New England Patriots: Patriots sign veteran WR Kenny Britt
The New England Patriots have reportedly signed veteran wide receiver Kenny Britt.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the New England Patriots have signed free agent wide receiver Kenny Britt to a two-year deal.
Britt signed a four-year $32.5-million dollar contract with the Browns this offseason. In nine games with Cleveland this season, he amassed 18 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns before being waived last Thursday.
The ninth-year veteran led the Rams with 68 catches, 1,002 receiving yards, and five touchdowns in 2016, including two catches for 67 yards and a score against New England in Week 13.
The signing comes after one of Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady’s least accurate performances of the season, in which he posted a 55.81 completion percentage. He also threw two interceptions en route to a 27-20 loss to Miami.
Kenny Britt's one-yard TD versus New England in 2016. pic.twitter.com/sTEE1e2UlU
— Oliver Thomas (@OliverBThomas) December 12, 2017
NESN’s Doug Kyed noted that Brady was especially inaccurate throwing to his outside receivers:
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"“Brady had success throwing to Danny Amendola, who had six catches on nine targets for 76 yards, but he had serious trouble throwing to outside weapons Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan. He was just 2-of-12 for 39 yards to those wide receivers.”"
Similar to the pick up of former Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd last year, signing Britt (6’3″, 215lbs) adds depth and size to New England’s wide receiver corps for the final stretch of the season.
The Patriots hosted Britt for a free agent visit during the 2014 offseason but opted to sign wide receiver Brandon LaFell instead.
New England now has seven wide receivers on their 53-man roster. In addition to Britt, the Patriots have Brandin Cooks, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Phillip Dorsett, Matthew Slater, and Bernard Reedy.
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The team will need to make a corresponding move to open a roster spot for Britt. They’ll also need to make room for tight end Rob Gronkowski who returns this week after a one-game suspension.