On paper, the New England Patriots have a solid roster. As the defending AFC champions, the Patriots should be one of the teams to beat, regardless of how the naysayers may feel about last season's surprising success.
However, that doesn't mean this team is flawless. Their starting lineup looks solid at every position, but the preseason exposed how thin they are. Even head coach Mike Vrabel admitted his concerns about their lack of depth.
Nevertheless, that doesn't mean they should be desperate enough to make moves just for the sake of it. That's why they should want no part of Clelin Ferrell, who Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox linked to the organization.
The New England Patriots need someone, but not Clelin Ferrell
Just because the Patriots could use help in the pass-rushing department, they shouldn't go after one of the worst draft busts of his generation. He entered the league as a highly questionable No. 4 pick by the Raiders, and, as predicted, he hasn't lived up to that standard.
Ferrell is more of a run-game specialist rather than a head-hunter. He's amassed a grand total of 21 sacks in 98 career games for the Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Commanders, and Los Angeles Chargers.
We're talking about a player who couldn't crack the Miami Dolphins' 53-man roster. The Dolphins may have the thinnest roster in all of pro football, and with a defensive-minded head coach like Jeff Hafley turning his back on him, that should say everything there is to know about Clelin Ferrell.
The Patriots will have to get by without Harold Landry III for the first month of the season at the very least, and that's obviously a tall ask. Also, rookie second-round pick Gabe Jacas may need some time to contribute after missing most of the offseason program due to a contract dispute.
There are legitimate reasons to be worried about their ability to put pressure on the quarterback, but it's not like Ferrell would move the needle in that regard. More than that, the Dolphins brought him back to their practice squad, so the Patriots would have to replace one of their 53 guys to make room for him on the active roster.
Eliot Wolf and company should continue to keep an eye out on the market, and this team will most likely make a move before the trade deadline. That definitely makes more sense than making a run on a player who couldn't even beat some of the most underwhelming DE competition in the game for a roster spot.
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