Patriots Trade Jordan Richards To Falcons
The Patriots have traded safety Jordan Richards to the Falcons, according to Jim McBride of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). The Patriots will receive a conditional 2020 seventh-round pick from Atlanta in the trade, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
With the roster deadline coming on Saturday, Richards apparently was not going to make the cut. Although he was a second-round pick in 2015, the strong safety hasn’t done much to impress over three years with the Pats.
Last year, Richards appeared in all 16 games (five starts) and totaled 22 tackles plus one forced fumble. Pro Football Focus ranked Richards the No. 78 safety in the NFL last year out of 87 qualified players, so it’s not a total shock to see him jettisoned from New England.
Assuming Richards makes the 53-man cut in Atlanta, he’ll serve as a reserve behind starting strong safety Ricardo Allen. The Falcons will start former first-round pick Keanu Neal at free safety with Ron Parker serving as the top backup.
Patriots Rework TE Dwayne Allen’s Contract
Earlier today, the Patriots sweetened Rob Gronkowski‘s deal. Now, it sounds like one of his fellow tight ends will be taking a pay cut. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Dwayne Allen has agreed to a reworked contract. The veteran was set to make $4.5MM (with a $5MM cap hit), and that number will reduced. Specific terms haven’t been reported.
The Patriots acquired Allen (along with a sixth-rounder) from the Colts last offseason in exchange for a fourth-round pick. After compiling 406 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2016, the tight end’s stats took a hit during his first season in New England. While the 28-year-old did appear in 15 games (with eight starts), he finished the year with only 10 receptions for 86 yards and a score. He ended up topping those numbers in three postseason games, compiling 11 receptions for 90 yards and one touchdown.
Due to his underwhelming performance last season, Allen was rumored to be on the roster bubble as recently as last month. However, thanks to his new deal, the veteran will presumably be sticking around New England for at least another season. Assuming his spot on the roster is safe, tight ends Jacob Hollister, Will Tye, and rookie Ryan Izzo will now be competing for one of the Patriots’ final roster spots.
The Patriots’ reworked Gronkowski’s contract earlier today, giving him the ability to earn an extra $4.3MM this season. The maximum value of the Pro Bowl tight end’s contract is now $13.05MM.
Patriots Sweeten Rob Gronkowski’s Deal
The Patriots reworked tight end Rob Gronkowski’s contract, agent Drew Rosenhaus tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The revised contract will potentially give Gronk an additional $4.3MM this year via $1MM in per game bonuses and $3.3MM in incentives. All in all, the maximum value of Gronk’s 2018 season is now worth $13.05MM. 
The incentive structure gives Gronkowski an opportunity to earn $1.1MM for four different milestones, though he will be maxed out after achieving three of them. If Gronkowski achieves three of the following plateaus, he’ll realize the full value of his $3.3MM incentives package:
- 70 or more catches
- 80% playtime
- Nine or more receiving touchdowns
- 1,085 receiving yards
The revision is similar to the settlement reached last year between the Patriots and Gronkowski. It’s also reminiscent of the compromise the Patriots made earlier this offseason with Tom Brady.
Last year, Gronk’s deal was improved to give him a base salary of $5.25MM with opportunities to earn incentives at three different levels. With a First-Team All-Pro selection, Gronk maxed out his bonus package at $10.75MM.
Gronk was already in line for the highest cap number of any tight end in the league this year. The new pact puts even more distance between him and Redskins standout Jordan Reed ($10.143MM cap number).
In 2017, Gronk was on the field for 14 games, and managed 69 receptions, 1,084 yards, and eight touchdowns, all of which placed him within the top five among tight ends. When healthy, he is the most fearsome offensive weapon at his position and among the most dynamic talents in the game.
The new contract should keep Gronkowski satisfied for a little while. In 2019, when Gronk is entering the final year of his deal at a $12MM cap number, the Patriots may be forced to give him an extension that puts him closer to market value.
49ers Inquired About Tom Brady Trade
Before being given the green light on a seminal Jimmy Garoppolo trade, John Lynch discussed the Patriots’ other prominent quarterback with Bill Belichick. It was not a long conversation.
The then-first-year 49ers GM did not receive the answer he wanted regarding a Garoppolo deal when he spoke will Belichick early in the 2017 offseason, and he said he then asked if the Patriots would trade Tom Brady.
“Yeah, we were calling about Jimmy and we did have that conversation and got quickly rebuffed,” Lynch said of the Brady trade inquiry during an appearance on Barstool Sports’ Pardon My Take podcast (via the San Francisco Chronicle). “I figured what the heck, you gotta take your shot right? You can’t score if you don’t shoot, so I had to summon up the courage. Bill laughed at me and basically hung up on me. But hey, I took my shot.”
Kyle Shanahan was told at the 2017 Combine Garoppolo wasn’t available, but at the trade deadline, he received a phone call from Belichick and quickly agreed to send the Patriots a second-rounder for the player who is now entrenched as the 49ers’ quarterback of the future. Shanahan had Kirk Cousins on his radar prior to that move.
Brady enters his 19th season with the Patriots and is set to start Week 1 for a 17th straight season. This figures to be an amusing footnote associated with Lynch’s GM legacy.
