While the offseason focus is on the players who will receive long-term contracts worth millions of dollars in free agency when the NFL’s 2023 business year begins on March 15, the league’s teams also are evaluating players who already are on the open market and can be brought to the roster at considerably less expense.

One of those latter players, former Alabama wide receiver Slade Bolden, had a workout with the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, masslive.com reported.

The Instagram accounts of Bolden and his agency, Black Label Sports Group, also noted the private workout for the wide receiver.

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Although Bolden has not played in the NFL, he has two obvious connections to the Patriots. Bolden and New England quarterback Mac Jones were teammates at Alabama for three seasons, and new Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien served in that position for the Crimson Tide during Bolden’s final college season.

In his season with O’Brien, Bolden caught 42 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns.

Bolden participated in the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, but he was not selected during the 2022 NFL Draft.

Bolden signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 6 but was placed on injured reserve on Aug. 24 after missing the team’s first two preseason games. Reports indicated a hernia had sidelined Bolden.

On Oct. 18, Baltimore waived Bolden from injured reserve, and he’s been a free agent since then.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.