Patriots Inquired On Packers’ Randall Cobb
There’s reason to believe the Patriots could target a quality wide receiver via trade. At some point last year, the Patriots inquired on Packers pass catcher Randall Cobb, according to Jay Glazer of The Athletic. 
The Packers started receiving Cobb inquiries late last offseason, but wound up hanging on to the veteran. In the spring of 2018, Cobb’s roster spot was in jeopardy, but the club opted to cut fellow wide receiver Jordy Nelson instead, saving them $10.2MM against the cap. Cobb’s contract, and his $12.72MM cap hit, remained on the books for 2018. This year, Cobb is a free agent after an injury-plagued season resulted in just 38 catches for 383 yards and two touchdowns.
The Patriots, in theory, could revisit the idea of adding Cobb on a low-cost one-year deal. News of their past Cobb interest may also indicate their willingness to part with some draft capital and open up the checkbook for an impact wide receiver.
Last summer, the Patriots decided against pursuing Odell Beckham Jr. as a replacement for Brandin Cooks, but one has to wonder whether they’d consider such a move now that OBJ is – somehow – involved in trade rumors after signing a mammoth extension. Other top flight WRs could be on the Pats’ radar, especially since this year’s rookie wide receiver class is a bit underwhelming.
Patriots' Trey Flowers Has Surgery
- Patriots defensive end Trey Flowers, who projects as one of the top free agents in the NFL, is rehabbing from a recent shoulder surgery that is not considered serious, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The surgery is more of a clean-up than a serious procedure, so it shouldn’t hamper Flowers’ market. Last year, Flowers set a new career high with 7.5 sacks and consistently disrupted opposing quarterbacks.
Patriots Won’t Tag Trey Flowers, Trent Brown
The Patriots are not expected to apply the franchise tag to any of their notable free agents, as Field Yates of ESPN.com and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweet. This means that defensive end Trey Flowers and offensive tackle Trent Brown are on target to reach free agency in a week. As previously reported, kicker Stephen Gostkowski won’t be receiving the tag either. 
Flowers won’t turn 26 until August and profiles as one of the most attractive free agents in this year’s crop. Last year, he set a new career high with 7.5 sacks and continued to generate pressure against opposing QBs. Last year, Flowers graded out as the sixth-best edge rusher in the entire NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, and posted a career-best 88.7 overall score. That mark put him below only Calais Campbell, Khalil Mack, J.J. Watt, Von Miller, and Cameron Jordan.
If Flowers does not re-sign with New England, the rival Jets could be among Flowers’ top suitors. The Jets have the second-highest cap room total of any team in the league and are in desperate need of pass rushers.
Brown, meanwhile, has been vocal about his desire to remain with the Pats. However, the Patriots tend to be thrifty when it comes to bidding against other teams and tackles of Brown’s caliber figure to see major dollar signs this offseason. On Tuesday, Bucs tackle Donovan Smith re-upped on a three-year, $41.25MM deal that surely has Brown’s camp salivating.
Patriots Unlikely To Tag Stephen Gostkowski
The Patriots haven’t ruled out using the franchise tag before Tuesday’s deadline, but it won’t be for kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter) hears. Gostkowski, who has been with the Patriots since 2006, is scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency next Thursday. 
The Pats used the franchise tag on Gostkowski in 2015 before signing him to a four-year deal. This time around, Gostkowski may get a chance to shop his reliable leg to other teams, but the Patriots still want to retain him.
Last year, Gostkowski connected on 84.4% on his field goal tries and 98% of his extra point attempts. Because he won’t be tagged, the Patriots may consider the tag for defensive end Trey Flowers or left tackle Trent Brown. Gostkowski’s tag would have cost New England a little less than $5MM, but tags for Brown (~$14MM) or Flowers (~$17.1MM) would be far more costly.
The Patriots have other key free agents set to hit the open market on Thursday including wide receivers Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, and Cordarrelle Patterson, cornerbacks Jason McCourty and Jonathan Jones, and punter Ryan Allen.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/4/19
Today’s minor moves from a very busy day across the league:
New England Patriots
- Released: WR Darren Andrews
New York Giants:
- Re-signed: QB Alex Tanney
Patriots To Release TE Dwayne Allen
The Patriots are moving on from Dwayne Allen. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the organization has informed the veteran tight end that they’ll be releasing him.
Schefter notes that the team would be open to bringing Allen back for less money. The tight end was entering the final year of his contract in 2019 and was set to earn a $6.4MM base salary. The team will free up about $7.3MM in cap with the move, boosting their cap space total to around $25MM.
The 2012 third-round pick spent the first six seasons of his career with the Colts before being dealt to the Patriots in 2017. After having compiled at least 350 receiving yards in three of his five healthy seasons, Allen didn’t play as much of a role in the offense during his two seasons in New England.
In 29 games (16 starts), Allen only hauled in 13 receptions for 113 yards and one score. Allen also appeared in each of the Patriots’ six playoff games during that span, but he didn’t record a reception. While Allen has earned some recent praise for his blocking prowess, Pro Football Focus still ranked him 65th among 70 eligible tight ends in 2018.
Considering the uncertainty surrounding Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots could be seeking some reinforcement at tight end this offseason. The team is rostering some intriguing options in Stephen Anderson, Jacob Hollister, and Ryan Izzo, but none of the trio have the same amount of experience as Allen or Gronk.
