New England Patriots: Bringing back Street gives Patriots another big receiver

The New England Patriots claimed wide receiver Devin Street off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday. So how does he fit in with the defending Super Bowl champs?

Nobody can argue with the production of the receiving corps for the New England Patriots last season. But that has not stopped them from upgrading in the offseason, adding speedster Brandin Cooks via trade with the New Orleans Saints. On Tuesday, New England brought back a familiar face off the waiver wire in Devin Street.

Street spent time with the Patriots on the practice squad in 2016 before he was eventually cut and signed with the Indianapolis Colts. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound deep threat had only one reception for 20 yards last year for the Colts. He was a fifth-round draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2014 out of Pittsburgh and totaled nine catches for 132 yards in two seasons with them.

So what does Street add to New England’s training camp roster? Well, he instantly becomes the team’s biggest wide receiver, with most of his competition listed under 6-foot. The Pats signed 6-1 Chris Hogan away from the Buffalo Bills last year to help replace 6-3 Brandon LaFell.

That said, Street could be an ideal red-zone target too if he can somehow find a way to stick. With tight end Martellus Bennett signing with the Green Bay Packers, Rob Gronkowski figures to return to that role as well off back surgery.

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If anything, Street will be another big body that can help push the other receivers and make them better. One of them, rookie undrafted free agent Austin Carr, is also a long shot for the 53-man roster. Like Hogan, the former Northwestern star is listed at 6-1 and had 90 receptions for 1,247 yards with 12 touchdowns as a senior last year.