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Pats Restructure David Andrews’ Contract

June 24th, 2022 at 8:36pm CST by Ely Allen

The NFL team that currently holds the smallest amount of salary cap space for the 2022 season completed a move today in order to provide a little bit of breathing room. ESPN’s Field Yates reported today that the Patriots restructured the contract of veteran center David Andrews, granting them a bit of cap space for the upcoming season. 

Andrews went undrafted in 2015, signing with New England as a free agent. Due to injuries to then-starting center Bryan Stork and backup Ryan Wendell, Andrews impressed in ample playing time during the preseason and earned the starting spot for Week 1 of his rookie season. He eventually ceded the position to his healthy teammates, but beat out Stork in an offseason competition for the starting job the following season.

Andrews has gone on to hold down the center position as a full-time starter for the past six years, excluding the 2019 season that saw him miss the entire year due to a pulmonary embolism. He did miss four games in the season immediately following 2019, but proved his health last year by playing 98.6% of the Patriots’ offensive snaps, with the next closest lineman being Shaq Mason who was on the field for 86.5% of New England’s offensive snaps.

After Andrews had completed his first season as a full-time starter in 2016, he and the Patriots agreed to a three-year, $9MM contract extension. After playing out that contract to become a free agent last offseason, Andrews decided to re-sign with New England on a four-year, $19MM deal.

The restructuring completed today reportedly creates $2.1MM in cap space for the 2022 season by converting $3.15MM of compensation into a signing bonus. Andrews’ contract will now hold a cap hit of $4.28MM for the upcoming season as the Patriots look to regain supremacy atop the AFC East.

Patriots Sign Round 2 WR Tyquan Thornton, Round 4 QB Bailey Zappe To Wrap Class

June 23rd, 2022 at 3:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Second- and third-day draftees came to terms with the Patriots on their rookie contracts Thursday. After signing Tyquan Thornton and Bailey Zappe to their four-year pacts, the team has completed its draft deals for 2022.

A Baylor-produced wide receiver with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash time on his pre-draft resume, Thornton enticed the Patriots to trade up four spots — from No. 54 to No. 50 — to acquire him. The Bill Belichick-era Pats have notoriously struggled to identify college receiver talent, at least with high picks, and recent Baylor wideouts to come through the league have delivered inconsistent pro careers. The Pats will aim to buck both trends here.

Baylor has sent the likes of Denzel Mims, Corey Coleman, Josh Gordon and Kendall Wright into the league as first- or second-round picks (Gordon was a Round 2 supplemental choice). Some of those players have enjoyed moments or short stretches of production, but the Big 12 program has not seen its top pass-catching cogs enjoy extended runs as starters. New England has swung and missed on highly drafted wideouts N’Keal Harry, Aaron Dobson and Chad Jackson over the past 16 years — the only first- or second-round wideouts the team has chosen — but obviously did quite well with late-rounders Julian Edelman and Matthew Slater. UDFA Jakobi Meyers has played well through three seasons, too, earning a second-round RFA tender from the team this offseason.

Although Thornton broke through as a senior by catching 62 passes for 948 yards and 10 touchdowns, he surpassed 17 yards per reception during both his freshman and sophomore years. In addition to Thornton, the Pats added DeVante Parker via trade and Lil’Jordan Humphrey late in the offseason. That duo joins the Meyers-Kendrick Bourne–Nelson Agholor trio. Harry remains on the roster but has been in trade rumors for multiple years now.

Zappe is coming off a historically productive season in his lone fall at a Division I-FBS program. The transfer passer broke Joe Burrow‘s recent FBS record by throwing 62 touchdown passes (compared to 11 interceptions). Zappe, a Houston Baptist import, also tallied 5,967 passing yards. Zappe played in a pass-crazed system and will attempt to transition to the pros, attempting to develop behind Mac Jones and Brian Hoyer.

Here is New England’s 2022 draft class:

Round 1: No. 29 (from 49ers through Dolphins and Chiefs) Cole Strange, G (UT-Chattanooga) (signed)
Round 2: No. 50 (from Dolphins through Chiefs) Tyquan Thornton, WR (Baylor) (signed)
Round 3: No. 85 Marcus Jones, CB (Houston) (signed)
Round 4: No. 121 (from Dolphins through Chiefs) Jackie Jones, CB (Arizona State) (signed)
Round 4: No. 127 Pierre Strong, RB (South Dakota State) (signed)
Round 4: No. 137 (from Rams through Texans and Panthers) Bailey Zappe, QB (Western Kentucky) (signed)
Round 6: No. 183 (from Texans) Kevin Harris, RB (South Carolina) (signed)
Round 6: No. 200 Sam Roberts, DT (Northwest Missouri State) (signed)
Round 6: No. 210:  Chasen Hines, C (LSU) (signed)
Round 7: No. 245 (from Cowboys through Texans) Andrew Stueber, OG (Michigan) (signed)

NFL, NFLPA Attempted To Negotiate Deshaun Watson Punishment?

