The Patriots have made hay by taking on veterans, and they’re giving it another shot with a productive pass-rusher.
According to Mike Reiss and Field Yates of ESPNBoston.com, the Patriots are signing former Saints defensive end Will Smith.
The 32-year-old Smith visited the Patriots in early April, and it was clear they were at the top of his list. Of course, they were his only reported visit, which makes it easier.
Smith has had a couple of double-digit sack seasons, but he was going to be miscast in the Saints’ 3-4 last year. That made his release this offseason unsurprising, even if he hadn’t torn his ACL in training camp.
How he fits into a situational role with the Patriots, and how much gas he has left in the tank, remains to be seen.