Patriots bring in five players for free agency workouts

Later today, the New England Patriots will play their much-anticipated week six game against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs. The team’s front office, however, has set its sights not just on the game: according to ESPN Boston’s Mike Reiss, the team recently brought in five free agents for workouts. Let’s take a look at them.

DE Will Clarke

Since entering the NFL as a third-round draft pick in 2014, Will Clarke appeared in a combined 55 games for the Cincinnati Bengals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Playing primarily as a rotational pass rusher, the West Virginia product registered 7.0 sacks over the course of his career – with 4.0 of which coming during his best season, 2016. Clarke, who also has special teams experience, was let go by the Buccaneers twice this season so far and hit the open market again earlier this week.

QB Connor Cook

A fourth-round draft pick by the Oakland Raiders in 2016, Connor Cook served as the team’s third-string quarterback for his two years with the club. Due to being buried on the depth chart, the 6’4, 220 lbs passer appeared in only two games so far in his career – with his first career start coming in the postseason. Overall, the 25-year old completed 32 of 66 pass attempts for 311 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Cook was let go by Oakland during this year’s roster cutdowns and subsequently joined the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad.

LB Kasim Edebali

Following a career at Boston College, Kasim Edebali went undrafted in 2014. Since then, the 6’2, 250 lbs linebacker has played for six different teams – the last of which the Chicago Bears, who had him on their roster this offseason. Overall, Edebali appeared in 61 games over the course of his career as a depth edge defender and special teamer. He saw most of his action with the New Orleans Saints between 2014 and 2016, when he played 48 games and registered 8.0 sacks.

WR Devin Ross

Despite a comparatively productive career at Colorado, Devin Ross went unselected in this year’s draft. Instead, the now-23-year old joined the Tennessee Titans as a free agent. The 5’9, 190 lbs receiver, who plays primarily from the slot, had a solid preseason – catching six passes for 80 yards – but injured his ankle in the final game before roster cuts. As a result, he was placed on injured reserve but later released with an injury settlement. His workout indicates that the settlement period is now over and Ross healthy enough to play again.

TE Shane Wimann

After being named first-team all-MAC during his senior campaign, Northern Illinois’ Shane Wimann went undrafted. The Patriots picked him up as a free agent shortly afterwards but the 24-year old failed to make an impact and was let go again early during his first NFL training camp: Wimann was let go with an injury designation and reverted to the injured reserve list. The rookie and the Patriots agreed to an injury settlement two weeks later, allowing him to hit the open market again.