June 23rd, 2022 at 12:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

A lengthy Deshaun Watson suspension is believed to be coming soon, but the Browns continue to wait for that news to emerge. A full-season ban has become a real possibility for the quarterback who was accused by 24 women of sexual misconduct and/or sexual assault.

An independent officer, Sue Robinson, will decide on Watson’s discipline. That ruling is expected to happen before the Browns begin training camp. But Roger Goodell would handle an appeal. However, the NFL, NFLPA and Watson advisors entered talks about a negotiated punishment, Josina Anderson of USA Today tweets.

If a negotiated ban came to pass, Watson would waive his appeal right. These talks, however, broke down because the parties were not on the same page regarding suspension length, Anderson adds. This will keep the process moving toward Robinson’s decision.

If Robinson’s decision does not meet with NFLPA approval, the union plans to use recent punishments for teams and owners (or lack thereof) in its appeal. The NFLPA would cite NFL treatment of Dan Snyder, Robert Kraft and Jerry Jones in its Watson appeal, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes.

The NFL is believed to have changed its plans regarding what information was made public in its investigation into Snyder and the Commanders, which wrapped in 2021. That probe did not produce a written report of the league’s findings, leading to Congress becoming involved. The NFL fined the franchise $10MM, and Snyder gave up day-to-day operations. However, his involvement with the team since has been in question. Kraft pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution in connection with a January 2018 incident at a spa. The Patriots owner’s case was later dismissed, and no NFL punishment came down. The Cowboys paid a confidential $2.4MM settlement after four cheerleaders accused the team’s former senior vice president for public relations and communications, Rich Dalrymple, of voyeurism in the team’s locker room during a 2015 event at AT&T Stadium. The NFL did not investigate the Cowboys.

These arguments would bring other teams into the Browns’ controversy. The union believes its strategy would be more effective since the 2020 CBA moved Goodell further away from disciplinary matters, Florio adds. But with the NFL overseeing an appeal, it is unclear how much traction they will have considering both the volume of accusations levied against Watson and the league’s apparent hope for a year-long suspension.

Watson, who was not charged in connection with these accusations and has denied all wrongdoing, settled 20 of the 24 civil lawsuits against him this week. The NFL said that will not impact his potential punishment. The settlements will prevent Watson from going through most of his suits next year, which would take the prospect of the commissioner’s exempt list — something Goodell has already said would not apply here — completely off the table. If Watson were to miss 2022 games, it would only happen because of a suspension.

Patriots, G Cole Strange Agree To Deal

June 22nd, 2022 at 11:39am CST by Sam Robinson

One of two first-rounders who had not signed their rookie contracts, Cole Strange is set to make his Patriots employment official. The rookie guard is expected to sign his deal Wednesday, InsidetheBirds.com’s Adam Caplan tweets.

Strange’s signing will leave Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett as the league’s lone unsigned first-rounder. Strange’s four-year deal will include a fifth-year option and, based on the final three first-rounders’ contractual terms, be fully guaranteed.

The Patriots drafted Strange 29th overall, and although the Tennessee-Chattanooga lineman was not expected to go in Round 1, this year’s Nos. 30-32 picks — George Karlaftis, Daxton Hill and Lewis Cine — were given fully guaranteed contracts. This has marked a progression for players chosen late in the first round. When the 2011 CBA began this era of rookie deals, late-first-round picks’ contracts were not fully guaranteed.

Strange is expected to be an immediate starter for the Pats, who saw 2021 guard starters Shaq Mason and Ted Karras depart. The Pats traded Mason to the Buccaneers for a fifth-round pick, doing so after Karras defected to the Bengals in free agency. Strange is expected to join Michael Onwenu as New England’s first-string guards.

Using his COVID-19-created additional eligibility year, Strange ended up a five-year starter for the Mocs. The 24-year-old blocker spent six years at the Division I-FCS program, redshirting in 2016. Although, the pandemic drastically altered the FCS squads’ schedules in 2020. Chattanooga played five games as part of its 2020 campaign. Strange returned in 2021 to start nine games at left guard, his primary college spot, and two at left tackle.

