In need of pass-rush help, the New England Patriots have a strong interest in free agent defensive end Aaron Schobel, Mike Giardi of CSNNE.com reports.

The 6-4, 243-pound Schobel had 78 career sacks over his nine-year career with the Buffalo Bills, including 10 sacks in 16 games last season. However, Giardi reports that Schobel wants "big money".

Schobel walked away from nearly $8 million total compensation from the Bills, but money won't be the biggest determining factor for where Schobel continues his NFL career. A better characterization for teams outside of Harris County, Texas, i.e. not the Houston Texans, that are interested in signing Schobel would be that it would take big money to get him to sign anywhere other than Houston.

"Candidate? Absolutely," Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider said of his team's interest in Schobel. "But it sounds like he's well on his way to Houston is basically what the message we've received (is)."

The Patriots are welcome to try and coax Schobel to Foxborough, but their focus should be on getting Logan Mankins in town first.