Patriots’ Hightower Won’t Take Pay Cut
Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower is unwilling to accept a pay cut this offseason, according to Doug Kyed of NESN.com. The Pats have yet to approach Hightower about a pay reduction, however, so it may be a moot point. 
It has been speculation that Hightower could be a cap casualty due to his nearly $11MM cap hit and $7MM salary for the upcoming season. If released, Hightower knows that he would find a ripe market for his services with teams like the Lions and Dolphins in need of a middle linebacker. The Pats, meanwhile, would save $5.945MM and carry a dead money hit charge of $5MM.
Hightower, 29 in March, was healthy in 2018, which was a step up from his five-game campaign in 2017. However, his 48 tackles were the lowest total of any full season in his career. The advanced metrics were down on him, too. He graded out as just the No. 51 ranked linebacker in the NFL with a career-worst 63.7 mark. Along with the 48 tackles, Hightower had three tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, an interception, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.
Hightower re-upped with the Patriots in 2017 on a four-year pact worth $35.5MM. He reportedly had a five-year deal worth $62.5MM on the table from the Jets, but opted to stay at home instead.
Chris Hogan Drawing Interest
Big changes have occurred in Miami, and more are coming. The Dolphins are expected to shed the contracts of Ryan Tannehill, Robert Quinn, Andre Branch and Josh Sitton (and perhaps more notable names). But the rebuilding team may look to add an impact player familiar with Brian Flores‘ philosophies. The buzz in Indianapolis has led DraftAnalyst.com’s Tony Pauline to call the Dolphins the favorites for Trey Flowers, a prospective UFA who helped the Patriots reach the past three Super Bowls. New England’s top pass rusher may stand to benefit from the likely franchise tags the Cowboys, Texans, Seahawks and Chiefs apply to DeMarcus Lawrence, Jadeveon Clowney, Frank Clark and Dee Ford. This marketplace could place Flowers in position to push for a near-$20MM-AAV deal, despite sack numbers that don’t correspond with such a pact. However, the Patriots will make a strong attempt to retain their top edge defender. It may take an atypical Patriots contract to keep him, though.
- Chris Hogan did not produce for the Patriots the way he did during the 2017 and ’18 seasons, but he is drawing interest as free agency nears, Doug Kyed of NESN.com notes. The 30-year-old wideout struggled in the playoffs, at least compared to his strong performances at key moments for the previous two Patriot teams he was on, but posted 532 regular-season receiving yards, despite Josh Gordon diminishing his role. And this is not a particularly loaded wideout free agent class. Teams might be eyeing Hogan as a second-tier option come March.
- Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones hired a new agent, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss (Twitter link). He is a restricted free agent, one whom Kyed opines may need to be given a second-round tender.
Patriots’ Robert Kraft Pleads Not Guilty
Patriots owner Robert Kraft pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges of soliciting prostitution, as John R. Ellement of The Boston Globe writes. Kraft, of course, was charged last week in a connection with a human trafficking sting in Florida. 
[RELATED: Kraft Court Date Set For April 24]
Authorities say they have captured Kraft on film inside of the “spa,” so it may be tricky for Kraft to mount a proper defense if things wind up in court. The non guilty plea may also prolong the legal process, but Kraft is apparently set on clearing his name.
Per NFL policy, Kraft may be subject to league discipline, depending on how things play out from here. For example, Colts owner Jim Irsay received a six-game suspension and a $500K fine in 2014 after he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated.
“Our personal conduct policy applies equally to everyone in the NFL,” said the league in a statement last week. “We will handle this allegation in the same way we would handle any issue under the policy. We are seeking a full understanding of the facts, while ensuring that we do not interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation. We will take appropriate action as warranted based on the facts.”
Latest On Robert Kraft
More details emerged Monday regarding Patriots owner Robert Kraft‘s charges of solicitation. Two misdemeanor charges came Kraft’s way, according to ESPN, which adds that video evidence collected against the longtime owner came from the weekend of this year’s AFC championship game.
Documents released by the Palm Beach Attorney’s Office indicate Kraft visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa twice in a 24-hour span, and on Jan. 20 was videotaped receiving “oral and manual sex” from a woman at the Jupiter, Fla., Spa. According to officials, Kraft gave the woman a $100 bill and another bill before leaving. He flew to Kansas City shortly after this alleged act, being in attendance for the Patriots-Chiefs game later that day.
Video surveillance captured Kraft soliciting prostitution at the spa on Saturday, Jan. 19, as well, Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg said Monday. Kraft is one of several men implicated in this sting, which lasted approximately eight months.
Kraft will have a “low level” arrest warrant issued in his name and an April 24 court date, though he will not need to make a court appearance, ESPN reports. The Patriots owner has hired an attorney to represent him in this process. If convicted, Kraft would face one year in jail, a fine of $5,000, 100 community service hours and attendance in a human trafficking dangers class. Kraft, 77, is not expected to serve any jail time. His lawyers deny any wrongdoing on the part of their client.
“We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further.”
As for an NFL suspension, that seems likely. The league released another statement on Monday that indicates its personal conduct policy applies equally to NFL personnel.
“Our personal conduct policy applies equally to everyone in the NFL. We will handle this allegation in the same way we would handle any issue under the policy. We are seeking a full understanding of the facts, while ensuring that we do not interfere with an ongoing law enforcement investigation. We will take appropriate action as warranted based on the facts.”
For a indication of how the NFL might proceed, Colts owner Jim Irsay received a six-game suspension and a $500K fine in 2014, when he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated.