Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/18
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB James Crawford
New England Patriots
- Released from IR: T Nate Theaker
New York Giants
- Signed: S Mike Basile
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Gerald Holmes
- Waived: WR Marvin Bracy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DT Nathan Bazata
- Waived/Injured: CB David Rivers
Patriots Look Weak At LB
That executive went on to say that Bridgewater would especially make sense for a club with additional compensatory choices in the future. Such a team could afford to deal for the former Vikings QB, even if the cost was as high as a third-round pick. Speculatively, Sando wonders if the rival Patriots could have interest in Bridgewater since they are flush with comp picks in 2019 and could use a QB to groom as Tom Brady‘s eventual replacement.
- The Patriots have several questions of their own at linebacker, Doug Kyed of NESN.com writes. Right now, Kyed sees Dont’a Hightower, Brandon King, and Kyle Van Noy as the only true locks for the final cut. He also expects Ja’Whaun Bentley, Marquis Flowers, Nicholas Grigsby, Harvey Langi and Elandon Roberts to make the 53-man roster, but it wouldn’t be a shocker to see any of them left out. All in all, Kyed feels it’s a thin group, so one has to imagine the Patriots will explore signings or trades to bolster the unit.
Patriots Still Interested In Breeland
Bashaud Breeland auditioned for the Patriots this week, but it doesn’t sound like a deal will come together in the next 48 hours. The Patriots conveyed an intention to circle back to the free agent cornerback after the team’s first preseason game on Thursday night, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. 
With a relatively deep group at cornerback, the Patriots likely want to see how their reserves perform before committing to Breeland. The Pats are already rostering Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, Jason McCourty, second-round pick Duke Dawson, and Jonathan Jones, and there are still others to consider. At one point this summer, Maryland product J.C. Jackson was getting more reps in the starting defense than Rowe, so he could find a way to crack the 53-man roster. Similarly, seventh-round pick Keion Crossen and Ryan Lewis have looked sharp at times and Cyrus Jones‘ return ability may keep him in the conversation.
The Patriots have more than $8MM to work with, according to the NFLPA’s top-51 cap room report, so they have the flexibility to sign Breeland if they decide to follow through with a deal. However, Anderson notes that there are multiple teams interested in Breeland, including the Jets, so we could see a bidding war play out for one of the best free agents left.
Patriots Formally Release Jordan Matthews
Jordan Matthews is officially a free agent. The Patriots released the wide receiver from IR on Tuesday with an injury settlement, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Once Matthews is back to full health, he’ll be free to seek a new team. 
The severity of Matthews’ latest setback is unclear, so no one knows exactly when he’ll be able to audition for teams. It could be a matter of weeks or months before Matthews is able to consider offers.
Matthews is no stranger to the injury bug. He was limited to just ten games with the Bills last year and looked like a shell of his former self in those contests. He finished out with just 25 catches for 282 yards and one score in those games.
Before that down year with Buffalo, however, Matthews averaged 75 receptions for 891 yards and six touchdowns per season for the Eagles from 2014-16. Statistically, his best year came in 2015 when he had 85 grabs for 997 yards and eight touchdowns.
If the former second-round pick can get healthy, he could be an impact addition for another club this year. In the meantime, he’ll be alright financially thanks to the partial payout he received from the Patriots.
Patriots Work Out Bashaud Breeland
The Patriots are still considering additions to their secondary. With that in mind, they worked out free agent cornerback Bashaud Breeland on Tuesday (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
Breeland stands as one of the top defenders still on the market, and he’s garnered previous interest from the Jets, Raiders, Chiefs, Ravens, Browns and Colts. He thought he had a deal with the Panthers back in March, but his three-year deal was voided after he failed his physical. Now that he’s healthy, interest is picking up once again, though it seems unlikely that he’ll match the length of that would-be Carolina contract or the average annual value of $8MM.
To date, Breeland has spent his four-year career with the Redskins, missing only four regular season games during his tenure. The former fourth-rounder had another productive season in 2017, finishing with 50 tackles, 19 passes defended, and one pick-six. Last season, Pro Football Focus ranked Breeland as the No. 50 cornerback among 121 qualifiers, but teams appeared to view him as a borderline CB1 when free agency began.
The Patriots don’t necessarily need Breeland, but they would surely be happy to add him to the fold at the right price. For now, the Pats plan to draw from a cornerback group that includes Stephon Gilmore, Eric Rowe, Jason McCourty, second-round pick Duke Dawson, Jonathan Jones, and seventh-round pick Keion Crossen.
Malcolm Mitchell Released As Healthy Player
- When the Patriots released wideout Malcolm Mitchell earlier today, many assumed the former fourth-rounder was still battling a nagging knee injury. While that could be partly true, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the receiver was waived as a healthy player. This means Mitchell passed his final physical with the organization. After making six starts as a rookie in 2016, Mitchell sat out the entire 2017 campaign due to injury.
[SOURCE LINK]
Patriots To Release WR Malcolm Mitchell
The Patriots have released wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). The Pats put Mitchell on the trade block earlier this summer, but were unable to find any takers for him. 
Mitchell, a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft, appeared in 14 games and made six starts as a rookie, posting 32 receptions on 48 targets for 401 yards and four touchdowns. The 26-year-old was also extremely efficient during the Patriots’ Super Bowl comeback in 2017, putting up six catches for 70 yards as New England defeated Atlanta.
Unfortunately, injuries have held him back as of late. Mitchell missed all of the 2017 season and was unable to fully participate in practice this offseason after undergoing a minor procedure on his knee.
Even though Julian Edelman is suspended for the first four games of the 2018 campaign and Jordan Matthews is no longer in the picture, the Patriots still have a busy wide receiver depth chart, particular with options such as Chris Hogan, Cordarrelle Patterson, and the newly signed Eric Decker available. Kenny Britt, Phillip Dorsett, and rookie Braxton Berrios are also in the mix and each player brings something different to the table.
Pats Wanted Eric Decker In 2010
The Patriots signed veteran wideout Eric Decker to a one-year deal last week, but New England actually had its eyes on Decker as early as the 2010 draft, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com explains. Decker was “squarely in [the Patriots’] sights” at pick No. 90 in that draft, but the Minnesota product ended up going off the board three picks earlier to the Broncos, who at that time were lead by now-New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. After recording 54 receptions for 563 yards a season ago, Decker has effectively replaced Jordan Matthews as the Patriots’ slot receiver, at least until Julian Edelman returns from suspension. Decker received only $75K in guaranteed money, however, so he’s far from a roster lock in New England.
Eric Decker Contract Details
Although Eric Decker‘s one-year contract with the Patriots has a base value of $1.9MM, the veteran wideout received only $75K in guaranteed money, all in the form of signing bonus, tweets Field Yates of ESPN.com. Decker can earn $2.1MM in total by maxing out bonuses and incentives, but New England won’t have a financial reason not cut him at the end of camp. However, Decker could prove valuable on a Patriots’ depth chart that is not only down Julian Edelman (suspension) for four games, but just lost Jordan Matthews via release. Decker, 31, posted 54 receptions for 563 yards and one touchdown during his lone season with the Titans in 2017.
Eric Decker's Patriots Salary Emerges
- Eric Decker‘s one-year Patriots agreement comes in at just shy of $2MM. The former Broncos, Jets and Titans wideout signed for $1.9MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). He has a chance to earn up to $2.5MM, per Rapoport, via incentives tied to his reception count. Decker suited up in Patriots gear for the first time Saturday. Now 31, Decker is entering his ninth season.