New York Jets

Patriots owner Robert Kraft 'would love it' if Darrelle Revis returned to New England

Published Mar. 28, 2017 8:29 a.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

The New England Patriots have done plenty of wheeling and dealing this offseason, not only signing Stephon Gilmore but trading for Brandin Cooks, Dwayne Allen and Kony Ealy. We’re still in the early stages of the offseason with the draft still to come, so the Patriots aren’t yet done making changes to the roster.

One potential addition? Darrelle Revis, the guy who left New England after Super Bowl XLIX to re-join the Jets. Now, he could very well be on his way back to the team that netted him a ring.

It’s unclear whether Revis has any interest in doing so – he’s out of a job, so why wouldn’t he? – but Patriots owner Robert Kraft would welcome his presence.

“I would love it,” Kraft told reporters Monday. “Speaking for myself, if he wanted to come back, he’s a great competitor, I’d welcome him if he wanted to come.”

c476e7f9-New England Patriots v New York Jets

There have been reports of late suggesting the Patriots are Revis’ best landing spot after he was arrested for his alleged role in a Pittsburgh street fight and released by the Jets. All charges were dropped, but that was long after New York purged itself of his expensive contract.

Kraft was asked whether the Patriots have had any contact with the veteran corner, and he smiled and winked before saying “Ask my boy.” His “boy,” of course, is Bill Belichick, who handles the construction of New England’s roster and doesn't leave a stone unturned.

Outside of the Patriots, Revis hasn’t garnered much interest at all. He’s well past his prime at age 31, his 2016 season was a complete disaster, and his off-field incident – despite his innocence – was a bit of a red flag.

The Patriots aren’t in desperate need for a cornerback after signing Gilmore, but they did lose Logan Ryan, and Malcolm Butler could be on his way to New Orleans. If Butler were to leave, the addition of Revis would make some sense. It just remains to be seen how much he has left in the tank.

Perhaps Belichick can capitalize on Revis' lack of speed and shift him inside to cover the slot to fill the hole left by Ryan's departure.

It’s also entirely possible Revis’ contract demands are out of the Patriots’ price range. After all, he is one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in NFL history, so he may not be keen on settling for a smaller deal.