Pats interested in RB Powell and WR Matthews

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It's been a long time since the Patriots have invested heavily in the running back position. In recent years their offense has thrived with the likes of undrafted players like Danny Woodhead and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, players signed to future contracts like Jonas Gray and Dion Lewis, as well as home-grown draft picks like Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley and a cast-off like LeGarrette Blount.

Committing a significant portion of their salary-cap space to a free-agent running back isn't how this team typically rolls. It explains why former Jets bruiser Chris Ivory -- a seemingly perfect fit for the Patriots "big back" role -- will reportedly wind up in Jacksonville and not New England on a contract that will pay him more than $6 million a year. 

The Patriots do have a need at the position, however, particularly if Blount signs elsewhere as a free agent, so there's a chance that the Patriots look to add to their backfield when the new league year begins on Wednesday. One of the more cost-effective options available to them would be Ivory's former teammate in New York, Bilal Powell. 

The Patriots, according to our Mike Giardi, are interested in the services of the dual-threat back. Powell has played five seasons with the Jets in mostly a sub-back role, tallying 47 catches for 388 yards last season. The 5-foot-10, 204-pounder also took 70 carries for 313 yards in 2015 while sharing playing time with Ivory and Ridley.

According to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, the Jets, Ravens and Cowboys also have interest in Powell.

The Patriots have a pair of sub-backs on the roster at the moment in both Lewis and James White. Lewis, who had success running between the tackles when asked last season, was an every-down threat as a runner and receiver until suffering a season-ending ACL tear in Week 9. White took over as the team's pass-catching back when Lewis went out.

Given his experience with the Jets, Powell could potentially serve as a true multi-purpose option in the Patriots backfield, like Lewis, whereas White has been used as more of a receiver and a pass-protector. In two seasons, White has carried the football 31 times.

The Patriots are also interested in another AFC East skill position player: Dolphins wide receiver Rishard Matthews, according to Giardi.

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