Dwight Freeney Would Add No Value to New England Patriots Defense

We are past the midway point of the 2016 NFL offseason, but there are still opportunities for teams to add talented players to their rosters. When it comes to the New England Patriots’ opportunity to add defensive end Dwight Freeney to their roster, there are some opportunities that are worth passing up.

Is there still some gas left in Freeney’s 36-year-old tank? After putting up eight sacks on just 267 snaps as a pass-rusher in 2015, signs would seem to point toward “yes.” And according to Pro Football Focus, Freeney was the league’s sixth-most productive pass-rushing outside linebacker with a total of 36 pressures (24 hurries, four hits, eight sacks) in 2016.

Good talk w/ Robert Mathis today. Says former teammate, good friend Dwight Freeney not done by any stretch. “Fire still burns,” he said.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) May 17, 2016

But a vote for Freeney with the Patriots is a vote against the development of young pass-rushers already on the roster. Trey Flowers, Geneo Grissom and Rufus Johnson have each played three or fewer seasons in the NFL, but all three have shown some potential in their young NFL careers.

Why are we having this discussion? It began when Freeney indicated he would welcome an opportunity to join the Patriots.

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