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Patriots Sign 8 UDFAs

May 9th, 2022 at 4:02pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots became the latest team to announce their undrafted free agent class. Here are the eight UDFAs Bill Belichick‘s squad is bringing in:

New England focused on just a few positions with its class, but the team has a more complex role planned for King, who delivered a couple of standout seasons while at Houston and Miami. A dual-threat quarterback who stands just 5-foot-9, King accounted for a whopping 50 touchdowns in 2018 with the Cougars; he threw 36 TD passes (compared to just six INTs) and added 14 on the ground in a 674-yard rushing season.

King, who also caught 58 passes as a Houston underclassman before moving to quarterback full-time, chose the Patriots due to their interest in deploying him in myriad ways. Any Julian Edelman comparisons are obviously unfair, but the Pats’ successful QB-to-WR convert only caught one pass during his time college. King is coming off an injury-truncated season, playing in just three games.

“I talked to [Patriots player personnel director] Matt Groh, and he was excited. I’m thankful for the opportunity. He told me I’ll do a little bit of everything — receiver, quarterback, running back — whatever I can do to stick,” King said, via ProFootballNetwork.com’s Aaron Wilson, who adds the Bills, Cowboys and Seahawks showed interest as well.

Russey, who transferred to Houston last year after five seasons at Louisiana Tech, will receive a nice chunk of his rookie salary guaranteed. The Pats are guaranteeing the UDFA O-lineman $210K, Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed tweets. Russey was a rare 60-start college footballer; he lined up at center for the Cougars last season. The other center in this eight-man contingent, Shanahan became a two-year LSU starter after transferring from Harvard. These two snappers join longtime starter David Andrews and veteran backup James Ferentz in New England.

One of George Karlaftis‘ edge-rushing partners at Purdue, Mitchell will receive $75K guaranteed, Kyed adds (on Twitter). Mitchell recorded 4.5 sacks with the Boilermakers last season. Schooler yo-yoed between wide receiver and safety while at Oregon and Texas, while Julien was one of many in the 2022 UDFA class to use his COVID-19 extra year of eligibility. He punted in 54 games at Eastern Michigan and was a recent Canadian Football League draftee. Julien joins Jake Bailey as Patriot punters.

NFL Front Office Notes: Ventrelle, Raiders, Patriots, Giants, Bears

May 7th, 2022 at 11:02pm CST by Ely Allen

Headlines were made yesterday when the Raiders released a statement from owner Mark Davis that team president Dan Ventrelle was “no longer with the Raiders organization.” Ventrelle had been promoted from executive vice president and interim president, after the resignation of Marc Badain, following the conclusion of the 2021 NFL season.

In an article from The Athletic, we learned that Ventrelle alleged he had been fired in retaliation for telling the NFL about concerns over a hostile workplace environment. Ventrelle’s statement was as follows:

“I have committed almost 18 years of my life to the success of the Raiders as General Counsel and President. I take that responsibility very seriously, which is why multiple written complaints from employees that (Davis) created a hostile work environment and engaged in other potential misconduct caused me grave concern.

“When Mark was confronted about these issues, he was dismissive and did not demonstrate the warranted level of concern. Given this, I informed the NFL of these issues of Mark’s unacceptable response. Soon thereafter, I was fired in retaliation for raising these concerns.”

Here are a few more notes from around the NFL, starting with another note from Sin City:

