PatsPropaganda

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Shelton and Collins Re-Signings Take Pats Defense Over the Top

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The Patriots brought back another veteran at a spot of need by signing Danny Shelton. Shelton was a healthy scratch for a few games last season but came on at the end, playing his best football of the year in the playoffs, recording two tackles with a tackle-for-loss in the Super Bowl.

I don’t think there’s any hope that he’s going to ever reach his first-round pick status, but even as a rotational defensive tackle, especially against good running teams, Shelton reinforces the defensive interior.

Essentially the Patriots swapped Mike Pennel for Malcom Brown, a possible upgrade.

Combine this signing with the Jamie Collins signing (along with Jared Veldheer, Ben Watson and Austin-Seferian Jenkins on the offensive side), and the Patriots have put together one of the deepest groups they’ve ever brought into training camp. The defense won’t have Trey Flowers but they look well-equipped to find his replacement.

Young hard chargers like JC Jackson and Ja’Whaun Bentley will push vets like Jason McCourty and Collins as the D is deep at every spot.

They’ve lost some significant players this offseason, particularly at tight end and defensive end, as well as left tackle and receiver. But for every loss they’ve added two players who could potentially replace it.

Injuries are going to take 10 percent of the 90-man roster no matter what, but once again the Patriots have quality depth and potential at almost every position as OTAs get rolling this week.

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