Patriots Re-Sign QB Brian Hoyer
The Patriots are re-signing a familiar face. New England is signing veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer to a one-year deal, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). Jim McBride of the Boston Globe was first with the news (on Twitter).
Hoyer has had three stints with the Patriots throughout his 12-year career, earning a Super Bowl ring as Tom Brady‘s backup in 2018. Following a one-year stint with the Colts in 2019, Hoyer re-joined the Patriots last offseason following Brady’s defection to Tampa Bay. Hoyer ended up starting a single game for New England, completing 15 of his 24 pass attempts for 130 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a fumble. The veteran didn’t end up seeing the field again following that Week 4 loss to the Chiefs.
This offseason, Hoyer was briefly mentioned as a potential option for the Jets as a backup, but he’ll instead be heading back to New England. The team’s depth chart looks a bit different in 2021. The team used the 15th-overall pick on Mac Jones, and the rookie is expected to compete with 2020 starter Cam Newton for the starting gig. As Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets, Newton could serve as Jones’ competition while Hoyer could serve an important role as Jones’ mentor.
This signing is probably bad news for Jarrett Stidham. Following Brady’s decision to join Tampa Bay last offseason, there were some whispers that the 2019 fourth-round pick could end up inheriting the starting job. Instead, Stidham started a whopping zero games, although he did complete 50-percent of his passes for 256 yards, two scores, and three interceptions in limited snaps.
This Date In Transactions History: Eagles Sign RB LeGarrette Blount
Four years ago today, the Eagles made a signing that ended up having a huge impact on their Super Bowl LII victory. On May 17, 2017, Philly added veteran LeGarrette Blount to their running back corps.
Blount was actually coming off a 2016 campaign where he led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns. However, he finished with only 3.9 yards per attempt, and during the Patriots run to a championship, the veteran ceded carries to pass-catching backs like Dion Lewis and James White. With the veteran eyeing his age-31 season, Blount remained unsigned through the 2017 draft.
Predictably, the Patriots saw this as an opportunity to pull off some transaction tomfoolery. By this point of the 2017 offseason, free agent signings no longer impacted the compensatory pick formula. However, New England slapped Blount with the rare May 9 Tender; the tender was worth 110% of his total pay in 2016, it gave the Patriots exclusive negotiating rights starting in late July, and (most importantly) Blount’s signing would still could toward the compensatory pick formula. This move surely deterred some suitors from making a move for Blount, as signing Blount would negatively impact their chances at an extra draft pick.
This wasn’t a concern to the Eagles. On May 17th, 2017, the Eagles inked Blount to a one-year deal worth up to $2.8MM. While Philly never fully committed to Blount as their starting running back throughout the regular season, the veteran still led the squad with 766 rushing yards (his 816 yards from scrimmage also ranked second on the team behind Zach Ertz). Blount really showed his worth during the postseason; the running back found the end zone in each of the Eagles’ three wins, and he had 90 yards on only 14 carries in a Super Bowl win over the Patriots.
Even though Blount didn’t end up sticking around Philadelphia, the move was still a clear win for the Eagles. While the Patriots lost the big game against their former player, there was some silver lining; New England ultimately got their compensatory pick, a selection that was ultimately included in a trade for offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn.
Four years ago today, this move was probably seen as a standard post-draft veteran signing. Instead, it was a move that had a major influence on that year’s championship.
Chiefs Release WR Tajae Sharpe
After re-signing with the Chiefs earlier this offseason, Tajae Sharpe has been let go. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Kansas City has released the wide receiver.
Things have gone a bit downhill for Sharpe since his rookie season in 2016. That year, the Titans fifth-round pick finished with 41 receptions for 522 receiving yards and two touchdowns. In the four years since, the receiver has been limited to only 51 receptions for 645 yards and six touchdowns.
Sharpe didn’t re-sign with Tennessee after the 2019 season, and he subsequently caught on with the Vikings. Sharpe ended up getting into four games with Minnesota, appearing on only 28 offensive snaps and catching zero passes on three targets. He was waived in December and later landed on the Chiefs practice squad, and he re-signed with the organization back in April.
Sharpe was already going to have a tough time breaking the Kansas City roster, as the team seems set atop their depth chart with Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, and Byron Pringle. The team also used a fifth-round pick on Cornell Powell, meaning Sharpe was pretty much competing for a spot as a sixth receiver. Now, Sharpe will be looking for his third team in the matter of 12(ish) months. The receiver is still only 26-years-old, so there’s a good chance a wideout-needy team takes a chance on him.
Former Broncos OL Ja’Wuan James Considering Grievance
The Ja’Wuan James/Broncos battle could get messy. A source tells ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that the former Broncos offensive lineman is “strongly considering filing a grievance through the NFLPA over potential lost wages of up to $10M” (Twitter link).
