NFL Rumors: New England Patriots ‘still in the mix’ for Will Smith

The New England Patriots often sign a veteran defensive lineman later in free agency and it looks like former New Orleans Saints’ defensive end Will Smith may fill that role this season.

Christopher Price of WEEI says the Patriots are “still in the mix” to sign Smith.

"Roughly one month into free agency, the Patriots are still reportedly in the mix for veteran defensive end Will Smith. Cut loose in the great New Orleans salary purge of 2014, the 32-year-old veteran isn’€™t the overwhelming defensive presence he used to be — he’€™s coming off a torn ACL that sidelined him for the bulk of the 2013 season. But with 67.5 career sacks, he still has an impressive resume, and if he’€™s healthy, he could be the latest in a long line of veteran defensive linemen who have found their way to Foxboro at the end of their careers in hopes of finding some gold at the end of the rainbow. Over the last decade-plus, the Patriots have made an offseason habit of identifying a veteran defensive linemen and hoping to squeeze another year or two out them at the end of their careers."

Smith, who was originally drafted by the Saints with the 18th overall pick of the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft, has 67.5 career sacks.

Smith was going to play outside linebacker in Rob Ryan’s 3-4 defense last season, but suffered a torn ACL in the preseason.