The Patriots didn’t take up a collection plate, but they were able to scrounge together enough money to sign a free agent on Tuesday anyway.
The team announced that they have signed veteran linebacker Dekoda Watson.
Watson signed with the Jaguars as a free agent before the 2014 season, but lost his spot on the roster after nine games that saw him record 14 tackles. He landed with the Cowboys for the final weeks of the season and saw action in one game without making an impression on the stat sheet.
Watson broke into the league as a 2010 seventh-round pick of the Buccaneers and played in 60 games for them over four years. He had 106 tackles, three sacks and an interception in Tampa.
The Patriots will probably throw Watson into competition for reserve spots in the linebacking corps and his ability to help the team on special teams will likely determine how he fares in that scrum.