To review: James suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon while working out away from the Broncos’ team facility, leading to the player’s release yesterday. The front office will likely move to void James’ $10.58MM salary, something that wouldn’t have been feasible had James suffered the injury at the Broncos’ facility. The NFL recently reiterated these risks in a memo, mentioning James by name and noting that teams “would have “no contractual obligation” to pay players like James who were injured away from the team facilities” (via ESPN).
Following fellow Bronco DaeSean Hamilton‘s offsite ACL tear on Friday, James tweeted the NFLPA needs to have players’ backs after advising them to boycott voluntary offseason workouts. The NFLPA had previously sent out a memo noting that it was “gutless” of the league to use these injuries as scare tactics in an attempt to lure players back to team facilities.
Denver had previously placed James on its reserve/NFI list, laying the groundwork for yesterday’s move. The remaining $9MM in prorated signing bonus money will be due. Fowler notes that the organization does have the option of throwing him some extra cash on the way out, so the two sides could still theoretically come to an agreement before James officially files a grievance.
After spending the first five years of his career in Miami, James inked a four-year, $51MM deal with Denver in 2019. James was ticketed to be the Broncos’ long-term starter, but knee injuries in 2019 limited the former first-round pick to only three games. Because of his 2020 opt-out and this Achilles development, the 29-year-old lineman’s Denver career will be capped at 63 snaps. James underwent surgery yesterday and is now officially a free agent.
Vikings Sign Fourth-Round RB Kene Nwangwu
The Vikings have signed their sixth draft pick. Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports (via Twitter) that the team has signed fourth-round running back Kene Nwangwu. It’s a four-year pact worth $4.23MM, including a $752K+ signing bonus.
[RELATED: Vikings Sign First-Round Pick Christian Darrisaw]
Nwangwu didn’t really emerge on the NFL radar until the completion of his 2020 season. While the six-foot-one, 210-pound running back didn’t put up crazy counting stats (only 361 yards from scrimmage and four scores), he still had a solid 5.6 yards per rushing attempt (down a bit from his eye-popping 7.2 mark in 2019). Nwangwu was also productive on special teams during his college career, returning 92 kicks.
In Minnesota, the rookie will likely compete with Ameer Abdullah for the third spot on the depth chart behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. His real opportunity for playing time will be in the return game, where he’ll compete with Abdullah and rookie wideout Ihmir Smith-Marsette.
The Vikings still have five of their draft picks unsigned, as our NFL Draft Results page shows:
Round 1: No. 23 (from Seahawks through Jets) Christian Darrisaw, OT (Virginia Tech) (signed)
Round 3: No. 66 (from Jets) Kellen Mond, QB (Texas A&M)
Round 3: No. 78 Chazz Surratt, LB (North Carolina)
Round 3: No. 86 (from Seahawks through Jets) Wyatt Davis, G (Ohio State)
Round 3: No. 90 (from Ravens) Patrick Jones II, DE (Pittsburgh)
Round 4: No. 119 Kene Nwangwu, RB (Iowa State) (signed)
Round 4: No. 125 (from Bears) Camryn Bynum, CB (California) (signed)
Round 4: No. 134 (from Bills) Janarius Robinson, DE (Florida State)
Round 5: No. 157 Ihmir Smith-Marsette, WR (Iowa) (signed)
Round 5: No. 168 (from Steelers through Ravens): Zach Davidson, TE (Central Missouri) (signed)
Round 6: No. 199 Jaylen Twyman, DT (Pittsburgh) (signed)
WR Marqise Lee Joining 49ers On Tryout Basis
Marqise Lee is (at least temporarily) heading back to the west coast. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that the veteran receiver is participating in 49ers minicamp on a tryout basis.
Lee grew up in Long Beach, went to high school in Gardena, and then burst onto the national stage as a member of the USC Trojans. His standout collegiate career ultimately led to him being selected by the Jaguars in the second round (No. 39) of the 2014 draft, but he struggled to live up to his draft stock during his time in Jacksonville.
The wideout compiled only 660 yards from scrimmage and two scores through his first two seasons in the NFL, although he did manage to carve out a larger role in the offense in 2016 and 2017. During those two years, Lee averaged 59.5 receptions and 776 receiving yards with only three touchdowns per year.
Lee still managed to secure a four-year, $38MM extension from the Jaguars, but after sitting out most of the 2019 campaign thanks to a knee injury, he was released by the team last offseason. The 29-year-old ended up catching on with the Patriots, but he decided to opt out of the 2020 campaign. New England gave the receiver his walking papers back in March.
