Get Jiggy With It: veteran DE Will Smith visiting Patriots
The Patriots have done a lot already this offseason, but they still have a need for depth at running back and defensive end. They're taking a look at two recognizable veterans at those positions today, first with RB Michael Bush and now with former Saints DE Will Smith.
The 32 year old Smith has spent the entirety of his productive 10 year career in New Orleans, mostly as a 4-3 defensive end. The arrival of Rob Ryan and his preferred 3-4 last year meant Smith was slated to play out of position as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but the veteran tore his ACL in training camp before the season started.
Smith has never really put up gaudy statistics (outside of a 13 sack 2009), but he's been a very solid pro in New Orleans. His total pressure numbers have always painted him in a better light than his sack totals, depicting a physical player able to collapse the pocket as an edge rusher. That physicality has also served him well in his lengthy career against the run.
Considering his age and injury status, Smith can likely be had on a one year deal for close to the veterans minimum. From a Patriots perspective, they'd be trying to catch lightning in a bottle the way they did with Andre Carter in 2011, who like Smith was generating little interest on the free agent market at the time due to his age and injury concerns. Carter racked up 10 sacks and 2 forced fumbles that year for New England.
If signed, Smith won't be expected to start for the Patriots, but would be a candidate to rotate in with starters Rob Ninkovich and Chandler Jones. Both Jones and Ninkovich had excellent seasons last year, but both wore down towards the end of the year thanks to an unsustainable workload. Keeping those two fresh should help improve the Patriots pass rush, and a reduced role could also help prolong Smith's career.
Of course, that's all predicated on Smith having some gas left in the tank, something which is far from a sure bet at the moment (for his part, Smith says he's just about 100% healthy now after having knee surgery in August). Even if Smith is signed, I wouldn't expect that to prevent the Patriots from looking for defensive line help in the draft. Smith and second-year man Michael Buchanan would merely provide other options for the team to fill that role.
We were one of many media outlets to peg Smith as a potential Patriots fit before free agency began. Take a look back at what we said in our free agent positional review here.
