Despite his pedigree as a first-round pick, Dominique Easley was not claimed on waivers Thursday. He is now a free agent and eligible to sign with any club.
Easley was released by the Patriots on Wednesday after two seasons in New England. The No. 29 overall pick in 2014 played in 21 percent of Patriots defensive snaps (including playoffs) over the course of the last two years. Both his 2014 and 2015 campaigns ended on injured reserve.
That Easley was not claimed while still on a relatively inexpensive rookie contract indicates that teams may be wary of the health of his legs. He came into the NFL after having torn both ACLs during his college career at the University of Florida. A knee injury ended his rookie season, and last season he landed on season-ending IR with a quadriceps injury after a Week 14 win over the Texans.
Easley's approach to the game, which has come under scrutiny since his release, also may have dimished his league-wide market.
Listen to Phil Perry and Tom E. Curran discuss Easley starting at the 7:44 mark of Quick Slants the podcast in the player below. Or by searching CSNNE on iTunes.