Things are moving quickly on the free-agent front with New England flexing its cap muscle with a flurry of signings. The Pats have already addressed quarterback (Cam Newton), tight end (both Jonnu Smith AND Hunter Henry) and wide receiver (Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne) and, from the looks of it, Bill Belichick is hopeful of adding even more weapons to New England’s revamped offense.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reported this morning that the Patriots were among a handful of teams interested in Leonard Fournette (the Bucs and Seahawks are said to be lurking as well) while NFL Network’s Mike Giardi hears New England is also making a push for Chris Carson, a two-time 1,000-yard rusher and one of the more underrated backs in football.
The perpetually overlooked Carson, who found himself among the last players drafted in 2017 (pick 249 out of 253), has been one of the sport’s more efficient ball-carriers in recent years, averaging an impressive 4.6 yards per carry over his last three seasons. The 222-pound workhorse has punched in 27 touchdowns (21 rushing, six receiving) over that span. A sprained foot slowed Carson in 2020 (the injury cost him four games and limited him in several others), but before that, he had been a top-five rusher each of the previous two seasons. Belichick must have liked what he saw from the 26-year-old when he gouged New England for 108 yards (72 rushing, 36 receiving) and a touchdown when the Pats visited Seattle last season.
If the Patriots sign him, Carson would immediately slot in as New England’s lead back, relegating incumbents Damien Harris and Sony Michel to backup status. Rex Burkhead and James White are both free agents with White drawing interest from Tampa Bay (which would offer the opportunity to reunite with Tom Brady), among other suitors. Meanwhile, the Seahawks signaled their plans to move on from Carson when they elected not to franchise-tag him last week.
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