patriots’ practice squad in January of 2013 only to be waived that May. The Hillsdale product went on to be claimed by the Oakland Raiders, with whom he spent the next four seasons while catching 100 passes for 1,451 yards and 12 touchdowns, before signing a three-year deal with the Bills last week.
Brandon Tate, wide receiver – Tate, a Patriots third-round pick out of North Carolina back in 2009, re-signed with the Bills on Monday. The wideout and returner played in 18 games during his two seasons in New England. He accumulated 24 receptions for 432 yards and two touchdowns on offense, and added another two scores on special teams, before being waived by the Patriots in September of 2011.
Ryan Groy, guard – In August of 2015, the Patriots acquired Groy from the Chicago Bears in exchange for then-rookie linebacker Matthew Wells. Groy would go on to be waived with the injury designation that September and was subsequently released from injured reserve with a settlement. The guard has spent much of the last two seasons with the Bills, starting seven games in 2016. He’s since been retained as a restricted free agent after Buffalo matched a two-year offer sheet from the Los Angeles Rams.
Jerel Worthy, defensive tackle – The Green Bay Packers sent Worthy, a former second-round pick, to the Patriots in exchange for a conditional late-rounder in August of 2014. But Green Bay would not collect that conditional return as the defensive lineman was waived by New England two weeks later. Worthy made an additional two stops before arriving on Buffalo’s practice squad in 2015. He recorded a dozen tackles over 13 appearances in 2016.
Ramon Humber, linebacker – Humber checked in as the Patriots’ first out-of-house signing of the 2016 league year, but the veteran special-teamer would be released at the end of the preseason. He signed with the Bills the next day and finished the regular season tied for tops on the team with 12 special-teams tackles over 16 games and one start. Humber re-signed with Buffalo this February.
Leonard Johnson, cornerback – New England brought Johnson into the fold in December of 2015, and the slot corner proceeded to start three of his four games with the club while notching 11 tackles and three pass deflections. But Johnson would be released by New England in February of 2016, and after appearing in 10 games for the Carolina Panthers this past season, he agreed to terms with the Bills on Friday.
Shamiel Gary, safety – Gary originally entered the league as a Patriots undrafted free agent in May of 2014. He’d later return to Foxborough on the practice squad in the midst of the 2016 season, yet was released after a month-long stay. Gary, who has spent time with three other teams, including Miami, signed to Buffalo’s practice squad in December. The Oklahoma State product was promoted to the 53-man roster to close out the campaign.
MIAMI
Ted Larsen, center – Selected No. 205 overall back in 2010, Larsen would be waived before he could make his regular-season debut for the team that drafted him. But the former Patriots sixth-round pick has started 65 of his 105 games since leaving New England. Following productive stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals and Bears, Larsen reached a three-year deal with the Dolphins on the first day of free agency.
Trevor Reilly, linebacker – Like Gary, Reilly has been a member of three AFC East teams. And after departing from the Jets with an injury settlement last September, the former seventh-round pick logged two months on the Patriots’ practice squad before the Dolphins signed him to their active roster in December. Reilly finished out the year with a special-teams stop against New England in Week 17.
NEW YORK
Anthony Johnson, defensive tackle – Johnson also finds himself on his third AFC East roster. The 2014 undrafted free agent out of LSU played seven games with the Dolphins as a rookie and went on to appear in another four with the Patriots in 2016. Johnson, who started one of those contests with New England and accrued eight tackles during his time there, was later signed off the practice squad to the Jets’ 53-man roster in November. He entered for seven games with New York to close out the campaign.
Darryl Roberts, cornerback – Roberts landed with the Patriots as a seventh-round pick by way of Marshall in 2015, but spent his first year on injured reserve and was claimed off waivers by the Jets before his second got underway. Roberts started two of his 12 regular-season games for New York in 2016, collecting 21 tackles.