New England Patriots: Champs Bring Back Brandon Spikes

According to Field Yates and Adam Schefter of ESPN, the New England Patriots have signed free agent linebacker Brandon Spikes to a one-year deal. Spikes was one of the best free agents still available and he returns to the Patriots just one year after leaving the team for the Buffalo Bills.

Spikes is a run-stuffing linebacker who totaled 54 tackles and one sack in 10 starts with the Bills last season. Spikes’ best season came in 2012 with the Patriots where he had 92 tackles, two sacks and five forced fumbles in a career-high 14 games started.

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It will be very interesting to see what the Patriots do with the returning Spikes. With Jerod Mayo returning from injury, the Patriots’ starting linebacker core consisting of Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower and Mayo is among the best in the league. That being said, the Patriots have a severe lack of depth behind their starters, and Mayo has a long injury history. If nothing else, Spikes brings nice depth to the position.

Also, Spikes will certainly help things against the run. He is not an overly athletic player, but he is a traditional down hill linebacker who can fill the holes and stop the run. Spikes is far from a force in pass coverage or pass rush, but his ability to stuff the run will certainly come in handy.

In Collins, Hightower and Mayo, the Patriots already had a nice group of linebackers. The addition of Spikes certainly helps cover them in case of injury, and his skills compliment these players very well. While he probably will not see many starts, I fully expect Spikes to get a lot of time in goal line situations, and he is a great veteran player to have as depth in case of injury.

This is a very nice low-risk move by the Patriots here.

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