2018 NFL free agency: Patriots cornerback Johnson Bademosi signs two-year, $6.25 million contract with Texans

The New England Patriots entered free agency with 13 players about to hit the open market. Of those 13, four left the team over the course of the last two days. Now, player number five is leaving the team to sign a deal elsewhere. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, cornerback Johnson Bademosi has agreed to sign a deal with the Houston Texans:

Former Patriots’ special teams standout Johnson Bademosi reached agreement with the Texans on a two-year, $6.25 million contract, per source. Once again he becomes highest-paid special teams player in the NFL, but he also has shown ability to play CB, with three starts in 2017.

In early September, the Patriots traded a sixth round draft pick to the Detroit Lions for Bademosi’s services. The veteran would go on to appear in all but one of the team’s games this season, serving mostly as a special teamer: All in all, the 27-year old played almost two thirds of New England’s special teams snaps and as a gunner on kickoffs and punts registered 10 combined tackles – tied with Brandon King for the team lead.

Bademosi also saw playing time on defense, although not as regularly: He was used on defense in only six of his 18 games, primarily as an injury replacement in the middle of the season. When on the field, he allowed roughly three fourths of passes thrown his way to be completed but was usually competitive when it comes to limiting big plays. A notable exception, of course, is the Super Bowl when he gave up a key third down by whiffing on a tackle.

As a result of his mostly positive season, Bademosi has now received a solid contract by the Texans. He thus becomes the second Patriots cornerback after Malcolm Butler to leave the team via free agency, but will now be another player to count towards the compensatory draft picks formula. Furthermore, yesterday's trade for Jason McCourty already hinted at the veteran not returning.