  • Despite the loss of the team president, Las Vegas has been busy filling out their front office staff. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer tweeted out that Las Vegas was working towards bringing in Patriots national scout Brandon Yeargan to replace Jim Abrams as the team’s new college scouting director. Also, Pete Thamel of ESPN reported the addition of Dolphins college scout Lenny McGill to serve as the new Raiders west coast national scout. Yeargan follows new Raiders general manager Dave Ziegler and new head coach Josh McDaniels from New England after making the leap to the NFL back in 2013. McGill has spent 21 years scouting in the NFL for the Packers, Broncos, and Dolphins. He’ll add the Raiders to his list.
  • The Patriots are looking to restock their losses with the addition of Buccaneers area scout Tony Kinkela, according to Neil Stratton of Inside the League. Kinkela made the move to the NFL after working with Tulane and Washington State at the college level. He’s spent 13 years in Tampa Bay’s front office, earning a Super Bowl ring during his tenure. Kinkela will be headed towards a more senior role in New England.
  • New Giants general manager Joe Schoen is changing things up in an effort to make the front office his own, according to tweets from Jordan Raanan of ESPN and Dan Duggan of The Athletic, with credit to Stratton from above. Following the 2022 NFL Draft, the Giants have announced that four high level staff members will not be returning: director of college scouting Chris Pettit, senior personnel executive Kyle O’Brien, senior pro scouting executive Ken Sternfeld, and senior pro scout/football systems analyst Matt Schauger. Pettit, Sternfeld, and Schauger are all long-time New York employees. Pettit has been with the team since 2004, Sternfeld since 2002, and Schauger since 2005. O’Brien had joined the team for the 2021 season. One move, first reported by Stratton, that will address the departures is the addition of Bears area scout Scott Hamel, who is expected to play a role similar to what O’Brien had held, according to Art Stapleton of USA Today.
  • New Bears general manager Ryan Poles is making adjustments to his staff, as well. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, director of college scouting Mark Sadowski will not return. Sadowski has been with the Bears since 2005. Not everyone from the existing staff will be headed out, though, as former-director of pro scouting Jeff King has been promoted to co-director of player personnel, a role he’ll share with Trey Koziol. King started with the Bears as a scouting intern in 2015, rising quickly through the ranks in the past seven years. He was instrumental in many of the Bears’ 13 unrestricted free agents signings from other teams this offseason. Koziol broke into the NFL as an intern with the Titans in 2008. He spent the last nine years in Kansas City, starting as an area scout before working up to assistant director of college scouting this past season. It’s a smart move from Poles to have two co-directors of player personnel: one, King, specialized in pro scouting and one, Koziol, specialized in college scouting.

AFC East Rumors: Bills, Becton, Jets, White

May 7th, 2022 at 8:21pm CST by Ely Allen

In the research that led to the Bills’ new stadium deal in Buffalo, the team acknowledged that they looked at many cities that are “oft-mentioned in NFL circles,” according to Tim O’Shei of The Buffalo News.

The Bills organization didn’t specify which cities they researched, but O’Shei’s report lists those often-discussed cities as Orlando, San Diego, San Antonio, Austin, St. Louis, Portland, Salt Lake City, Birmingham, and Louisville. International markets, such as Toronto or London, have also recently entered discussions.

Here are a few other rumors from around the AFC East, starting with a couple notes from Jersey:

  • In a post-Draft analysis of the Jets, ESPN’s Rich Cimini discussed the situation surrounding Jets tackle Mekhi Becton. Rumors before the draft were hinting that New York would use one of their two top-ten draft picks to add a tackle to assist them in moving on from Becton, but the Jets instead addressed the cornerback and receiver rooms. Head coach Robert Saleh initially claimed Becton would compete with George Fant for the blindside job, but hinted more recently that Becton may move to the right side of the line. Unfortunately for the Jets, they won’t have an opportunity to see how he fits over there until he reports, as Becton has decided to skip the team’s voluntary workouts. Cimini makes a great point that, since their insurance policy of Morgan Moses departed to Baltimore in free agency, it is crucial that Becton sees success at right tackle.
  • Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated also wrote an analysis of the NFL Draft with a section focusing on the Jets’ historic first round. Breer mentions how, after the Jets were able to land Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner and Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson in the top-ten, Saleh encouraged general manager Joe Douglas to go after Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson II should he start to slide down the board. New York turned up the heat after the Eagles moved ahead of the Ravens and Johnson continued to fall, making phone calls to the Texans (at 15), the Commanders (at 16), and the Chargers (at 17). After talking to the Titans, who had moved up to 18 with the A.J. Brown-trade, Douglas knew Tennessee was going to select a wide receiver to fill their new A.J. Brown-shaped hole, but a discussion was made about a potential swap for the Titans’ other first-round pick at 26. Douglas had only one line in the sand: the Jets owned two early second-round picks, and he wanted to keep at least one of them, to eventually draft Iowa State running back Breece Hall. Johnson fell right into their laps at 26, and the Jets had their three Day 1-selections.
  • Unfortunately for the Patriots, Becton won’t be the only AFC East player missing voluntary workouts this month as veteran running back James White is still recovering from the hip injury that ended his 2022 season in a Week 3 loss to the Saints, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. White was quoted at the team’s draft party, saying, “I still have a little while to go (after) a pretty rough injury.” Reiss points out that this is a golden opportunity for running back J.J. Taylor to show he has what it takes to take over White’s role.

