Ex-Rams defensive end Chris Long will sign a one-year deal with the Patriots, ESPN’s Trey Wingo reported Tuesday night.
The addition of Long caps a busy day for the Patriots, who acquired a 2016 second-round pick and guard Jonathan Cooper in a trade for defensive end Chandler Jones earlier Tuesday. Long will join Rob Ninkovich and Jabaal Sheard as veterans currently only under contract through 2016 who will be counted on to pressure opposing passers.
Long first visited the Redskins, then visited the Patriots on Monday. NFL Network’s Albert Breer reported that the Patriots got Long to agree to a deal before he took a visit with the Cowboys.
Long was released by the Rams last month. He took his time with the free agent process in part because his wife recently gave birth to the couple’s first child.
The second overall pick of the 2008 draft has been limited to 18 games and four sacks over the last two seasons while battling injuries. He’ll be 31 later this month.