Shea McClellin

Patriots land Shea McClellin on a three-year pact

The New England Patriots signed linebacker Shea McClellin, formerly of the Chicago Bears, to a three-year contract.

What It Means:

The 19th overall pick in the 2012 draft, McClellin never found a home in Chicago, shuffling between defensive end and outside linebacker, eventually playing inside linebacker in 2015. McClellin is still only 26 years old, and the Patriots have a knack for maximizing a player's' strengths and minimizing their weaknesses.

Following the retirement of Jerod Mayo, McClellin could find himself in the mix to start at middle linebacker, sandwiched between Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower. New England ranked 12th in Adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points per play last season.