Brandon LaFell, Patriots reach deal

— -- The New England Patriots have reached agreement on a three-year deal with wide receiver Brandon LaFell, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

LaFell, who enters his fifth NFL season, played the last four with the Carolina Panthers. At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he is an inside/outside receiver who started all 16 regular-season games in 2013 and finished with a career-high 49 catches for 627 yards and five touchdowns.

Against the Patriots in 2013, LaFell had a season-high seven catches for 59 yards and a touchdown in the Panthers' 24- 20 win in Week 11

LaFell entered the NFL as a third-round draft choice of the Panthers in 2010 after playing for LSU.

He is the second wide receiver the Patriots reached agreement with on Saturday. The team also brought back Julian Edelman.

The Carolina exodus continues as the Panthers have lost receivers LaFell, Steve Smith ( Baltimore Ravens) and Ted Ginn Jr. ( Arizona Cardinals) in the first week of free agency.

Information from ESPN.com Patriots reporter Mike Reiss contributed to this report.