3 Takeaways from New England Patriots Signing Vols DE Corey Vereen

The New England Patriots signed former Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Corey Vereen after the NFL Draft. Here are 3 takeaways from the Pats’ signing.

Tennessee Vols defensive end Derek Barnett was the star in the NFL Draft, but his shine pushed his partner on the line, Corey Vereen, out of the limelight. As a result, Vereen wasn’t drafted and instead signed with the New England Patriots.

However, Vereen had seven sacks as a speedy weakside edge rusher in 2016, complementing Barnett perfectly, and he too had to make up for severe injuries on the defensive line. As a result, he deserves a shot in the NFL.

And despite not getting drafted, he got one pretty quickly with his signing.

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Here are five takeaways from Corey Vereen signing with the New England Patriots.

1. The New England Patriots’ personnel gives Corey Vereen a great chance at playing.

It would have been better for Corey Vereen to go to a committed 3-4 defense with one big nose tackle, but New England is the next best place. Sure, they run a 4-3 defense, but they still use elements of the 3-4 and are very multiple. And Malcolm Brown and Alan Branch make for two huge defensive tackles in the middle.

Also, New England was desperate for a pass-rusher above all else in this year’s NFL Draft. With limited picks, they only took two defensive ends. Vereen is just as much in the mix as those guys are to get on the field. One huge advantage he has is that he could make the switch to outside linebacker. That’s another Patriots need. As a result, Vereen has a great chance to make the roster and see the field.

2. Corey Vereen will be smart enough to pick up the Patriots’ system.

Not only did Derek Barnett steal all the pass-rush glory from Corey Vereen. Joshua Dobbs stole all the press for his intelligence. But the New England Patriots got their own nerd from Tennessee in Corey Vereen, a computer science major. Vereen was known for translating that major and his nerdiness onto the field.

He could break down film better than anybody as a result, and he’ll be able to pick up complex playbooks as well. Could there be a better place for him than the New England Patriots with that background? Probably not.

3. Corey Vereen is in good company.

One encouraging sign for Corey Vereen is that he’s on the one franchise that does an amazing job at scouting talent. And that will make his chances of landing a spot the ultimate meritocracy. Bill Belichick doesn’t care about the accolades of a player when he signs him, whether or not it’s in the NFL Draft.

Also, there’s another former Vol on the New England Patriots right now who was not drafted. The franchise took a chance on Justin Coleman after he was signed and released by the Minnesota Vikings before the start of the 2015 season. And in the process, Coleman has become a reliable contributor for the team. So Coleman is any indication, Vereen has a great chance for the Patriots to give him multiple looks.

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3 Takeaways from Former Tennessee Vols DE Corey Vereen Signing With New England Patriots After NFL Draft

By Caleb Calhoun | Apr 30, 2017

The New England Patriots signed former Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Corey Vereen after the NFL Draft. Here are 3 takeaways from the Pats’ signing.