Patriots, Lawrence Guy Agree to 4-Year Contract

The New England Patriots' busy offseason continued Saturday when they agreed to sign defensive tackle Lawrence Guy. 

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Guy will receive a four-year deal that can max out at $20 million. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe confirmed the Patriots' addition of the 26-year-old.    

A seventh-round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers in 2011, Guy bounced around to the Indianapolis Colts and San Diego Chargers before the Baltimore Ravens claimed him off waivers in 2014. 

Guy spent two full seasons with the Ravens from 2015 to 2016, starting a career-high 10 games last season. He's joining a Patriots defensive line that also got a boost Friday with the acquisition of Kony Ealy in a trade with the Carolina Panthers, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

The Patriots previously announced the signing of cornerback Stephon Gilmore. ESPN's Dianna Russini reported they also acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the New Orleans Saints to give quarterback Tom Brady another downfield weapon. 

Guy will fit in nicely with the Patriots. He had the seventh-best stop percentage (8.8) among 3-4 defensive ends and zero missed tackles in 2016, per Louie Benjamin of Pro Football Focus. 

New England isn't known for dipping its toes heavily into free agency since Bill Belichick took over as head coach in 2000, though it's never shied away from making moves in order to upgrade its roster. 

Based on the early returns from free agency and the trade market, the Patriots are making it difficult on the rest of the NFL to knock them off their perch as Super Bowl champions.