2012 NFL Free Agents: Patriots Should Pursue Brandon Lloyd If He Offers Discount

The answer to the New England Patriots' prayers for a speedy wide receiver may be waiting at their doorstep when the NFL free agency season commences on March 13.

According to Tom E. Curran of Comcast Sports Net New England, former Pro Bowler and All-Pro Brandon Lloyd is "very interested" in the possibility of joining the Patriots:

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I admire Coach Bill (Belichick), I admire Tom Brady, I admire how they run things over there. For any receiver to be considered to come in and play on the New England Patriots is gonna be excited just because of the history of success.

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And it just so happens that the Pats do plenty of what Lloyd is hoping for at his next destination:

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Winning is definitely the highest priority. I've been in the league for 10 years now and I don't look at the NFL as a place where I can hoard money and get as much as I can because it's the end of the world (at the end of his career).

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Surely, the thought of joining the defending AFC champions would entice just about any player whose chief concern is the potential to win a Super Bowl.

But, that's not the only factor that may lure Lloyd to New England for a below-market price. Remember, the Pats rehired former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to fill the same position prior to Super Bowl XLVI.

And McDaniels was the one man most responsible for turning the previously overlooked Lloyd into a pass-catching star during McDaniels' brief stint as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. McDaniels was also influential in bringing Lloyd to the St. Louis Rams last season, when he directed the offense under Steve Spagnuolo.

As Lloyd said of McDaniels:

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It comes down to trust. He trusts me and I trust him. He knows that I'm gonna go out there and make plays for whoever the quarterback is and I know he's gonna put me in good situations where I can go out there and be successful.

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Lloyd's signing with the Pats, then, would be a win-win. On the one hand, Lloyd would have the opportunity to get back to being a stud receiver while playing for McDaniels and with the prolific Tom Brady. On the other hand, the Pats would finally get the deep threat they've needed and coveted for their offense since parting ways with Randy Moss.

If New England were to take away anything from its loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI, it's that its corps of receivers—easily the best in the league at catching balls and picking up yards over the middle—lacked someone capable of consistently producing on the outside and down the field.

No offense to Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez and Deion Branch, of course.

So if Brandon Lloyd comes tap-tap-tapping on the front gate at Gillette Stadium next week and says he wants in, be it for a below-market price or otherwise, the Pats would do well to welcome him into their midst as they pursue another run at ring No. 4.

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