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Will the Patriots consider signing Quinton Coples?

By Connor Fulton

Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) speaks to New York Jets outside linebacker Quinton Coples (98) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 25, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) speaks to New York Jets outside linebacker Quinton Coples (98) during the first half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Rams have released pass rusher Quinton Coples. Might he be of interest to the New England Patriots?

Selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Coples is the owner of 16.5 career sacks, 111 combined tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery after starting 32 of 56 career regular season games. Coples’ career has been trending downward in recent years, as evidenced by his falling-out with the New York Jets last season and bouncing around with the Miami Dolphins and Rams since. So why would the Pats be interested in Coples?

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First off, the Patriots may need some additional depth at pass rusher depending on the timetable of Jabaal Sheard’s sprained MCL, as Rob Ninkovich is already out for half the season. If there was another injury at defensive end/outside linebacker, the Patriots would be in some trouble.

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Secondly, the Patriots always like to snag NFL castoffs with a history of being drafted in the first round. Furthermore, you can bet that back in 2012, the Patriots were keen on Coples before taking Chandler Jones with the No. 21 overall pick. Now that Jones is gone, might the Patriots think about signing another 2012 first round pass rusher?

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Last but not least, the Patriots have a demonstrated history of jabbing at the Jets with personnel moves, from Danny Woodhead to Darrelle Revis. Scooping up a former Jets’ first round pick would be a shot across the bow.

Let’s zoom out for a second, though. Would signing Coples really be a good call on the Patriots’ part? Doing so would certainly render Geneo Grissom useless, and Shea McClellin and Trey Flowers might also have some misgivings about another addition to the pass rushing group. Acquiring Barkevious Mingo last week may be the extent of the Patriots’ bolstering of the defensive end/outside linebacker group, and that is just fine with this writer. But you can’t help but wonder if Bill Belichick is going to think about Coples…

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What do you think? Would Coples be a good fit in New England?

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