Darrelle Revis

Will Darrelle Revis return to the Patriots? (AP Photo | Charles Krupa)

Ex-Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, cut earlier this month, believes he can still play.

And he might just have a chance to prove it with the Patriots, against the Jets.

Revis rejoining the Patriots appears "increasingly likely," according to CBSSports.com, which reported "numerous league sources" think Revis will land in New England next season.

Revis, who turns 32 in July, struggled mightily last season. He looked finished as a No. 1 corner. Does he have anything left at this point?

He previously spent one season with the Patriots, in 2014. He won a Super Bowl and then re-signed with the Jets, who gave him an ill-fated contract that included $39 million guaranteed.

After recently having an assault case against him dropped, Revis said he'd love to play for his hometown team, the Steelers. But the CBSSports.com report, which cited numerous NFL executives, makes it seem like New England is a likelier destination.

One personnel man said this in the report:

"We did our work on him. He can still play. He can cover. He doesn't have that long speed anymore. He's not going to cover a No. 1 receiver deep. But he can cover in tight spaces and he has great instincts. The film is not as bad as some would have you believe. He's a perfect fit in that quarters scheme [Bill] Belichick runs, and they have the kind of safeties who can help him out, too. We're convinced he's going back to New England. It just makes too much sense."

The Patriots brought in corner Stephon Gilmore, while Logan Ryan left in free agency, and Malcolm Butler could be traded to the Saints. Revis could also transition to safety at some point, as past elite cornerbacks like Rod Woodson and Charles Woodson have done.

The Jets owe Revis $6 million in guaranteed salary next season. That would be offset by whatever Revis makes with his next team. So Revis would earn $6 million by not playing. Would he be willing to take a contract from the Patriots that pays him less than $6 million in 2017? In that case, he'd essentially be playing for free. But pride is a factor here, too.

Any money Revis makes with his next team would alleviate that portion of the Jets' $6 million dead money salary cap hit for him in 2017. If his new team gives him more than $6 million for 2017 -- so he wouldn't be playing for free -- then that would completely clear the Jets' $6 million obligation to Revis, and give them even more cap space.

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.