Patriots Sign Lions-Ex to Bolster Special Teams

The New England Patriots have added special teams stalwart Chris Board to help a group which struggled mightily last season.

FOXBORO -- Few teams, if any, place as strong a premium on special teams than the New England Patriots. 

The Pats continued that trend on Friday by signing former Detroit Lions special teamer Chris Board. 

Board and the Patriots have agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $6.7 million, according to NFL Network. New England hosted Board on a free agent visit to Gillette Stadium on Thursday. 

Perhaps best known by Patriots fans as the player to which Bill Belichick once referred as “the best special teams player we’ll play against,” Board began his pro career as an undrafted free agent in 2018 by signing with the Baltimore Ravens. 

Since that time, he has been a special teams standout, logging 1721 snaps within various coverage units. He is also a capable reserve linebacker, earning 115 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in four years with the Ravens and one with the Lions. 

Prior to facing the Lions in Week 5 last season, Belichick embellished on his aforementioned effusive praise of Board, citing the many positive traits he brings to a football field. 

"He's a very hard guy to matchup against," said Belichick. "He has a great combination of size and speed as well as experience, instincts, and techniques. It's all of the above. There are really no weaknesses in the player. You've got to figure out how to deal with him. He's seen everything."

Board's signing clearly bolsters a unit which uncharacteristically struggled in 2022. New England's special teams' unit was ranked No. 32 in the league last season by Football Outsiders' DVOA metric. 

However, it may also signify the end of special teams' stalwart Cody Davis' tenure in New England. 

Davis, a nine-year NFL veteran, joined the NFL in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech. Following stops with the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars, he joined the Patriots as a free agent prior to the 2020 season. He led the team with 15 special teams tackles in 2021.

He suffered a non-contact knee injury while covering a kickoff return in the first half of New England's Week 6 win over the Cleveland Browns, ending his season. Prior to his injury, Davis had played in six games with the Pats in 2022, earning six special teams tackles on 106 snaps. In addition to his coverage duties, he also served as New England’s personal punt protector. In Davis’ absence, the role was given to safety Adrian Phillips.

Despite becoming an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, it is still possible that Davis remains in New England. However, Board's signing, combined with the value of his contract, makes a reunion far less likely. 

In addition to team captain Matthew Slater, Board is set to join kicker Nick Folk. long-snapper Joe Cardona, and coverage specialists Damarcus Mitchell, Brenden Schooler and Raleigh Webb on the team's depth chart for 2023. 

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