The latest free agent to sign with the New England Patriots is a former Buckeye.
Joining a cavalcade of NFL free agents who have signed with New England this week, former Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots on Friday, according to multiple reports.
The #Patriots are signing LB Raekwon McMillan to a one-year deal, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2021
The agreement came on the same day McMillan visited the team, according to ESPN's Field Yates.
A second-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, McMillan spent his first three NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins until he was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders last year. Altogether, McMillan has started 32 games and recorded 204 total tackles over the last three seasons – serving mostly as a backup for the Raiders in 2020 – after missing his entire rookie season with a torn ACL.
McMillan joins former Ohio State teammates Devin Smith and Rashod Berry on the Patriots' current roster. Former Ohio State defensive end John Simon also played for the Patriots for the past three years, but he's currently an unsigned free agent.
Another factor that might have led to the Patriots' interest in McMillan: fellow former Ohio State linebacker Camren Williams is now a scout in New England.
Interesting tie here: McMillan and Patriots scout Cam Williams were in the same position group for two years at Ohio State. New England's background on McMillan was probably pretty strong.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 19, 2021
(Sorry for the typo!) https://t.co/VzBQPMK01c
