Markus Kuhn to Patriots: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Free-agent defensive tackle Markus Kuhn announced via his Instagram on Thursday that he has signed with the New England Patriots:

The Patriots confirmed the signing on their official website. Figures of the contract have not been disclosed yet. 

Kuhn spent the first four years of his NFL career with the New York Giants, starting nine games with 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.   

He will become the Patriots' second German-born player, joining offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer.

Since his arrival with the Giants in 2012, Kuhn saw his role with the team increase as New York's defense declined. After getting just two starts in his first three years, Kuhn started seven games in 2015 in a Giants defense ranked 30th overall in the league.

New York, though, has made a big splash during the offseason to improve those numbers, which directly impacted Kuhn's chances at seeing starting time in 2016. 

In March, the Giants signed former New York Jets defensive tackle Damon Harrison, who has developed into one of the better run defenders in the league. 

The Giants offered Kuhn a new deal as a reserve next season, according to Jordan Raanan of NJ Advance Media, but he declined. 

The 29-year-old won't necessarily get starting time with the Patriots either, though. Alan Branch, Malcom Brown and Dominique Easley combined for six sacks last season and should be the Patriots' go-to options in 2016. 

Kuhn will also have to compete with the likes of Terrance Knighton, who signed a one-year deal with the Patriots on Monday. With that kind of depth, it won't be a given that Kuhn sees much of an increase in playing time next year.

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.