Ranking the 2015 Impact of the New England Patriots' Free-Agent Signings so Far

Teams that build their roster through the draft are trying to win over a long period of time. Teams that build through free agency want to win now.

The New England Patriots have been able to achieve both with a strategy that focuses not only on filling their pressing needs in any given season but also keeps an eye on saving money on the salary cap and acquiring talent to develop that will allow them to fill needs that may arise down the line.

Unfortunately for the Patriots, the biggest impact may not be from someone they've signed but someone they've let walk away. That someone is cornerback Darrelle Revis but could also include his bookend Brandon Browner. 

Fortunately, though, they do not also have to deal with the departure of safety Devin McCourty, who was brought back on a five-year deal shortly before free agency began.

Here's a look at the biggest signings, and we'll rank them based on what kind of on-field impact they will have in 2015 based on their position and talent level. 

5. Scott Chandler

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In all actuality, Patriots fans are probably hoping tight end Scott Chandler has minimal impact in 2015. If he is a primary component of the Patriots offense at any point in the season, that probably means All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski has suffered some catastrophic injury.

There are ways that the Patriots can make immediate use of their new big-bodied veteran tight end, however. The 6'7", 260-pound Chandler is another option in the red zone, but while he may not be a well-versed blocking tight end, his presence on the field in conjunction with Gronkowski could force opponents to think twice about what personnel grouping they send out to match up with the Patriots offense.

Chandler has averaged 45 receptions for 528 yards and four touchdowns in the past four seasons. He may not hit those numbers as a backup tight end, but he could still have an impact for the Patriots in 2015 if used correctly.

4. Travaris Cadet

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The Patriots lost scatback Shane Vereen to the New York Giants as a free agent, and they responded by adding Travaris Cadet of the New Orleans Saints.

Cadet is another example of the Patriots' plug-and-play philosophy on both sides of the ball. The Patriots have been cycling through scatbacks like wildfire of late, from Kevin Faulk in 2009 to Danny Woodhead in 2010 to Shane Vereen in 2013 and now Cadet in 2015. They've taken a step back each time but are hoping that Cadet has only just begun to scratch the surface of his potential in the NFL.

He hauled in 38 passes for 296 yards and a touchdown in 2014, but Cadet only carried the ball 10 times for 32 yards. In fact, the receiving game was almost his entire role; according to Pro Football Focus, he went out for a pass on 185 of his 209 snaps and was a pass-blocker on seven more snaps. 

That being said, the Patriots love their backs to contribute in the passing game, and Cadet should be able to settle into that niche in New England. 

3. Sealver Siliga

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The Patriots are hoping that Vince Wilfork rubbed off on Sealver Siliga in some way, shape or form.

Siliga has every inch of Wilfork's frame at 6'2" and 325 pounds, but the four-year veteran has a long way to go if he wants to fill the massive shoes of Wilfork, a five-time Pro Bowler.

Siliga's impact in 2015 will be massive if only because of the spot he fills. He and Alan Branch should combine for a formidable interior defensive line that can serve the Patriots well in both a 3-4 and 4-3 front—and believe me, they will continue running both fronts, especially because of (not in spite of) the changes they have made on the back end. 

Siliga doesn't generate fierce pressure, and according to Pro Football Focus, he only notched 11 hurries, two hits and three sacks in 2014. But he was also the ninth-most efficient run-stopping defensive tackle in the league out of 115 qualifying defensive tackles. 

2. Jabaal Sheard

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It may seem like a stretch for a situational player to have a big impact, but if the Patriots ever needed a depth player on their roster, it is defensive end/outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard. 

Defensive ends Chandler Jones and Rob Ninkovich have been bearing the burden of the Patriots' pass rush for years—Ninkovich has played 2,478 snaps in the past two seasons, Jones has played 2,037, according to Pro Football Focus—but thanks to the acquisition of Sheard, Jones and Ninkovich can rest their weary legs from time to time without giving the quarterback enough time in the pocket to make a sandwich and drink a beer.

Sheard's declining production may be a red flag for some; he has notched fewer sacks each year in the league, going from 8.5 sacks in his rookie season in 2011, seven in 2012, 5.5 in 2013 and finishing with two sacks in 2014. 

Beefing up the pass rush was an important step to take in the face of losing two top-notch cornerbacks in Revis and Browner. For that reason alone, Sheard could have a tremendous impact in 2015. 

1. Devin McCourty

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With a bevy of high-profile free agents to take care of, the Patriots were able to take care of one of the most important pieces when they inked Devin McCourty to a five-year, $47.5 million contract at the eleventh hour before free agency began.

Now, the Patriots have ensured that they will not need to replace one of the better deep safeties in the league in addition to replacing one of the best cornerbacks to ever play the game. 

McCourty's 2015 impact will be tremendous not only because of his ability on the field but because he knows the system inside and out, and he can act as a "glue guy" to help hold things together while the Patriots transition to a different scheme, likely to be centered around more zone coverage than last year.

The Patriots have counted on McCourty to move all over the secondary, and chances are high that we'll see him continue to play whereever the coaching staff asks him to line up. As the league's eighth-best safety in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus' grading system, the Patriots should do whatever they can to make sure he stays at a position where he's proven he can perform at a high level.