Patriots Roster Projection
The Patriots are annually one of the toughest teams to gauge heading into September. They often make a few moves right before roster cut-downs, and this year is shaping up to be no different. With a slew of injuries, releases, and retirements to their receiving corps, a move for a veteran wide receiver is a definite possibility.
Whatever happens, it’s clear the Patriots will likely add some players who aren’t currently on the roster before Week 1, whether by trade or free agent signing. With that in mind, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe took a stab at projecting the Patriots‘ roster, and had a few interesting predictions.
- In case you missed it, the Patriots signed guard Shaq Mason to a huge five-year extension worth up to $50MM.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/27/18
NFL teams are making roster moves in advance of Saturday’s 53-man deadline. We’ll keep track of the minor moves here:
Detroit Lions
- Released: CB Josh Okonye
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Brandon Chubb
- Waived: RB Tion Green
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: C Jacob Judd
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: CB Jarell Carter
New England Patriots
- Signed RB Kenneth Farrow, WR K.J. Maye, RB Khalfani Muhammad
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Ironhead Gallon
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Lenard Tillery
Patriots Sign G Shaq Mason To Extension
The Patriots and guard Shaq Mason have agreed to a massive new deal, according to Mike Garafolo and Herbie Teope of NFL.com (on Twitter). The new five-year contract includes $23.5MM guaranteed and can be worth up to $50MM in total. 
Mason, who will earn close to $30MM over the first three years of new deal, has greatly outperformed his status as a former fourth-round pick. In terms of new money, he’s now in the top ten for guards in the NFL.
At a rate of $10MM per year, Mason matches David DeCastro of the Steelers and Kyle Long of the Bears in terms of average annual value. That’s good for fifth amongst right guards, behind Zack Martin, Kevin Zeitler, Trai Turner, and Gabe Jackson.
Mason is one of the better guards in the game today and also has age on his side. The 2015 fourth-round pick turns 25 on Tuesday and should have plenty of quality football ahead of him.
Last year, Mason graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 ranked guard in the NFL. While the Pats have cast aside other notables such as Chandler Jones, Jamie Collins, Dion Lewis, and Malcolm Butler, they felt that Mason was worth the major expenditure.
Opinion: Patriots Won't Pursue Dez
- ESPN’s Mike Reiss can’t envision the Patriots adding wideout Dez Bryant. While the team could certainly use some reinforcement at the position (especially following Eric Decker‘s decision to retire), the writer question whether Bryant would be able to fit into the culture or system. If the team did want to add another wideout to their roster, Reiss believes that free agent (and former Patriot) Brandon LaFell would be a more logical target. Even in that case, the writer can’t see the team making a move unless there’s an injury at the position.
[SOURCE LINK]
Patriots Release S Eddie Pleasant
The Patriots are letting go of another veteran, but this time it’s on the defensive side of the ball. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the team will be releasing veteran safety Eddie Pleasant.
The 29-year-old joined the Patriots earlier this offseason after having spent his entire six-year career with the Texans. The former undrafted free agent out of Oregon developed into a reliable special teamer and backup safety during his tenure in Houston, compiling 79 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, and 17 passes defended in 78 career games. He ultimately appeared in 76 of 80 possible regular season games since his sophomore season.
In New England, Pleasant was expected to be reliable veteran on special teams, and he was even serving as a second-team safety during the early parts of camp. However, the veteran was signed late in the offseason, leaving him little time to learn the playbook. The defensive back ended up playing sparingly during the team’s first three postseason games, compiling only four tackles (all of which came during the team’s opener).
With Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon, and key special-teamer Nate Ebner presumably locked into the roster, the Patriots will now turn to the other safeties for one of their final roster spots. That grouping includes Jordan Richards, Brandon King, and Damarius Travis.
Patriots WR Eric Decker To Retire
Patriots wide receiver Eric Decker today announced his intention to retire from the NFL, according to a post from his Instagram account.
“It has been my childhood dream and my passion to play the game of football,” reads Decker’s statement, in part. “I was very fortunate and blessed to have had the opportunity to have those dreams fulfilled and to have played with such extremely talented and hard-working teammates, coaches and staff. This has been a passion inside of me since I was a little boy but I know now this is time to hang my helmet up and start a new chapter in my life.”
Decker, 31, inked a one-year, $1.5MM deal with New England earlier this month, but he’d been facing an uphill battle to earn a spot on the Patriots’ 53-man roster. New England, which released fellow pass-catcher Kenny Britt earlier this week, is now down to Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, among others, as it waits for Julian Edelman to return from a four-game suspension.
A third-round pick in 2010, Decker became a starting receiver for the Broncos in 2011, but his career took off the following season when Denver added Peyton Manning under center. Decker averaged 86 receptions, 1,176 yards, and 12 touchdowns per year with Manning, and subsequently inked a five-year, $36.25MM pact with the Jets.
Decker was excellent through two seasons in New York, but injuries limited him to three games in 2016 and led to his release. A one-year accord with the Titans followed, and Decker posted 54 catches, 563 yards, and one score in what will become his final NFL action.
Interestingly, Decker’s name had recently appeared in trade talks, tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Decker had reportedly been struggling with the Patriots, so it’s unclear what kind of market may have existed for the veteran receiver.