After their Super Bowl LI victory, the New England Patriots have had multiple core players enter unrestricted free agency. The team's defensive captain was on the list, as were top options at fullback, defensive tackle and free safety. Another player set to hit the open market was the Patriots' number one running back from the last four seasons: LeGarrette Blount.
Coming off the best year of his career, one during which he had 299 carries for 1,161 and 18 touchdowns, Blount remained on the open market until May. At that point, New England opted to place a seldom-used tender sheet on him.