FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When the New England Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills 20-13 on Nov. 23 last season, they had a tough time covering wide receiver Chris Hogan. The fourth-year pro out of Monmouth finished with six catches for 95 yards that day.
Now the Patriots are considering the "can't cover him, let's sign him" approach by bringing Hogan to town on a free-agent visit Thursday, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
We've seen this before (think Wes Welker, circa 2007; Scott Chandler, circa 2015), and that's why the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Hogan was identified as an under-the-radar target for the Patriots at the outset of free agency.
Hogan also had five catches for 72 yards and a touchdown in a 2014 game against New England. He appears to fit the Patriots' offense well, as he aligns at all the spots, which is the type of inside-outside flexibility the team generally likes. He's stronger than some might think, and while he is quick in and out of his breaks, he's not a carbon copy of the Welker-type skill-set one might associate with him.
Hogan, 27, entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins and was a star on HBO's "Hard Knocks" program after earning the nickname "7-11" because -- like the convenience store -- he always seemed to be open.
He moved on to the Bills and caught 77 passes over the last two years.
Hogan was a restricted free agent this offseason, and the Bills tendered him at the low level ($1.6 million). That means the Patriots can sign him to an offer sheet and the Bills have a chance to match. If the Bills don't match, they would not receive any compensation. The Bills are tight to the salary cap, with about $4.5 million in space as of Wednesday.