Patriots Waive LB Terez Hall

May 5th, 2022 at 8:43pm CST by Ben Levine

Terez Hall earned his walking papers today. The Patriots announced that they have waived the linebacker with a failed physical.

Hall joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri in 2019. After spending his entire rookie season on New England’s practice squad, he ended up having a somewhat regular role for the team in 2020. Hall ultimately got into eight games (four starts) that season, finishing with 50 tackles.

The linebacker spent the 2021 campaign on the reserve/physically unable to perform list thanks to offseason ankle surgery. It’s uncertain if today’s failed physical had anything to do with that injury.

With Hall out of the picture, the Patriots are still rostering seven inside linebackers: Ja’Whaun Bentley, Raekwon McMillan, Cameron McGrone, Mack Wilson, Anfernee Jennings, Jahlani Tavai, and Harvey Langi.

2023 NFL Fifth-Year Option Results

May 3rd, 2022 at 9:17am CST by Zachary Links

Monday marked the deadline for NFL clubs to officially pick up their options on 2019 first-rounders. Fifth-year option seasons are no longer just guaranteed for injury — they’re now fully guaranteed, which makes these decisions a little tougher for teams.

Nineteen players had their options exercised, a tick up from 14 last year. Here’s the full rundown:

1. QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals – Exercised ($29.7MM)
2. DE Nick Bosa, 49ers: Exercised ($17.9MM)
3. DE Quinnen Williams, Jets: Exercised ($11.5MM)
4. DE Clelin Ferrell, Raiders: Declined ($11.5MM)
5. LB Devin White, Buccaneers: Exercised ($11.7MM)
6. QB Daniel Jones, Giants: Declined ($22.4MM)
7. DE Josh Allen, Jaguars: Exercised ($11.5MM)
8. TE T.J. Hockenson, Lions: Exercised ($9.4MM)
9. DT Ed Oliver, Bills: Exercised ($10.8MM)
10. LB Devin Bush, Steelers: Declined ($10.9MM)
11. OT Jonah Williams, Bengals: Exercised ($12.6MM)
12. LB Rashan Gary, Packers: Exercised ($10.9MM)
13. DT Christian Wilkins, Dolphins: Exercised ($10.8MM)
14. G Chris Lindstrom, Falcons: Exercised ($13.2MM)
15. QB Dwayne Haskins:
16. DE Brian Burns, Panthers: Exercised ($16MM)
17. DT Dexter Lawrence, Giants: Exercised ($10.8MM)
18. C Garrett Bradbury, Vikings: Declined ($13.2MM)
19. DT Jeffery Simmons, Titans: Exercised ($10.8MM)
20. TE Noah Fant, Seahawks: Exercised ($6.9MM; originally drafted by Broncos)
21. S Darnell Savage, Packers: Exercised ($7.9MM)
22. OT Andre Dillard, Eagles: Declined ($12.6MM)
23. OT Tytus Howard, Texans: Exercised ($13.2MM)
24. RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders: Declined ($8MM)
25. WR Marquise Brown, Cardinals: ($13.4MM; originally drafted by Ravens)
26. DE Montez Sweat, Commanders: Exercised ($11.5MM)
27. S Johnathan Abram, Raiders: Declined ($7.9MM)
28. DE Jerry Tillery, Chargers: Declined ($11.5MM)
29. DE L.J. Collier, Seahawks: Declined ($11.5MM)
30. CB Deandre Baker — N/A (released by Giants)
31. OT Kaleb McGary, Falcons: Declined ($13.2MM)
32. WR N’Keal Harry, Patriots: Declined ($12.4MM)

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/2/22

May 2nd, 2022 at 9:13pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Jacksonville Jaguars

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Patriots Draft QB Bailey Zappe At No. 137

April 30th, 2022 at 12:48pm CST by Ben Levine

Despite using a first-round pick on a QB last year, the Patriots have used a 2021 fourth rounder on another. The Patriots have drafted Western Kentucky QB Bailey Zappe.

Zappe had a prolific 2021 season, setting single-season FBS records for most passing yards (5,967) and passing TD (62). The 23-year-old wasn’t considered to have the same upside as some of the QBs taken before him, but he was still a popular name in the workout circuit. The Panthers were among the teams that expressed interest in Zappe.