James White A PUP List Candidate

June 22nd, 2022 at 9:22am CST by Sam Robinson
  • Upon nontendering fullback Jakob Johnson as an RFA this offseason, the Patriots informed him of a potential stylistic shift. Johnson said recently (via Reiss) the Pats told him they were changing course at the fullback position, indicating it was not in the 2022 plan. Johnson spent three seasons with the Patriots, who had rostered James Develin from 2012-19. Although many teams do not have a fullback on their rosters, the Pats — who have not yet sorted out their play-calling situation post-Josh McDaniels — going without one would be notable.

James White did not make it into last season’s October docket, suffering a hip injury in Week 3. That issue did not deter the Patriots from giving the veteran passing-down back a fourth contract — two years, $5MM — this offseason, but it very well might keep White off the field until October of this year. The ninth-year veteran has not been fully cleared, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com envisions the Patriots being cautious to start the season by using the reserve/PUP list in this case. New England has Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson back as its primary backfield cogs, and the team doubled up on runners in the draft (Pierre Strong in Round 4 and Kevin Harris in Round 6). White, 30, going over a year without playing would be somewhat concerning, but he is the team’s longest-tenured offensive player and still should be on track to play a significant role in its second Mac Jones-conducted attack.

Patriots CB Jack Jones To Challenge For Starting Role?

June 19th, 2022 at 8:42am CST by Rory Parks

The Patriots lost top cornerback J.C. Jackson in free agency this offseason, and one of the biggest questions facing the club ever since has been how it will replace the 2021 Pro Bowler. Earlier this month, we learned that Malcolm Butler had emerged as the favorite to fill that void, but as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com writes, fourth-round rookie Jack Jones is already making a strong case of his own.

Reiss observes that Jones lined up across from Jalen Mills — a 16-game starter in 2021 — during one mandatory minicamp practice. Jones was able to maintain tight coverage against some of New England’s top wideouts, and he also flashed his instincts in intercepting rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe.

His coverage ability and ballhawking traits were on display throughout Jones’ tumultuous collegiate career. A five-star recruit, Jones committed to USC and started all 14 of the Trojans’ games during his sophomore season in 2017, intercepting a team-high four passes. However, he was ruled academically ineligible for the 2018 season, and in June 2018, he was arrested for breaking into a restaurant after hours (he resolved that matter by pleading guilty to a second-degree misdemeanor charge of commercial burglary).

USC dismissed him from the program, and after a year at Moorpark College, he enrolled at Arizona State. Under the tutelage of former NFL defensive back and head coach Herm Edwards, Jones intercepted three more passes in 2019, but he once again hit a roadblock in 2020, when he was suspended for violating team rules and appeared in just one game. He put himself back on the NFL radar in 2021, playing 11 games and picking off three passes.

As one might expect in light of that history, Jones is a little older than most rookies, as he will turn 25 in December. And while it can be fairly argued that his off-field issues led to his falling to the fourth round, he was not a perfect prospect even from an on-field perspective, despite his obvious ball skills. He lacks ideal size for an outside-the-numbers corner (5-10, 177), displayed inconsistent technique in college, and can struggle when attempting to press opposing receivers.

Still, the Patriots and HC Bill Belichick have never been afraid to blaze their own trail in the draft. Jones’ instincts and route recognition offer a strong foundation to build upon, and he has an opportunity that many fourth-rounders do not have. Although Mills appears to have one starting CB spot locked up, he is not exactly irreplaceable, and the same can be said of veteran Terrance Mitchell, who signed a one-year, $3MM deal with New England in March after being released by the Texans.

Butler has a permanent place in Patriots lore for his heroics in Super Bowl XLIX, but he did not play at all in 2021, as he went into a pseudo-retirement. He is also 32, and while he signed a two-year contract to return to Foxborough, the Pats can easily release him (and Mills) after the 2022 season with minimal dead cap ramifications.

So if Jones can continue to progress after his strong showing in spring practices, he could soon find himself in the starting lineup, even if Belichick opts to err on the side of veteran experience when the regular seasons opens.

Minor NFL Transactions: 6/17/22

June 17th, 2022 at 8:56pm CST by Adam La Rose

Today’s minor moves around the NFL:

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Benkert spent the 2021 season with the Packers, after three years with the Falcons. He was signed just over one year ago to provide insurance with the future of Aaron Rodgers in doubt, and Jordan Love as the only other signal-caller on the roster. He made one regular season appearance, but with Rodgers now signed to an extension and Love still under contract for at least two more years, the team is less in need of the 26-year-old this year.

