The first day of last month’s legal tampering period saw the New England Patriots address some of the biggest needs on their roster. The team signed Jonnu Smith to improve a struggling tight end position, added outside linebacker Matthew Judon to bolster the defensive edge, and brought Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne aboard as starter-level wide receivers.
Along the way, New England also added a hyper-versatile player to an already deep defensive backfield: former Philadelphia Eagles defender Jalen Mills was signed to a four-year, $23.9 million contract. Mills’ upside in the Patriots’ system is intriguing, but he does come with some questions — including a relatively deep medical history.