LeGarrette Blount's Reported Patriots Tender Puts Deadline on RB's Free Agency

The New England Patriots have offered a tender to running back LeGarrette Blount, which gives the team a lot more control going forward. 

According to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald, Blount can negotiate with other teams until July 22. If he doesn't sign by that deadline, he will be unable to play for any other team in 2017 until after Week 10.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk added the offer equals 110 percent of the player's former salary, which for Blount was only $1 million.

The move also helps New England gain a compensatory pick in the 2018 draft if Blount does sign with another organization.

The 30-year-old is coming off the best year of his career, finishing with 1,161 rushing yards and an NFL-best 18 touchdowns. However, the market for the free agent has been relatively quiet.

Per Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports on May 1, the New York Giants and Detroit Lions were considered the two most likely destinations for the running back prior to the tender.

While this rarely used move could make him more likely to return to the Patriots, the team already added Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead in the offseason to combine with James White, Dion Lewis and others. Even if Blount wanted to return to the defending Super Bowl champions, there might not be much playing time to go around.