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Patriots To Sign LB Raekwon McMillan

March 19th, 2021 at 1:25pm CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots aren’t done shopping. On Friday, Bill Belichick & Co. agreed to sign linebacker Raekwon McMillan to a one-year deal (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 

[RELATED: Patriots Bring Back David Andrews]

McMillan spent the early part of his career with the Dolphins before being shipped to the Raiders last August. He came off the bench in most games, finishing the year with 27 stops and one forced fumble.

The hard-hitting linebacker came into the league as a second-round pick in 2017. He flashed at times and even ranked as Miami’s best defensive player in 2019, according to Pro Football Focus. The Dolphins considered a long-term extension for him at one point but, ultimately, they were unwilling to commit. The timing wasn’t great either — talks petered out amidst the pandemic.

McMillan’s pass coverage is suspect, but he’s a solid run-blocker who should see time in the Patriots’ rotation. He’ll be joined by fellow new arrival Matt Judon in that group, along with scores of other fresh faces in the locker room.

Patriots, C David Andrews Finalizing Deal

March 18th, 2021 at 9:16pm CST by Ben Levine

David Andrews is returning to New England after all. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports (via Twitter) that the free agent center is finalizing a deal with the Patriots. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that it’s a four-year deal for the offensive lineman.

While the team captain is beloved in the locker room, it was uncertain if Andrews would end up returning to New England in 2021. We learned Tuesday night that Andrews’ camp was pivoting to other suitors’ offers after negotiating with the Patriots for much of the day. The veteran had made it clear that he wished to return to New England, and it sounded like Bill Belichick was willing to let Andrews test his market before re-signing. At one point, the Patriots didn’t expect to bring Andrews back, per Doug Kyed of NESN (on Twitter), explaining why the team added Ted Karras.

Andrews had at least one suitor outside of New England. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that the Dolphins were in on Andrews’ services, even after the team inked Matt Skura to a deal.

Andrews joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2015, and he started 57 of his 60 appearances through his first four seasons in the NFL. He ended up missing the entire 2019 campaign after getting diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, but he managed to return in time for the 2020 season. He missed a handful of games with a thumb injury, ultimately appearing in 72-percent of the Patriots’ offensive snaps in 12 games.

There’s going to be a bit of change on the Patriots offensive line next season, as the team traded for offensive tackle Trent Brown before watching starting lineman Joe Thuney sign with the Chiefs. Andrews will certainly be relied on to provide veteran leadership and guidance to the offensive line in 2021.

Patriots To Re-Sign K Nick Folk

March 18th, 2021 at 4:24pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Patriots have added plenty of free agents from outside the organization this week, but they’re also keeping some of their own guys. New England is re-signing kicker Nick Folk to a one-year deal, a source told Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

Yates reports that it comes with $1.225MM guaranteed. Meanwhile, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets that the deal has a $1.625MM base value, comes with a $125K signing bonus, and can be worth up to $2.5MM with incentives. After Stephen Gostkowski missed most of the 2019 season and was then released, the Pats have had a bit of an unstable kicking situation the past couple years.

They cycled through a few options, but now may have solved things with Folk. The former Cowboys and Jets kicker was out of the league for a little bit, and even spent some time with the Arizona Hotshots of the ill-fated AAF. He latched on for a handful of games with New England in 2019, then was signed again last August.

He ended up kicking in all 16 games last year, making 26 of 28 field goal attempts and 30 of 33 extra point attempts. Folk turned 36 in November.

Latest On Patriots, Stephon Gilmore

March 18th, 2021 at 4:09pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We heard a couple days ago that Stephon Gilmore might be back on the trade block, but don’t count on the Patriots cornerback going anywhere anytime soon.

The Patriots “are not actively shopping” Gilmore, Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes. He acknowledges that Gilmore “has come up in trade conversations over the past year,” but says “nothing has ever come close to materializing.” He added rather firmly “that’s remained the case of late. If Gilmore’s name has come up in any discussions, it hasn’t been a result of the Patriots trying to unload him.”

It sounds like other interested teams might be calling the Patriots, but not the other way around. The 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is entering the final season of his contract, which has led many to speculate New England could try to deal him now and cash in with draft picks if they don’t think they’ll be able to re-sign him.

But it shouldn’t be treated as a foregone conclusion that Bill Belichick won’t pay up to lock him up with another long-term deal. To the contrary, Howe thinks the fact that they aren’t actively shopping him might mean “there’s some level of belief the two sides can get something done.”

Needless to say given his recent accolades, Gilmore will be looking for a big payday when he hits the open market at the age of 31 next offseason. Despite playing in only 11 games, the former Bill made the Pro Bowl yet again this past year. New England does usually prefer to get rid of players too early rather than too late, so it certainly wouldn’t be surprising if they trade him before the start of the year or let him walk next March.

Patriots To Sign Montravius Adams

March 18th, 2021 at 3:09pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Patriots have been the big spenders of the first week of free agency, and they aren’t done yet. New England is signing defensive end Montravius Adams, his agent Drew Rosenhaus tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

It’s a one-year pact worth up to $2.5MM, Schefter reports. As he notes, it’s the fifth deal that Rosenhaus has done with the Pats this week. Adams comes to the Patriots from Green Bay, where he didn’t get much playing time but apparently flashed enough promise. A third-round pick out of Auburn in 2017, Adams appeared in only eight games this past year with no starts, making 11 tackles and no sacks.

