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          NFL Nation

          High volume but low-to-moderate price defines Patriots' free-agent approach

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          • Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff WriterMar 7, 2017, 12:00 PM
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              Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. You can follow Reiss on Twitter at @MikeReiss.
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          The New England Patriots have been among the more active teams in free agency over the past three years, ranking 12th in the NFL in total signings but just 24th in total contract value, which reflects their focus on lower- to moderately priced options. Here’s a look at how those decisions have panned out on the field:

          Total signings: 33 (12th in NFL)

          Total contract value: $126,035,882 (24th in the NFL)

          Three-year W-L: 38-10 regular season; 7-1 postseason; Super Bowl XLIX and LI champions

          Biggest hit: While the end suddenly came for cornerback Darrelle Revis over the past two years with the Jets, the one-year, $12 million contract he signed with the Patriots in 2014 was critical in the team's Super Bowl championship season. That was a value based on the marketplace at the time, but Revis was willing to take the plunge to re-establish himself after falling off the radar in Tampa Bay. It set him up for a big pay day in 2015 with the Jets, where things quickly spiraled downward. But in 2014, Revis was excellent for the Patriots.

          Biggest miss: In 2015, media members spent a lot of time discussing the potential of a 1-2 tight end punch of Rob Gronkowski and free-agent signing Scott Chandler, which was sparked by the duo working off to the side with quarterback Tom Brady in spring practices. But Chandler never emerged, in part because of injury, and was released one year into the two-year, $5.3 million contract with a $2 million signing bonus he had inked in New England.

          Sneaky-good move: After signing safety Patrick Chung to a one-year contract in 2014 that was close to the veteran minimum after his rocky season in Philadelphia, the team extended his deal through 2018 at reasonable rates during the next offseason. Chung has become a key matchup piece against opposing tight ends and is one of the NFL's best tacklers. He originally joined the NFL as a high second-round draft choice of the Patriots in 2009, and his first stint with the team (2009-2012) wasn't as productive as either side desired. The second go-around has been exceptional.

          Verdict: Focusing on quality volume has worked for the Patriots, who seem to have a knack for finding undervalued assets in the marketplace and bringing out the best in them (e.g. restricted free-agent WR Chris Hogan in 2016). It isn't about the big splash -- but with consistent ripples, the Patriots have been successful in free agency.