The offensive line is the deepest and most talented position group on the New England Patriots’ offense, but that does not mean that it cannot still be improved at least from a depth perspective. Accordingly, the team brought four free agents in for workouts on November 13 as announced through Monday’s NFL transactions wire. No follow-up moves have since been made, but the four players could be candidates for emergency roles or one of the 16 available practice squad spots.
G Zack Bailey
After not hearing his name called during the 2019 draft, Bailey was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a rookie free agent. He saw action in all four preseason contests for the club, playing primarily at left guard, and made the 53-man roster as a reserve along the interior offensive line. However, he did not appear in a single game before an ankle injury suffered in practice ahead of Week 6 forced the Buccaneers to place him on injured reserve and end his season. The 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman started his 2020 campaign on Tampa Bay’s practice squad before his release earlier this month.
G Sam Jones
Jones arrived in the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos in 2018, and appeared in five games during his rookie season — primarily as an additional offensive lineman. However, he failed to make the Broncos’ roster again the following season and was let go as part of September’s cutdowns. The Arizona Cardinals subsequently picked him up through their practice squad, where he spent the entirety of his second year in the league. The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Jones returned the following season but failed to earn a spot with the Cardinals over the summer — getting released in September and remaining unsigned ever since.
OT Timon Parris
Entering the league the same year as Sam Jones, Parris was signed by the Washington Football Team as an undrafted rookie. After starting his career on the team’s practice squad, he appeared in four combined games over the 2018 and 2019 seasons: the 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive tackle was used in a reserve capacity on special teams and as a blocking tight end and has therefore yet to play even a single snap at his listed position. The 25-year-old was let go by the Football Team earlier this year and went on to spend time with the Atlanta Falcons and later the Cleveland Browns.
G Ross Reynolds
An undrafted rookie free agent in 2019, Reynolds joined the NFL when the San Francisco 49ers signed him shortly after the draft. The Iowa product, who was measured at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds upon entering the league, played in all four preseason contests that year but nevertheless had to spend his entire rookie season on the team’s practice squad. While he did return this year, he again was unable to make the 49ers’ active roster and was released with an injury designation. Reynolds was not claimed and reverted to IR before being let go again with a settlement. It now appears that he is healthy enough to work out and play again.