He played 12.6 percent of the defensive snaps total, so about 25 percent in the eight games he played. He started two games in 2019 and one the year before. He has just 1.5 sacks in his career. It’s not as splashy as some of their other signings, but the defensive front was a weakness for the Patriots last year and Bill Belicihck is leaving no stone unturned in improving it. Adams is still only 25.

Patriots To Trade Ryan Izzo To Texans

March 18th, 2021 at 12:39pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Patriots upgraded their tight end room in a big way this offseason by signing both Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry, making one member of that room expendable. New England is trading away Ryan Izzo to the Texans, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Houston will send back a seventh-round pick for Izzo. The news comes just moments after we heard the Texans were releasing tight end Darren Fells. The position was a huge weak spot for the Patriots in 2020, as Izzo led the team’s tight ends in yards… with 199. The Pats originally drafted Izzo 250th overall back in 2018, and now they’re getting that seventh-rounder back.

Without Fells the Texans only had Jordan Akins, former practice squader Pharaoh Brown, and 2019 third-round pick Kahala Warring (three career catches) at the position, so the acquisition of Izzo can’t hurt.

A Florida State product, Izzo started all 12 games that he appeared in last season. He didn’t do a ton as the Patriots’ whole passing game struggled, but it’s a low-risk move for the Texans on a player that’s still only 25. Obviously there’s a connection between these front offices, with former New England exec Nick Caserio now running the show in Houston.

Patriots Cut Marqise Lee, Beau Allen

March 18th, 2021 at 9:52am CST by Zachary Links

The Patriots’ spending spree has pushed a handful of veterans out the door. Wide receiver Marqise Lee and defensive tackle Beau Allen have been released, as Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

[RELATED: Patriots’ Patrick Chung Retires]

Neither Allen nor Lee saw a regular season snap in New England. Lee signed with the Patriots in April on a one-year deal for the veteran minimum. The 29-year-old (30 in November) was expected to support a wide receiver group led by Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, and N’Keal Harry. Between the opt-out and injuries, he’s a long way removed from his best work in 2016-17, when he totaled 1,551 receiving yards for the Jaguars. Instead of bringing him back, the Patriots will release him to save less than $800K.

Allen, 29, was supposed to replace Danny Shelton after he went to Detroit. Unfortunately, an undisclosed injury kept him on the shelf all year.

Patriots’ Patrick Chung Retires

March 18th, 2021 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

Patrick Chung announced that he is retiring from the NFL (Instagram link). Chung opted out of the 2020 season but was said to be aiming for a 2021 return. 

The Patriots selected Chung in the second round of the 2009 draft, and he spent all but one year of his career with New England. In that time, he’s started in 112 regular season games and collected three Super Bowl rings. He was never been selected for a Pro Bowl, but was an important member of the Patriots’ D nonetheless.

In May of last year, the Patriots re-upped Chung on an extension that would allow him to earn up to $12.8MM over the next four seasons. In 2019, his last season on the field, Chung appeared in 13 games and registered 51 tackles, three passes defended, and one tackle for loss.

The Pats may go shopping for safety help, but they could also stand pat with their current group. Chung’s retirement leaves them with starters Devin McCourty and Adrian Phillips, plus support from rising NFL sophomore Kyle Dugger. New arrival Jalen Mills could also pitch in at safety after agreeing to a four-year, $24MM free agent deal, though he’s likely ticketed for more work at corner.

Patriots To Sign Kyle Van Noy

March 17th, 2021 at 8:28pm CST by Rory Parks

After one season with the division-rival Dolphins, Kyle Van Noy is heading back to Foxborough. The Patriots are signing the soon-to-be 30-year-old linebacker, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter). Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network says that it will be a two-year pact worth up to $13.2MM (Twitter link).

A second-round pick of the Lions in 2014, Van Noy saw very little playing time until he was traded to the Pats in 2016. From 2017-19, the BYU product served as a full-time starter for New England and became a well-respected leader in the team’s locker room.

In his walk year in 2019, Van Noy had 56 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles as an integral part of a Patriots defense that was putting up historic numbers for much of that season. He parlayed that success into a four-year, $51MM contract with the Dolphins one year and one day ago, but he did not make it to a second season in South Beach. After failing to find a trade partner — not surprising given that Van Noy was due a $12.75MM salary in 2021 — Miami cut him last week.

Pro Football Focus’ metrics considered Van Noy the 26th-best linebacker out of 83 qualifiers in 2020, and his highest score came in the pass rush category. While he has never posted double-digit sacks, he can make opposing QBs uncomfortable, and he is good enough against the run to be a solid three-down ‘backer. His locker room presence is an added benefit, and New England can deploy him in a variety of roles.

The Patriots, of course, have stolen headlines over the legal tampering period and into the first day of the new league year, putting their ample amount of cap space to work by acquiring high-profile talents on both sides of the ball. It can certainly be argued that the team overpaid for a couple of those players, but Bill Belichick & Co. are clearly taking their absence from the playoffs in 2020 as a personal affront. Van Noy, along with fellow new additions Matt Judon and Davon Godchaux, should be a big boost to the club’s front seven.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/17/21

March 17th, 2021 at 4:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s “minor” moves:

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

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