The Patriots have signed three receivers in free agency and now they’ve kept one of their own free agents at the position.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the team has re-signed Deion Branch. Branch, who returned to the Pats in 2010 after four years with the Seahawks, never generated much interest on the open market from other clubs. The two biggest reasons for that would seem to be that he’s never been as successful as he’s been when he’s catching passes from Tom Brady and the other is that the 33-year-old showed some signs of slippage last season.
Branch cleared 50 receiving yards just five times in the 2011 regular season and once in three playoff games. Branch was also held without a catch in three contests. He finished the year with 51 catches for 702 yards and five touchdowns.
The additions of Brandon Lloyd, Donte’ Stallworth and Anthony Gonzalez to go with Branch, Wes Welker, Chad Ochocinco and Julian Edelman will make for an interesting training camp battle for spots on the depth chart in New England.