New England Patriots Free-Agency Tracker: Updated Signings, Rumors and Grades

The only thing that's harder than getting to the top of the mountain: staying there.

The New England Patriots are no strangers to that feat, and they accomplished back-to-back Super Bowl victories in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. If Patriots head coach Bill Belichick wants to become the first head coach in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls two separate times, he will have his work cut out for him.

The focus of the free-agency frenzy is often centered on the players leaving their old teams for new settings, but for the Patriots, the focus should be squarely on preventing their own top free agents from hitting the market. 

That being said, the Patriots can't be content with simply maintaining their 2014 championship roster. If you're not getting better, you're getting worse. 

The free-agency updates will be flying in at a high speed in the coming week, and for that reason, we're providing a one-stop spot to find all the news and rumors, complete with analysis and grades for the Patriots' biggest signings.

Patriots Re-Sign Devin McCourty to 5-Year, $47.5 Million Contract

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One of the Patriots' big-name free agents will be staying in the fold.

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported on Monday that the Patriots agreed to a five-year, $47.5 million contract with safety Devin McCourty to ensure that the five-year veteran would stay in New England for years to come. McCourty had received interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles before the Patriots made one last push to sign their former first-round pick.

McCourty is arguably as vital to the Patriots defensive scheme as even cornerback Darrelle Revis. McCourty's ability to close up the back end is unbridled as a deep safety in Cover 1. His route/play recognition and his closing speed have helped him develop from a former cornerback to one of the league's best free safeties. 

When the Patriots acquired Revis and Brandon Browner as free agents last offseason, McCourty's presence was vital in getting everyone on the same page quickly. Now, McCourty's steady presence on the back end will allow the Patriots to maintain some stability after a year of dramatic changes in their secondary.

Although the Patriots paid a pretty penny for McCourty's continued services, the bang could prove to be worth the buck. 

Grade: A+

Patriots Sign Brandon Gibson to 1-Year Deal

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Brandon Gibson is not quite the blockbuster signing Patriots fans were hoping for, but exactly the type of signing they have come to expect in recent years. Instead of going haywire in the opening wave of free agency, the Patriots often wait until the second wave to make their moves.

Gibson may have been a Day 1 signing, but he is still considered among the second or third tier of free agents.

The 6'0", 210-pounder and 27-year-old pass-catcher is coming off a lackluster 2014 campaign in which he was surpassed by rookie Jarvis Landry on the depth chart, resulting in career lows in receptions (29) and yards (295). He also appeared to have lost some of his quickness after a patellar tendon injury ended his 2013 season.

A declining player with a big cap hit ($4.26 million, according to OverTheCap.com) is always a candidate to be a salary cap casualty, and the Dolphins released him in February. 

The Patriots will give him an opportunity to earn a role in their offense during training camp, but he is primarily a slot receiver, which the Patriots already have in abundance.

Grade: C+

Patriots Sign Browns OLB Jabaal Sheard

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Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich can't play every down every year; at some point, the Patriots have to pony up to add depth to their rotation at defensive end and outside linebacker.

It seems that the Patriots have done just that in signing former Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard, according to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. The 26-year-old four-year veteran and former second-round pick has some scheme versatility to play either outside linebacker in a 3-4 or defensive end in a 4-3, which will serve him well in the Patriots defense, which often shifts between the two schemes.

Sheard has not been a productive pass-rusher in recent years. He stormed out of the gates with 8.5 sacks as a rookie, but his sack production has slipped each year since then: seven in 2012, 5.5 in 2013 and two in 2014. 

That being said, Sheard will not have to bear the burden of the Patriots pass rush now that he is signed in New England. He will only be a backup to Jones and Ninkovich—albeit an important one.

Grade: B+

Patriots Sign TE Scott Chandler

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Tight end Scott Chandler has abused the Patriots defense, logging 28 receptions for 384 yards and four touchdowns in nine career games against the Buffalo Bills rival.

So, it's no surprise that ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported that the Patriots signed the big-bodied tight end on Friday. The 6'7", 260-pound tight end should immediately be considered the No. 2 tight end on the depth chart; he may not be a savvy route-runner, but he is tough to cover in the red zone for his size, and he is a polished blocker in the running game as well. 

The seven-year veteran has been good for roughly 45 catches, 500 yards and two or three touchdowns over the past few years, but his role won't be as a primary tight end like he was in Buffalo, but instead as a backup to Rob Gronkowski.

The Patriots have struggled with their depth chart at tight end in recent years, but they got lucky with a stretch of good health for Gronk. They can't bank on that again, so signing Chandler was a good move if only as an insurance policy.

Grade: B+