On Wednesday, the New England Patriots signed a pair of unrestricted free agents. Tight end Troy Niklas and offensive lineman Luke Bowanko each agreed to deals which will bring them both to Foxboro. Terms of the contracts were not announced, per Patriots.com.
Niklas, 25, is a veteran of four NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He originally joined the team as a second-round draft pick (52nd overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder has played in 41 NFL games with 18 starts and has accumulated 19 receptions for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He has also played in two postseason games with Arizona in 2015. Last season, Niklas played in 15 games with 11 starts and finished with 11 receptions for 132 yards and one touchdown. Niklas had paid a free agent visit to the Patriots on Monday.
Bowanko, 26, is a veteran of four NFL seasons. He spent three with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2014-16) and one withthe Baltimore Ravens (2017). The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round draft pick (205th overall) of Jacksonville in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Virginia. He was traded from Jacksonville to Baltimore on Sept. 2, 2017, in exchange for a 2019 seventh-round draft choice. Bowanko has played in 40 NFL games with 15 starts during his NFL career, including 14 starts at center as a rookie in 2014 with the Jaguars. Last season with Baltimore, Bowanko played in 16 games with one start at left guard.
–Mike D’Abate is Managing Editor and National Columnist for Full Press Coversge Sports Media. He covers the New England Patriots. Follow him on Twitter @mdabateFPC
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