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2016 Free Agency: 5 Under-the-radar players Patriots should consider

By Connor Fulton

Oct 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks Ricardo Lockette (83) catches a touchdown pass over Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman (20) during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks Ricardo Lockette (83) catches a touchdown pass over Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman (20) during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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2016 Free Agency Najee Goode
Aug 28, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles inside linebacker Najee Goode (53) walks off the field after a game against the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles won 37-7. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Najee Goode

To bolster depth at linebacker and provide another special teams body, the Patriots should consider signing Goode in free agency. You may remember him; he was the guy who scooped up Chris Maragos’ punt block for a touchdown in Week 12 when the Patriots faltered against the Eagles.

With only 20 career tackles to his names since joining the league in 2012 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Goode is very much an under-the-radar free agent. His best season was in 2013, his first with the Eagles, when he recorded 15 tackles, three passes defended and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

Top 15 Patriots moments of 2015

Signing Goode would be a low-risk, medium-reward move for the Patriots in free agency. As it stands right now, Jonathan Freeny, Darius Fleming, Dekoda Watson and Dane Fletcher make up the depth behind superstar linebackers Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins. Adding Goode to that mix would make guys like Fleming, Watson and Fletcher work a little bit harder to remain on the team in training camp.

Throw in that special teams promise, and you have yourself a moldable Bill Belichick player in Goode.

Next: 2. Brandon Boykin

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