Hilliard’s ban comes as a result of PED usage (Twitter link via Paul Schwartz of the New York Post). The former UDFA tweeted an explanation, stating that he mistakenly took the wrong prescription medication, and that he will not appeal the suspension. The Ohio State alum played in two games with the Giants last season, logging 15 special teams snaps. This news will weaken what was already, as Schwartz notes, his tenuous grip on a 53-man roster spot.

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 6/17/22

June 17th, 2022 at 1:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the latest mid- and late-round picks to sign their four-year rookie contracts:

Cleveland Browns

New England Patriots

  • RB Pierre Strong (fourth round, South Dakota State)

The Browns made York the highest-drafted kicker since 2016 (Roberto Aguayo, Round 2) by selecting him 124th overall. The team was eyeing Evan McPherson in the 2021 draft, and after seeing the Bengals pounce on the talented specialist, the Browns decided to make an early move for York. LSU’s kicker for three seasons, York earned second-team All-America acclaim in 2020. York will be poised to take over Browns kicking duties, which Chase McLaughlin held last season. Cleveland has gone through a number of kickers in the past decade. The team has not featured the same primary kicker in consecutive seasons since Billy Cundiff from 2013-14.

Chosen 127th overall, Strong surpassed 1,000 yards three times during his career at the Division I-FCS program, doing so in each season not interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He amassed a Division I-FCS-best 1,668 rushing yards last season. Strong will join a Patriots backfield that features Damien Harris, who is going into a contract year, and Rhamondre Stevenson.

WR Julian Edelman Teases NFL Return: “You Never Know”

June 16th, 2022 at 7:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Julian Edelman may be retired, but during an appearance in Croatia this weekend, the wideout hinted that he’d consider an NFL return. When asked if Edelman would head to Tampa Bay to reunite with Tom Brady, the receiver instead pointed to a reunion with his former team.

[RELATED: Buccaneers Confident They Will Re-Sign Rob Gronkowski]

“I don’t know, we’ll see,” Edelman said (via Jenna Lemoncelli of the NY Post). “That’s called a little teaser. We’ll see. We’re staying in shape but you never know. But I’d probably go back to the Patriots. I love the Patriots. Foxborough Forever.”

Edelman’s knee limited him to only six games during the 2020 season. Last offseason, the Patriots released Edelman with a failed-physical designation, and the receiver later announced his retirement. Despite the decision to hang up his cleats, whispers of a move to Tampa Bay continued to persist. Edelman has continually hushed the rumors, but former teammate (and current free agent) Rob Gronkowski recently fueled the fire when he said he’d definitely return to the Buccaneers next season if he was joined by the veteran wideout.

Brady would surely welcome back his former wideout, and while organizations tend to favor younger players to round out their roster, Edelman could probably show enough to slide in toward the back of the Buccaneers depth chart. On the flip side, even when considering Bill Belichick’s affection for Edelman, it seems unlikely that he’d want to sign a WR in his late 30s.

Edelman’s last healthy season came in 2019, when he hauled in 100 receptions for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. The former seventh-round pick finished his career with three rings and a Super Bowl MVP.

Patriots To Sign WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey

June 15th, 2022 at 2:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Patriots lack a traditional No. 1-type wide receiver, the team has a host of notable options vying for spots. New England added another one Wednesday, agreeing to terms with former New Orleans contributor Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Ian Rapoport of NFLcom tweets.

Humphrey is joining the Pats on a one-year deal, adding an additional depth piece. Although it will not be automatic the fourth-year veteran makes the team’s 53-man roster, Humphrey is coming off a season that featured his first extended usage on offense.

A seldom-used backup over his first two seasons, the former Texas Longhorn played a role for the Saints on offense. New Orleans’ Michael Thomas-less season — a year in which the team started four quarterbacks — led to a host of wideouts seeing time. Humphrey averaged 19.2 yards per catch (13/249) and scored twice last season. His final Texas season produced an 86-catch, 1,176-yard, nine-touchdown stat line. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound wideout left school after that junior year.

Despite coming into the league as a UDFA three years ago, Humphrey is only going into his age-24 season. He will join a Pats receiving corps that houses holdovers Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers and Nelson Agholor. New England traded for DeVante Parker and drafted Tyquan Thornton in the second round. Perennial trade candidate N’Keal Harry remains rostered, too, and the Pats also added ex-Humphrey Saints teammate Ty Montgomery this offseason.

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