The Patriots will audition veteran cornerback Brian Poole Wednesday, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com).
Poole signed with the Saints in July but later went on IR. The Saints cut him earlier this month, and he has yet to play in 2021.
The Florida product joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and served as the club’s primary nickel corner over his three seasons. The Falcons opted not to tender him as a restricted free agent following the 2018 season, a year in which Pro Football Focus ranked him as just the No. 81 CB in the NFL out of 110 qualified players. He also ranked as bottom-three corner in success rate, per Football Outsiders’ charting data.
However, he bounced back over the last two years with the Jets. Operating primarily as a slot defender, Poole allowed a 71.6 passer rating in 2019 and a 64.7 rating in 2020. PFF gave him strong coverage grades in both seasons.
If signed, Poole would join a Pats group that currently includes J.C. Jackson, Jalen Mills, Jonathan Jones, Shaun Wade and Joejuan Williams.
More must-reads: