updated on 10 August 2020 | 6:44 p.m.
The Patriots plan to sign Lamar Miller, back end Jordan Leggett, defensive tackle Darius Kilgo, and center Tyler Gauthier after holding all four players for a visit on Monday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
With eight players relegated for the upcoming season, the Patriots have filled the newly created roster spots by signing these four free agents, re-signing a trio of rookies – wide receiver Will Hastings, quarterback Brian Lewerke, and wide receiver Isaiah Zuber – and trades with a conditional seventh-round draft pick for cornerback Michael Jackson.
Miller is the most notable of the bunch. After tearing his ACL and missing the entire last season, the 29-year-old is looking to have a year back – and his summary indicates that this is certainly possible. In 2018, Miller rushed for 973 yards and five touchdowns. He has increased 1,000 rushing yards twice in his career, first in 2014 and again in 2016.
Miller’s 97th overall in 2012, Miller spent his first four seasons with the Miami Dolphins and the last three with the Houston Texans.
With Sony Michel starting a training camp on the physically unable to top list and dismissing Brandon Bolden for the season, Miller certainly adds some depth to New England’s running backs.
Leggett will join a young close end room, consisting of 2018 draft pick Ryan Izzo and a few rookies in Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene. Matt LaCosse, the most experienced player of the group, has decided not to play this season.
A 25-year-old Clemson product, Leggett was selected by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the NFL Draft 2017. He suffered a season-ending knee injury, which required surgery, in the second game of the pre-season of his rookie year. The following season, he returned to catch 14 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown in 15 games.
After Leggett was disqualified from the Jets in May 2019, the Buccaneers of Tampa Bay refused him exemptions. He split his time last year between the training team and the active roster and recorded no catches.
Kilgo, who played for Maryland, was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He appeared in nine games as a rookie, recording six tackles and defending one pass. The following season, Kilgo appeared in nine games before being released by the Broncos.
The Patriots ended up claiming exemptions that year, even though his stint was short and largely consisted of reps from practice teams. Kilgo has since legs round practice panels, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans. He played in 11 games with the Titans last year, and recorded five tackles.
Gauthier, who went undrafted in 2019, has yet to play in an NFL game. He spent part of last season on the New England training team. With former backup center Ted Karras heading off to the Miami Dolphins this offseason, Gauthier and rookie Dustin Woodard add depth to the position.
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