FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- One day after releasing cornerback Rashaan Melvin, the New England Patriots are on the cusp of signing Leonard Johnson to take his place on the 53-man roster. Johnson worked out for the team on Monday and has stayed in the area, which is often a sign that a player is set to sign.
The 5-foot-10, 202-pound Johnson is a fourth-year player out of Iowa State who played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2012-2014. Johnson played under Bill Belichick confidant Greg Schiano at Tampa Bay in 2012 and 2013, as his primary role was as a nickelback.