Patriots work out former Falcons defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman

After not addressing defensive tackle during the draft earlier this month, the New England Patriots are looking at the open market to potentially add depth to the position: According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the team worked out former Atlanta Falcons defender and 37th overall selection of the 2014 draft Ra'Shede Hageman yesterday:

Former #Falcons DT Ra’Shede Hageman, now a free agent returning from a suspension, worked out for the #Patriots today, per the league’s transaction wire. His first workout. Curious to see if other teams follow suit now that NE has taken a look at him.

As Rapoport notes, yesterday's workout was Hageman's first since becoming a free agent last September: The Falcons let the 6'6, 310 lbs defensive tackle go after domestic violence charges were filed against him and he subsequently was suspended for six games. As a result, Hageman missed all of last season and did not appear in an NFL game since Super Bowl 51.

During his first three seasons since getting drafted out of Minnesota, Hageman served as a rotational defensive tackle for Atlanta and appeared in a combined 47 games, registering a total of 5.0 sacks and 66 tackles. In New England, he would also play a depth role while competing for practice reps and a spot on the 53-man roster.

With Malcom Brown, Danny Shelton and Lawrence Guy the top three defensive tackles on the current pay roll, Hageman would fight for the fourth spot against the likes of Vincent Valentine and Adam Butler as well as undrafted rookies John Atkins and Frank Herron. Of course, whether he really enters this competition likely depends on how the team evaluates his history of domestic violence.