The New England Patriots have signed another wide receiver this offseason, agreeing to terms with Cameron Meredith (per Jim McBride of the Boston Globe). Meredith visited the Patriots earlier this week and remained in the New England area in the hopes the Patriots would sign him.
Injuries have derailed a promising career for Meredith, who tore his ACL in a preseason game with the Chicago Bears in 2017. The New Orleans Saints signed Meredith to a two-year, $9.5 million offer sheet in 2018, one which the Bears didn't offer the restricted free agent. Meredith had nine catches for 114 yards and a touchdown in six games last season, as he still had complications from his surgically-repaired knee with the Bears. He missed portions of Saints minicamp with the injury after agreeing to a pay cut in March.
Meredith had 66 catches for 888 yards (13.4 yards per catch) and four touchdowns in 2016 with the Bears in a breakout season. The 26-year old Meredith has 86 catches for 1,122 yards and five touchdowns in four NFL seasons. He was released by the Saints Monday.
The Patriots have question marks at wide receiver in training camp. Julian Edelman is currently on the NFI list due to a thumb injury and is return to practice is unknown. First-round pick N'Keal Harry has had a roller-coaster start to training camp, plagued by dropped passes.
New England also has Phillip Dorsett, Maurice Harris and Jakobi Meyers at wide receiver, with Meyers even receiving first-team reps in Thursday's practice. Not to mention the Patriots are still trying to fill the void at tight end since Rob Gronkowski's retirement.
New England has also signed veteran receivers DeMaryius Thomas and Dontrelle Inman this offseason, looking to bolster the wide receiver unit. Thomas began camp on the PUP list (Achilles) while Inman is fighting for a roster spot.
Bringing in Meredith adds more veteran depth on the Patriots' roster. He has the third-most career catches and yards of any wide receiver currently on the Patriots.
