2021 NFL free agency: Patriots reportedly reach one-year deal with linebacker Raekwon McMillan

The New England Patriots have reached agreement with inside linebacker Raekwon McMillan on a one-year contract, The Athletic’s Ben Standig reported Friday.

McMillan, 25, spent the 2020 season with the Las Vegas Raiders before becoming an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year.

The Ohio State product originally entered the NFL with the Miami Dolphins at pick No. 54 overall in the 2017 draft.

After suffering a torn ACL in his rookie preseason debut, McMillan went on to start every game during his second campaign with Miami while totaling 105 tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was placed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury after notching 72 tackles through a dozen starts for Dolphins head coach Brian Flores’ defense in 2019.

Las Vegas acquired McMillan from Miami in an exchange of 2021 fourth- and fifth-round draft selections last August. The 6-foot-2, 242-pounder made four starts across 16 games thenceforth for the Raiders. Seeing 16 percent of the snaps on defense and 61 percent of the snaps on special teams, McMillan posted 27 tackles and one forced fumble.

Sources told ESPN’s Field Yates that the Patriots were hosting both McMillan and veteran cornerback Desmond Trufant on visits Friday.

The former now joins a New England linebacker room that includes Dont’a Hightower, Matt Judon, Kyle Van Noy, Chase Winovich, Josh Uche, Anfernee Jennings, Ja’Whaun Bentley, Terez Hall, Cassh Maluia, Rashod Berry, Michael Pinckney and Brandon King under contract.