The New England Patriots added another potential target for quarterback Tom Brady on Thursday, signing unrestricted free agent wide receiver Nate Washington to a contract.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the team.
The 32-year-old Washington spent last season with the Houston Texans after playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2005 to 2008 and for the Tennessee Titans from 2009 to 2014.
In 159 career games, Washington has 458 receptions for 6,954 yards and 44 touchdowns — and at least 40 catches every season since 2008. He also has 10 receptions for 86 yards in the postseason.
With the Titans in 2011, Washington experienced his most productive season with 74 catches for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns. Last year in 14 starts for the Texans, he totaled 47 receptions for 658 yards and four touchdowns.
Wide receivers Chris Hogan and Martellus Bennett signed earlier in the offseason, seemingly giving the Patriots plenty of depth at the position after releasing Brandon LaFell this spring.
Julian Edelman, Danny Amendola, Aaron Dobson, Chris Harper and Matthew Slater return at receiver in 2016.
Long, McClellin file contracts
The contracts for defensive end Chris Long and linebacker Shea McClellin have been filed.
Long signed a one-year, $2.375 million contract that included a $500,000 signing bonus, and $500,000 of his $1.25 million base salary is guaranteed. McClellin inked a three-year, $8.95 million deal that included a $2.5 million signing bonus and $3.5 million in total guaranteed money.
Coach’s son promoted
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick promoted his son Steve from a coaching assistant to safeties coach last week. As expected, he didn’t bend over backward to discuss the move when asked about fatherly pride.
“I’m proud of all my kids,” Belichick said.
However, he did concede, “He’s done a good job. He’s earned what he’s received.”