After last week's loss at the hand of the Kansas City Chiefs, the New England Patriots brought multiple players in for free agency visits. Now, after Sunday's 36-20 victory against the New Orleans Saints, the Patriots still continue to take a look at players on the open market. According to ESPN's Mike Reiss and Field Yates, the team brought in six yesterday.
Let's take a look at them.
WR River Cracraft
An All-Pac12 honorable mention, Washington State wide receiver River Cracraft finished his 2016 senior year with 53 catches for 701 receiving yards and five touchdowns. However, an ACL tear forced him to miss the Cougars' final three games of the season and ultimately led to him going undrafted. The 6'0 wideout has been on the open market since.
DE Datone Jones
In 2013, the Green Bay Packers made defensive edge Datone Jones a first round draft pick. Since then, the 27-year old appeared in 67 total games registering 9.5 sacks, 85 tackles and an interception. However, the Packers declined his fifth-year contract option, making him a free agent in 2017. The 6'4, 280 lbs defender signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings but in early September was placed on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury. He was released off the list a week later and has not had his first free agency visit.
WR Kenny Lawler
After a standout career at Cal, the Seattle Seahawks picked Kenny Lawler in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft. The 6'2, 195 lbs wide receiver has yet to appear in an NFL game, though, as he spent his entire rookie season on Seattle's practice squad. The 23-year old was signed to a futures contract in January but again failed to make the Seahawks' 53-man roster. He was re-signed to the practice squad but released off it last week.
CB Robert Nelson
Robert Nelson originally entered the NFL as an undrafted signee by the Cleveland Browns in 2014. The Arizona State product appeared in seven games his rookie season – mostly on special teams – before spending the 2015 season with the Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans. In 2016, Nelson returned to Houston and appeared in 13 total games for the team. However, during this year's roster cutdowns, the 27-year old was let go.
WR Nelson Spruce
Colorado product Nelson Spruce joined the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted rookie in 2016. The 6'1, 205 lbs wide receiver, whose story was featured in the HBO series Hard Knocks, was able to make the team's 53-man roster but did not appear in a game before being placed on injured reserve in November. Spruce was again placed on injured reserve this year but was waived by the Rams on September 4th.
DE Jonathan Woodard
The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted Central Arkansas defensive lineman Jonathan Woodard in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft. However, the 6'6, 270 lbs defender was unable to see the field his rookie campaign as he tore his Achilles tendon in May. And while he was healthy again in 2017, the Jaguars opted to release him during September's roster cutdowns.