The 49ers have dedicated some draft capital to wideouts over the past few years, and recent draft picks like Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are expected to lead the depth chart. Free agent addition Mohamed Sanu will likely slide in as the third receiver, but Lee could have a chance to compete with the likes of Richie James, Trent Sherfield, and Jalen Hurd for leftover snaps.
Lions Shopping OL Tyrell Crosby?
Tyrell Crosby could be on the move. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that Detroit is “giving indications it will consider or look to move” the starting offensive lineman.
Crosby joined the Lions as a fifth-round pick in 2018, and he’s transformed into one of the team’s more reliable offensive linemen. After starting only seven of his 26 games through his first two seasons in the NFL, Crosby had an opportunity at a larger role in 2020 following Halapoulivaati Vaitai‘s struggles at right tackle.
The offensive tackle ended up starting 11 of his 12 games for the Lions this past season. This naturally led to an uptick in snaps, as he ultimately appeared in a career-high 63-percent of Detroit’s offensive snaps. Crosby also committed only three penalties, a reduction from the seven he committed in 2019.
The Lions ended up using the seventh-overall pick on offensive lineman Penei Sewell, and the Oregon product should immediately slide into the starting lineup. While Taylor Decker locked in on the left side, Crosby is staring at a backup role heading into 2021. His versatility means he could still see plenty of snaps, and his $2.25MM cap hit isn’t enough to break the bank. Still, considering the Lions new depth, it makes sense that the front office is exploring their options ahead of Crosby’s impending free agency in 2022.
Cardinals Add 4 UDFAs
The Cardinals have officially filled their 90-man roster. The team announced the signing of four undrafted free agents today:
- TE Cary Angeline, North Carolina State
- CB Lorenzo Burns, Arizona
- TE Bruno Labelle, Cincinnati
- DL Cam Murray, Oklahoma State
Angeline got a nice pay day from his new team, earning a $30K signing bonus (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter). Meanwhile, Burns got a $25K signing bonus as part of his pact with Arizona (via Wilson).
The Cardinals have a loaded offense, but there could be some openings at tight end. Maxx Williams leads the depth chart, but he didn’t put up big numbers during his first season in Arizona. The team is also rostering a pair of former undrafted free agents in Darrell Daniels and Ian Bunting. If Arizona is seeking a tight end who could serve as one of Kyler Murray‘s targets, then Angeline probably has the greatest chance to contribute. The tight end hauled in 61 receptions during his three seasons at North Carolina State, including a 2020 campaign where he hauled in 27 receptions for 412 yards and six touchdowns.
Titans Sign 10 UDFAs
If you’re a big fan of undrafted free agents, we’ve got TEN more for you. The Titans announced today that they’ve added 10 rookies to their roster:
- OL Cole Banwart, Iowa
- FB Tory Carter, LSU
- TE Miller Forristall, Alabama
- K Blake Haubeil, Ohio State
- OL Chandon Herring, Brigham Young
- DL Naquan Jones, Michigan State
- TE Briley Moore, Kansas State
- LB Justus Reed, Virginia Tech
- RB Mekhi Sargent, Iowa
- P James Smith, Cincinnati
Who were the big earners? Carter earned $50K guaranteed, which includes $37.5K of his base salary (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter). Jones got $45K in guaranteed money, which includes $35K in base salary and a $10K signing bonus (via Wilson), while Forristall received $23K in guaranteed money (via Wilson).
Per usual with these kind of signings, the special teams additions are especially interesting. It doesn’t seem like veteran kicker Stephen Gostkowski will be back, meaning Haubeil will likely be competing with 2020 undrafted free agent Tucker McCann for the kicking gig. It’d be more difficult for Smith to make the roster considering the presence of Pro Bowler Brett Kern, but the team could be starting to prepare for the veteran punter’s inevitable retirement.
Dolphins Add 4 UDFAs
After adding seven rookies in the draft, the Dolphins have added four more first-year players to their roster. The team announced the signing of four undrafted free agents this evening:
- CB Jaytlin Askew, Georgia Tech
- DT Jerome Johnson, Indiana University
- G Robert Jones, Middle Tennessee State
- FB Carl Tucker, Alabama
Jones ended up earning some dough from Miami. The lineman received $130K in guaranteed money, which includes $100K of his base salary (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter). While the prospect was lauded for his run-blocking abilities as a tackle in college, he’s projected by scouts to be an offensive guard in the NFL.
Tucker made a name for himself during his time at North Carolina, but he never established himself as an offensive threat. He moved to Alabama during his senior season and started a handful of games as a blocking tight end. Tucker could end up sticking around the NFL at that position, but it’s worth noting that the Dolphins listed him as a fullback.