It’s a bit of a curious move for the Patriots, after Mac Jones earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie in 2021. Of course, Bill Belichick and co. weren’t afraid to use draft picks on QBs during Tom Brady‘s tenure in New England. During Brady’s time with the Patriots, the team used first- to fourth-round picks on six QBs (Rohan Davey, Kevin O’Connell, Ryan Mallett, Jimmy Garoppolo, Jacoby Brissett, and Jarrett Stidham). In other words, the Patriots will use an early(ish)-round draft pick on a high-quality backup. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets, one scout believes Zappe will be a “great backup forever.”

Jones will surely be the starter in 2022, but the rest of the depth chart will be interesting to watch. Zappe will compete with veteran Brian Hoyer for the number-two spot. The Patriots are also still rostering Stidham, a fourth-round pick in 2019.

Panthers Trade Back Into Third Round To Draft Matt Corral

April 29th, 2022 at 10:10pm CST by Ely Allen

Now the quarterback dominos are starting to fall. After seeing Desmond Ridder and Malik Willis finally get selected in the third round, the Panthers saw the writing on the wall and traded back into the third round to make their second selection of the 2022 NFL Draft: Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral. 

Corral spent his freshman season backing up current USFL quarterback Jordan Ta’amu and took a redshirt after only appearing in four games. He took over the next year as the Ole Miss starting quarterback and led the team to a 4-8 finish completing 59.0% of his passes for 1,362 yards and throwing 6 touchdowns to 3 interceptions as a redshirt-freshman. Corral developed over the next two years completing 69.5% of his passes for a combined 6,670 yards and throwing 49 touchdowns to 18 interceptions over his redshirt-sophomore and -junior seasons. The intrigue with Corral comes from what he adds on the ground. Over those final two seasons, Corral added 1,103 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing the ball.

What this means for the Panther-Baker Mayfield saga is yet to be seen, but it likely points to a stall in negotiations between the two parties.

The Panthers obtained the No. 94 pick used to draft Corral from the Patriots in exchange for their 137th (4th round) pick and a 2023 3rd round pick.

Patriots Trade Up To No. 50, Select WR Tyquan Thornton

April 29th, 2022 at 7:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

After one of the most curious picks in the first round last night, the Patriots have moved up to No. 50. With it, they are picking WR Tyquan Thornton. Kansas City, meanwhile, receives picks 54 and 158.

Thornton played four seasons at Baylor, with two productive seasons in 2019 and 2021. Overall, he posted a career total of 143 receptions, 2,242 yards and 19 touchdowns – including 10 last year.

At six-foot-three, he provides good size at the position. Despite that, it is his speed for which he is most well-known. Thornton ran 4.28 40-yard dash at the Combine, showcasing the vertical threat he figures to be at the NFL level. While their styles differ, the addition of Thornton could further point to former first-rounder N’Keal Harry being on his way out of New England.

For Kansas City, this selection marks yet another wideout off the board in the top 50 selections. The team opted not to add a receiver with their pair of first-rounders last night, leaving many to expect them to target one on Day 2. While they still could do so, their trade down has shortened the list of available options.

Chiefs Acquire No. 21 From Patriots, Select CB Trent McDuffie

April 28th, 2022 at 9:26pm CST by Ben Levine

If you can believe it, the Patriots are trading back. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Patriots are trading pick No. 21. The Chiefs are on the other side of the deal, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The Chiefs will use the selection on Washington corner Trent McDuffie.

Per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), the Patriots traded pick No. 21 to Kansas City for picks No. 29, No. 94, and No. 121.

Armed with 12 selections entering the draft, the Chiefs were among the teams exploring a trade up the draft board. Many assumed Kansas City would make a trade in pursuit of a wideout. Instead, the front office decided to improve their secondary, a unit that needed some help after the organization moved on from cornerback Tyrann Mathieu.

McDuffie obviously can’t replicate the production of the former All-Pro, but the rookie has plenty of upside. The Washington product had a productive 2021 campaign, finishing with 35 tackles and six passes defended. His performance earned him third-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 honors after the past year.

Bill Belichick and co. have always had an affinity for trading back, especially in the first round. With New England having plenty of holes to fill throughout their roster, it only makes sense that the organization would look to pick up some extra assets while still retaining a first-round pick.

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