Patriots acquire LB Marquis Flowers

FOXBOROUGH — The Patriots have acquired reserve linebacker Marquis Flowers, according to the Bengals, who said they are sending a seventh-round pick to the New England.

The 25-year-old Flowers is a 6-foot-3, 245-pounder who was taken in the sixth-round out of Arizona by Cincinnati in 2014. Flowers, who missed all of 2015 because of a shoulder injury, had his best season as a rookie when he played in 16 games with one start and ended the season with eight tackles and one pass defensed.

Scouting report

From an AFC personnel executive: "Athletic, runs well, run-and-hit LB. He's 6-foot-2 but not a heavy-handed player: better when can mobilize and and flow/chase. Has some range. Can play in space. Has some pass cover value. Has (special teams) characteristics. Instincts a question."

Greg Bedard analysis

Sounds a lot like competition for a roster spot with Elandon Roberts and Jonathan Freeny (to a lesser extent). Little different from Kyle Van Noy, who's little bit more heavy handed. Word is he's more of an outside linebacker than a Mike, but I talked about the concerns inside for the Patriots.