After spending the first four years of his career with the Carolina Panthers, the Patriots signed LaFell to a three-year, $9 million contract early in free agency. At the time, the Patriots were looking for someone reliable to start opposite Edelman. New England hadn’t found a true fit for this role in quite some time, as Brandon Tate, Chad Ochocinco, and Brandon Lloyd all left something to be desired during their runs with the team. Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins both had their moments as rookies, but Bill Belichick wanted to bring in more competition for the youngsters.
Source: Brandon LaFell: Remembering Underrated New England Patriots
LSU Football Report 