Patriots sign former Eagles defensive back, per report

The New England Patriots signed free agent defensive back E.J. Biggers to a one-year contract, according to a report from Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. The deal is said to be worth $840,000 with $25,000 guaranteed.

Biggers last played for the Eagles after signing a one-year contract with Philadelphia last offseason. Biggers appeared in all 16 games and started three. He recorded 31 tackles and seven passes defensed. Biggers was best suited as a special teams contributor and a backup. He often got beat in coverage when forced into regular playing time, though he did oddly play well against Washington in Week 16. He broke up multiple passes in that game and then did the Asante Samuel pose (as pictured above this article) after each breakup. So at least there was that.

For some reason Bill Belichick really likes Philadelphia's bad defensive backs. He re-signed Patrick Chung after Chung had a horrendous year in Philly in 2013. To Chung's credit, he's played better since returning to New England. Belichick didn't have so much last year when he signed Bradley Fletcher, though. The Patriots ended up cutting Fletcher during the season.

The Eagles didn't need Biggers because they already signed a number of cornerbacks this offseason, including former Bills players Leodis McKelvin and Ron Brooks. The team also re-signed Nolan Carroll.

Now that Biggers is under contract with a new team, Walter Thurmond and Seyi Ajirotutu are the Eagles' two free agents who remain unsigned. Thurmond is reportedly considering retirement while a career special teams player like Ajirotutu might catch on with a new squad eventually.