Patriots: Is Geno Atkins worth a flier after Bengals release?

The New England Patriots clearly have zero intentions of enduring another losing record anytime soon, as they’ve spent close to $300 million in the early stages of free agency.

While there’s a debate to be had if every signing will pan out, the biggest takeaway is that they figure to be right in the thick of what has become a loaded AFC next season and beyond.

That’s really all fans could ask for given where this roster stood just two weeks ago.

Even after their cavalcade of moves, the Patriots still have $26.88 million in cap space remaining, which is somehow good for the eight-most of any team in the league.

With that in mind, don’t be surprised if Bill Belichick looks to add even more reinforcements in the coming days.

The longtime de facto GM has already made a multitude of additions to his defense, but fans couldn’t fault him for wanting to make another splash after the Bengals released star defensive tackle Geno Atkins on Friday.

Should the Patriots take a flier on veteran DT Geno Atkins?

If Belichick and the Patriots have any intentions of morphing their defense into a true world-beater — their initial string of signings sure make it seem like that’s the case — they would seriously consider pursuing Atkins, who could likely be acquired at a reasonable price.

At 32 years old, Atkins is coming off the least productive season of his decorated career, as a shoulder injury limited him to just eight games (zero starts). Regardless of their reputation, most stars have trouble landing lucrative contracts coming off a season-ending surgery, and Atkins’ age makes him a perfect candidate for the Patriots’ two-year contract philosophy.

There’s no telling how Atkins will perform after his injury, but New England has the requisite depth and financial flexibility to release him if he underwhelms, which makes this a cant-lose scenario for Belichick and the rest of the front office.

After all, the former fourth-round pick is just one season removed from being named to his eighth Pro Bowl in 2019, registering 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 10 QB hits and 20 pressures. Those are pretty impressive numbers for an interior lineman, and they unsurprisingly saw him earn a superb 76.2 grade from Pro Football Focus.

With interior specialist Adam Butler signing with the Dolphins and veteran Lawrence Guy still on the open market, the Patriots can certainly rationalize adding another lineman. If we’re talking about getting the most bang for your buck, Atkins might be the answer following his release after an 11-year run in Cincinnati.

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