Patriots get some receiving help with another ex-Bill: Jordan Matthews

At this point, the Patriots should just build a tunnel to Buffalo.

Jordan Matthews became the latest former Bills player to join New England as the 2014 second-round pick of the Eagles agreed to a one-year deal with the Patriots, a source confirmed. ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news.

Matthews, who was traded to the Bills before last season with a third-round pick for cornerback Ronald Darby, joins former Buffalo players Stephon Gilmore, Mike Gillislee, Chris Hogan and Eric Lee in New England. Alan Branch was with the team before not having his option picked up.

Matthews, the 42nd overall pick in '14 out of Vanderbilt by former coach Chip Kelly, is 6-foot-3 and 212 pounds and had a promising start to his career before injuries derailed him last season in Buffalo. He was placed on injured reserve in December after battling a knee injury. Matthews was targeted 36 times and produced 25 catches, 282 yards, and one touchdown.

Before arriving in Buffalo, Matthews had 225 catches for almost 2,673 yards and 19 touchdowns in 46 games with the Eagles. Matthews was one of just five receivers to record 65 or more catches and 800 or more receiving yards in each of his first three NFL seasons, joining Odell Beckham Jr, Mike Evans, A.J. Green and Randy Moss.

BSJ analysis: Where does he fit in New England?

At the best, he's the new starting X receiver. At the worst, he's an injury-prone (played 24 of possible 32 games the past two seasons) receiver who won't cut it. Best guess is somewhere in between: he's competition/insurance, like the similarly built Kenny Britt, in case Malcolm Mitchell can't get past his chronic knee issues after missing all of last season.

Now, I know he played a lot of slot with the Eagles (over 90 percent of his snaps his first two years was there but that dipped to about 67 percent in Year 3) but I have a hard time seeing him do that on a regular basis in New England. The book on him is that he can't separate vs. man, so teams were forced to put him inside where he did well against zone coverages. I have a feeling he'll get his first look on the boundary for New England, but if it doesn't work he joins Julian Edelman and Chris Hogan inside (Matthews' best chance to make the team would likely be on the outside).

Matthews certainly has the kind of body type and length that makes you pay attention. Throw in that he had great combine numbers — 4.46 seconds in the 40, and 6.95 three-cone drill (excellent for the cone-obsessed Patriots) — plus the stats he put up in his first three seasons, and you're more than intrigued.

But, there's a flip side to all this. First of all, he put up his stats in Kelly's scheme, which is extremely QB/WR friendly and the Eagles didn't have a ton of receiving options so he got a lot of action. Plus, he has 23 drops (PFF) in his four seasons (drove Eagles fans crazy). Matthews also doesn't offer much after the catch.

But, look, the bottom line is he was cheap, has upside at a position of weakness for the Patriots (boundary receiver) and is healthy. So there's no risk to this move. As with everybody, he'll get what he earns once he gets on the field.