Darrelle Revis apparently isn't the only Patriots cornerback in limbo as free agency approaches.
According to the Boston Herald New England has informed veteran cornerback Brandon Browner that he can "explore his value around the league" while the team decides whether to pay him a $2 million roster bonus that would continue his deal with a $4.8 million cap number for 2015.
If the team chooses not to pick up the bonus – and can't work out a new contract with Browner – the veteran would hit free agency after helping the Patriots to a Super Bowl title.
Browner's contract is just one of the many decisions the Patriots must make prior to the start of the new league year and free agency on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. At that point the team must be in compliance with its adjusted 2015 cap figure of $144,578,084.
The team has already made one major decision in the back end of the defense, reaching a deal to re-sign safety Devin McCourty to a reported fiver-year deal worth a potential $47.5 million.
In the next 24 hours New England will also have to figure out what it wants to do with its duo of starting cornerbacks from last fall. The veteran combo helped transform the pass defense into a complementary contributor on a championship team, bringing stability where there was once only inconsistency and questionable play.
Free agent cornerbacks generally find big money on the open market, a trend that is already playing out this spring. That would likely be true for both Browner and Revis if New England chooses not to retain the pair after just one season together in Foxborough.
