Patriots And DE Chris Long Agree To One-Year Deal

Free-agent St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long has agreed to a one-year deal with the New England Patriots after visiting them on Monday, a source told ESPN’s Trey Wingo.

Patriots And DE Chris Long Agree to One-Year Deal

Long, the second overall pick in the 2008 draft, started 95 of his 114 career games with the Rams and compiled 54.5 sacks, 41.5 of which came between the 2010 and 2013 seasons, during which time the Rams ranked fifth in the NFL.

However, Long suffered a string of injuries over the past two seasons, and thus only recorded four total sacks. Long said in a recent interview: “I want to go to a team that’s going to be in the playoffs … It’s all about football and winning for me.”

Long, who turns 31 on March 28, was cut by the Rams (who are now moving back to Los Angeles) on Feb. 19 along with veterans James Laurinaitis and Jared Cook to save nearly $24 million in salary-cap space. The DE had signed a four-year extension with the Rams before the 2012 season that was worth $48.2 million, and his salary-cap hit ranked among the top seven at his position from 2012 to ’15.

Of course, this deal with Long comes on the heels of the Patriots trading Pro Bowl defensive end/outside linebacker Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals for guard Jonathan Cooper and a second-round draft pick.

Before meeting with New England, Long met with the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Redskins, and was next scheduled to meet with the Cowboys in Dallas.

Long is the son of former Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long, and the older brother of Chicago Bears tackle Kyle Long.

Caption: SANTA CLARA, CA – JANUARY 03: Blaine Gabbert #2 of the San Francisco 49ers is sacked by Chris Long #91 of the St. Louis Rams during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on January 3, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)