There's still plenty of work to be done in Foxborough with mini-camp on the way and training camp to follow about six weeks later. But the media got a chance to create some early impressions of the work on the field during OTAs and with a handful of newcomers in the fold it seems like a good time to assess things.
Obviously the work on the fields to this point has been without pads and with an emphasis on teaching rather than evaluation, a point that Bill Belichick has made constantly throughout the years. So evaluating a player's performance at this stage probably isn't fair, but rather than focusing on the actually play on the field Team PFW tried to assess the personnel groupings and things of that nature in an effort to better understand where some player may fit in come September and beyond.
With that in mind this week's Samsonite Make Your Case question of the week takes a look at the free agent additions the Patriots made and asks: Which veteran newcomer will make the biggest impact for the Patriots this season?
PFW's Andy Hart says ...
Scott Chandler
Patriots signed free agent Tight End Scott Chandler. Check out our favorite photos from Chandler's time with the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) celebrates after scoring on a 29-yard reception against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler runs after a reception in a preseason NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/Chris Schneider)
Buffalo Bills' Scott Chandler makes a catch under pressure from Oakland Raiders' Chris Johnson (37) during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. The Bills won 38-35. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) catches a third quarter touchdown pass that cuts the New England Patriots lead to 21-17 during the NFL week 3 football game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, September 25, 2011 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won the game 34-31. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) is tackled by New York Jets free safety Brodney Pool, right, and Jim Leonhard, left, during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) is tackled by New York Jets free safety Brodney Pool during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011 in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) during the second quarter of an NFL
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) celebrates a touchdown catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) scores on a 29-yard reception against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) and kicker Dan Carpenter (2) react after Carpanter kicked a point during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 19, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won the game 17-16. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) catches a pass between New England Patriots outside linebacker Jamie Collins (91) and defensive end Rob Ninkovich (50) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler #84 in action against the Baltimore Ravens at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY September 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) fails to catch a pass under pressure from Carolina Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) celebrates his touchdown against the New York Jets with wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler, top, scores on a 29-yard reception past Oakland Raiders cornerback Brandian Ross during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) is hit by Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) celebrates after scoring on a 29-yard reception against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) during an NFL regular season game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders won, 26-24. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) rests during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Dec. 7, 2014, in Denver, Co. The Broncos won the game, 24-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) catches a pass and looks for running room defended by New York Jets inside linebacker DeMario Davis (56) on a first down play in the fourth quarter during the NFL week 11 football game against the New York Jets on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013 in Orchard Park, N.Y. The Bills won the game 37-14. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chadler (84) heads for the end zone during an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014, in Oakland, Ca. The Raiders won the game, 26-24. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) heads downfield during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Dec. 7, 2014, in Denver, Co. The Broncos won the game, 24-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) fights New England Patriots strong safety Patrick Chung (23) to stay in bounds during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) runs upfield during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 26-24 in Week 16. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) runs toward the end zone to score during an NFL game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 26-24 in Week 16. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) runs through a tunnel toward the field as teams warm up before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) celebrates with wide receiver Robert Woods (10) after scoring on a 29-yard reception against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012 in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) is hit by Cincinnati Bengals outside linebacker Vontaze Burfict (55) after making a catch in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler, left, makes a catch as Cleveland Browns strong safety Donte Whitner (31) moves in for the tackle during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014, in Orchard Park, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) heads downfield during an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Dec. 7, 2014, in Denver, Co. The Broncos won the game, 24-17. (AP Photo/Greg Trott)
This is a 2014 photo of Scott Chandler of the Buffalo Bills NFL football team. This image reflects the Buffalo Bills active roster as of Monday, June 16, 2014 when this image was taken. (AP Photo)
Scott Chandler, de los Bills de Buffalo, celebra su recepción para un touchdown frente a los Raiders de Oakland, el domingo 18 de septiembre del 2011. Los Bills, que rara vez comienzan una temporada con una foja de 2-0, se miden en la semana 3 de la NFL a los Patriots de Nueva Inglaterra, que están acostumbrados a marchar invictos hasta bien entrada la campaña (AP Foto/David Duprey).
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) before an NFL regular season game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, Dec. 21, 2014 in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders won, 26-24. (AP Photo/Ric Tapia)
Chandler has been a productive player in this league as a team's No. 1 tight end and without the benefit of a decent quarterback. He was still able to catch six scores twice and haul in 43 or more passes three times.
Now he's playing behind the most dominant, uncoverable tight end in the game and will be catching passes from Tom Brady. He's a major addition to the passing attack as another big (6-7), sure-handed red zone option. Chandler will be an afterthought for opposing defenses trying to deal with Gronk, but he'll be a nice secondary option for Brady to focus on when the need arises.
The Patriots have already done a lot of work this spring in practice with the two-tight end towers playing off of each other with combo routes in the red zone. Chandler could be a Brandon LaFell-like pleasant surprise in 2015 as a complementary contributor to an already impressive offensive lineup.
--AH
PFW's Paul Perillo says ...
Bradley Fletcher
[wysifield-embeddedaudio|eid="334516"|type="embeddedaudio"|view_mode="full"]Out of all of the free agent additions Fletcher may be facing the most pressure considering the current state of the secondary. He'll be in the mix for one of the two vacant cornerback positions, and I believe the veteran will win one of the jobs and be asked to at least fill part of the void left by Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
I feel Fletcher's veteran status after four years in St. Louis and two in Philly puts him at the top of the free agent list when considering the opportunity he's going to have to step into a big role. Fletcher is going to have to perform better than he did last year but I believe with Bill Belichick's ability to accentuate his players' positives that he will bounce back and at least be a serviceable starter.
By no means am I expecting Fletcher to conjure memories of Revis, but his experience couple with opportunity will allow him to emerge as a starter and therefore make the biggest impact of the Patriots veteran free agent class.
--PP
Now it's your turn to cast a vote in this week's Samsonite Make Your Case poll question.
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