FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced today that they have acquired veteran LB Jonathan Casillas in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Trade terms were undisclosed.
In addition, the Patriots released OL Chris Barker.
The Patriots traded with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers for LB Jonathan Casillas on Tuesday, October 28. Check out photos from his career.
Casillas, 27, is in his sixth NFL season with Tampa Bay (2013-14) and New Orleans (2009-12). The 6-foot-1, 227-pounder, originally entered the NFL as a rookie free agent out of Wisconsin with the New Orleans Saints in 2009. He has played in 55 games with 15 starts and has registered 138 total tackles, three sacks, five passes defensed, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 26 special teams tackles. Casillas has also played in four postseason games with the Saints, including Super Bowl XLIV. After four seasons with the saints, Casillas signed with Tampa Bay as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2013. He played in five games with three starts for the Buccaneers in 2014 and accumulated nine total tackles.
Barker, 24, was signed from the practice squad to the 53-man roster prior to the Jets game on Oct. 16 and played in the game on special teams. He was inactive for the Bears game. Barker was released by the Patriots on Sept. 1, 2014, and signed to the practice squad on Sept. 3. The 6-foot-2, 310-pounder is in his second NFL season after spending the entire 2013 season on the New England roster. Barker was claimed off waivers and awarded to the Patriots from Miami on Sept. 1, 2013. Barker was originally signed by Miami as a rookie free agent out of Nevada on May 3, 2013, but was released on Aug. 31, 2013.
