Patriots: 3 FA signings New England might already regret

2. Henry Anderson

What will Henry Anderson’s role be on the Patriots’ revamped defense?

We wouldn’t fault Patriots fans who were floored when they signed Henry Anderson to a two-year deal worth $7 million. The front office obviously wasn’t going to galvanize fans with every addition, and the former third-round pick unfortunately falls under that category.

Anderson landed with the Jets in 2018 after three underwhelming seasons with the Colts, and his debut season in New York indicated that he was going to be a massive success, as he produced 35 tackles, seven sacks, 16 QB hits and 20 pressures.

However, the six-year pro’s latest two campaigns were extremely forgettable. During that stretch, he registered a combined 67 tackles, 1.5 sacks (!), 12 QB hits and just 21 pressures. We like to think Belichick and Co. will find a better way to maximize his potential better than former Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, but this is still the epitome of a low-upside signing.

Like anybody included in this list, Anderson deserves time to justify his contract, but we were certainly left scratching our heads when word got out that the Patriots landed him, especially when you consider how many other quality edge rushers were (and are still) out there.