More Talk That Patriots Could Be Possible Landing Spot For Darrelle Revis

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that numerous league sources including some close to free agent CB Darrelle Revis believe he’ll end up playing for the Patriots in 2017 if he returns next year.

“We did our work on him. He can still play. He can cover. He doesn’t have that long speed anymore; he’s not going to cover a No. 1 receiver deep,” one personnel man tells La Canfora. “But he can cover in tight spaces and he has great instincts. The film is not as bad as some would have you believe. He’s a perfect fit in that quarters scheme Belichick runs, and they have the kind of safeties who can help him out, too. We’re convinced he’s going back to New England. It just makes too much sense.”

La Canfora mentions that New England has a need at cornerback now that they’ve lost Logan Ryan in free agency could trade Malcolm Butler to the Saints. The Patriots spent big money to get Stephon Gilmore in free agency, but they could still use some more depth at the position.

In the end, La Canfora could see the Patriots offering Revis $6 million or close to it as part of a two- or three-year deal.

Last weekend, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe mentioned that the possibility of the Patriots signing Revis should not be discounted. In fact, Volin spoke with a league executive who said that the Patriots “are the only team that makes sense” to sign Revis, given the concerns that would come with bringing in an aging cornerback, who will be expensive and has a questionable work ethic.

Volin points out that if anyone is able to get the most out of Revis at this point in his career, it would clearly be Bill Belichick.

The Jets already owe Revis $6 million guaranteed for the 2017 season, so if he’s willing to play for that salary, the Patriots could get him for around $1-$2 million. Of course, Revis makes $6 million in 2017 if he sits out the year, so there’s no guarantee he will be willing to play for the same salary.

This came after the news that all charges in the alleged assault case have been dropped on Wednesday against Revis.

Revis did, however, say that he “definitely” still has the hunger to play in the NFL and is open to having conversations about position switch to safety, per Aditi Kinkhabwala.

Revis also added that he’s lost 10 pounds since last season and is working with a new trainer and has changed his entire nutrition plan, per Kinkhabwala.

Revis, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Jets back in 2007. He was entering the third year of his five-year, $70 million contract that includes $39 million guaranteed and was set to make a base salary of $13 million for the 2017 season when he was released by the Jets.

It’s worth mentioning that signing him to a contract won’t impact a team’s compensatory picks, considering that he was released.

In 2016, Revis appeared in 15 games for the Jets and recorded 53 tackles, one interception and five pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 66 cornerback out of 112 qualifying players.

We have him featured in our Top 50 Available Free Agents list.