Back in December 2014, Bill Belichick waxed poetic about Jets middle linebacker David Harris, the centerpiece of the New York defense since coming into the NFL in 2007.
“He came in with [Darrelle] Revis, right?’’ Belichick recalled. “Revis was a first and Harris was a second, right? That’s a pretty good draft.’’
It was a great draft for the Jets, but one that might ultimately bear more fruit for the archrival Patriots.
Belichick already won a Super Bowl with Revis, a onetime nemesis who switched sides in the Patriots-Jets border war in 2014, then returned to the Jets in 2015.
Now Belichick will try to win a ring with Harris, who signed a two-year deal with the Patriots Wednesday, 15 days after he was unceremoniously released by the Jets. The deal reportedly has a base value of $5 million with $1.25 million guaranteed, and another $1.75 million available in incentives.
Harris, 33, could be a valuable pickup for the Patriots, assuming he has anything left in the tank. He should bolster their talented but inconsistent linebacker corps. Dont’a Hightower has a lengthy injury history, Kyle Van Noy is still learning the position after converting from defensive end, and Elandon Roberts is below average in coverage.
The Jets decided they didn’t need Harris, releasing him June 6 instead of paying him a $6.5 million salary this year. Harris was caught up in the Jets’ youth movement this offseason, in which they also released costly veterans Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Nick Mangold, and Revis.
But Harris gives the Patriots another savvy veteran who has seen it all in his 10 NFL seasons, and can help captain the defense if Hightower is out of the lineup.
“He’s a very instinctive player, which unfortunately we’ve seen that first-hand,’’ Belichick said in 2014. “Obviously a defense that has a lot of communication and adjustments, and he’s certainly at the center of that, both as the signal caller, and then at the line of scrimmage. You can see him adjusting the front or making some type of communication calls to his teammates.’’
At his best, Harris can do a little bit of everything for the Patriots. He’s the second-leading tackler in Jets history, collecting 1,087 tackles over his 10 seasons. At 6 feet 2 inches and 250 pounds, he has been quick and strong enough to rush the passer (35 career sacks) and also cover running backs and tight ends (6 career interceptions, 31 passes defended). He is often around the ball, with 11 career forced fumbles and 4 recoveries.
Most important, Harris rarely comes off the field. He has played in 154 of 160 possible games, with 147 starts. He started 121 consecutive games between November 2008 and last October, when he missed a Monday night game against the Cardinals with a hamstring injury.
“It means a lot to me,’’ Harris said last year of his streak. “I try to be dependable. I try to be there for my teammates. I don’t like missing time with these guys, so I’ll do everything I can to be out there.’’
From 2009-16, Harris played 7,939 of a possible 8,312 snaps in the regular season (95.5 percent). Three times he played more than 99 percent in a season (2012-14). Harris also played about 20 percent of special teams snaps each year, mostly on field goal teams.
“He’s been very consistent, durable, dependable, productive over a long period of time,’’ said Belichick. “He’s out there in every situation: third and inches or third and 40. You’re going to find him out there doing something.’’
Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenVolin
