Patriots Release TE Michael Williams
The Patriots announced that they have released tight end Michael Williams. Williams missed all of last season with a torn ACL. 
[RELATED: Patriots, David Andrews Agree To Extension]
Before his lost season, Williams saw time in 15 games for the Pats as a blocking tight end. He also had three catches for 26 yards in those games and started nine contests in that campaign.
Williams first entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Lions. At one point, the Lions planned to use him as an offensive lineman, but he reverted back to his old position when he was traded to New England. We don’t know where he’ll wind up next, but we presume that he’ll be at TE.
In other Patriots news, the team applied a little-used tender to keep LeGarrette Blount under some degree of team control. Before that measure, at least two teams were giving real thought to signing the running back.
Patriots, David Andrews Agree To Extension
The Patriots and center David Andrews have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with the team through the 2020 season, tweets Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Michael Giardi of CSNNE first reported (on Twitter) that an extension was on the way for Andrews, who had been slated to become a restricted free agent next offseason. The three-year extension will be worth up to $11MM with a base value of $9MM, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, Giardi, and Reiss (Twitter link).
The 24-year-old Andrews is one of seemingly countless under-the-radar pickups that have worked out well for the Bill Belichick-led Patriots, who signed the ex-Georgia Bulldog as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Andrews ousted Bryan Stork to become the Patriots’ primary option at center as a rookie, starting 11 of 14 games, and then served as the Super Bowl champions’ No. 1 for all of last season. Appearing in each of the Patriots’ 16 regular-season games, Andrews earned solid marks from Pro Football Focus, which ranked his performance 22nd among 38 qualified centers.
Thanks in part to Andrews’ extension, 80 percent of New England’s starting offensive line is under contract for at least the next two seasons. The lone exception is left tackle Nate Solder, who’s scheduled to become a free agent next March.
LeGarrette Blount Had Been Nearing Deal
Had the Patriots not assigned a May 9 tender to LeGarrette Blount, the veteran running back may landed a new deal by now, as at least two clubs were “poised” to work a contract with Blount, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Top 8 Fits For LeGarrette Blount]
While it’s not clear exactly which teams were willing to offer Blount a pact, it’s fair to wonder if the Lions and Giants were involved. Thus far, Detroit and New York are the only two clubs known to have serious interest in Blount, as Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports recently reported that both teams were “in play” for Blount.
The Patriots’ decision to tender Blount complicates matters, but only slightly. Blount can still negotiate with other clubs but will now count against the 2018 compensatory formula. However, the last compensatory pick is currently tied to a $2.05MM annual salary, so the club that inks Blount would only sacrifice a 2018 comp selection if Blount earns more than that total.
The Lions don’t have to consider any possible compensatory pick forfeiture, as they aren’t projected to earn any comp selections in 2018. The Giants, meanwhile, are currently entitled to a 2018 fourth-rounder as a result of losing defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins. But, as Nick Korte of Over the Cap writes, Big Blue could take measures to sign Blount and ensure they retain a compensatory pick.
If Blount doesn’t sign by July 22, the Patriots will own exclusive negotiating rights through Week 10 of the regular season. If Blount doesn’t sign his tender (or agree to another deal) with New England before then, he’ll be forced to sit out the entire 2017 campaign.
Patriots Apply Tender To LeGarrette Blount
The Patriots have applied a May 9 tender to running back LeGarrette Blount, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. The tender is worth 110% of his total pay in 2016, which means that it is a one-year deal with a $1.1MM base with another $1MM in incentives tied to rushing yards. The rarely-used device could pay dividends for the defending champs. 
[RELATED: Top 8 Fits For RB LeGarrette Blount]
The move gives the Patriots exclusive negotiating rights with Blount starting on July 22, provided that he doesn’t sign elsewhere first. Starting on that date and going all the way through Week 10 of the regular season, Blount will not be able to sign with any club but New England. If Blount does sign with a team before 7/22, the signing will count towards the compensatory draft pick formula for 2018. Without the tender, Blount would have been free to sign somewhere else today and that club would not have had to worry about hurting its standing in next year’s draft.
At last check, the Lions and Giants were the two teams with the most interest in the veteran running back. Last week, I ran down eight potential fits for Blount in the event that he does not wind up with the Patriots.
Patriots Host RB Christine Michael On Visit
Christine Michael visited the Patriots on Tuesday, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Michael was released by the Packers earlier this month along with fellow running back Don Jackson, creating room for the three running backs selected in the draft. 
[RELATED: Patriots Could Use UFA Tender On LeGarrette Blount]
Michael signed a new contract with the Packers earlier this offseason, but it didn’t take long for them to have a change of heart. The Texas A&M product was once viewed as a high-upside player, but it’s not clear what C-Mike can bring to the table at this stage of his career. The running back averaged 5.1 yards per carry in a limited sample for the Seahawks in 2014, but he has not been able to replicate that success in the last two seasons.
The Patriots, meanwhile, are pretty well set at running back after signing Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead. James White, Dion Lewis, Brandon Bolden, and D.J. Foster are also under contract, giving the team six quality veteran RBs on the roster. Michael could be added to the mix as low-cost competition, but it doesn’t seem like his chances of making the team are all that high.
Patriots Could Use UFA Tender On LeGarrette Blount
The Patriots could offer a tender to free agent running back LeGarrette Blount in an attempt to retain him for the 2017 season, as Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap details (Twitter links). Unrestricted free agents that aren’t signed by May 9 are eligible to be tendered a one-year contract by the player’s original club for 110% of his prior year salary (for Blount, that would amount to roughly $1.1MM). Not only would such a maneuver allow New England to be in line for a 2018 compensatory pick if Blount signs elsewhere, but it would give the Patriots exclusive negotiating rights with the veteran back if he doesn’t land a contract by July 22. This option isn’t exclusive to New England — any team can do this with its unsigned UFAs — but Fitzgerald notes that such a move would be a typical Patriots strategy.
- Free agent center Nick Mangold confirmed previous reports that the Jets didn’t make a real effort to keep him on the roster at a lower price before releasing him outright (Twitter links via SiriusXM NFL Radio). Mangold, 33, was later asked about the possibility of joining the Patriots and quipped Bill Belichick isn’t overly fond of him after the pair’s “battles” in the AFC East. On Monday, Mangold indicated he is still working to get back to full health and didn’t rule out the possibility of retiring. Recently, PFR listed Mangold as a potential external option for the Saints if they need a fill-in for injured center Max Unger.
Patriots Host LB Andrew Gachkar On Visit
The Patriots hosted free agent linebacker Andrew Gachkar on a visit Tuesday, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. The seven-year veteran has played with Chargers and Cowboys. 
[RELATED: Patriots Won’t Re-Sign WR Michael Floyd]
Gachkar, 28, saw time in every possible regular season game for the Cowboys over the last two years. However, he has played primarily on special teams. In 2016, he saw only 76 snaps on defense with 45 of those reps coming in Week 17. The Patriots are likely looking at him as a special teamer and a depth option.
The Patriots had only four draft picks this year and they did not take a linebacker with any of those selections.
Patriots Won’t Re-Sign WR Michael Floyd
While free agent wide receiver Michael Floyd is reportedly in negotiations with the Vikings and other clubs, re-signing with the Patriots is not an option, reports Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Floyd “won’t be back” in New England in 2017, according to Reiss.
The Patriots had interest in bringing Floyd back as recently as February, but the club’s offseason machinations have made the former waiver claim expendable. New England notably acquired Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks for a package that included the No. 32 overall pick, and also traded for tight ends Dwayne Allen and James O’Shaughnessy. Additionally, the Pats signed running backs Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead, each of whom can help in the passing game.
Floyd, who hopes to land a new contract this week, managed four receptions for 42 yards and one touchdown after joining the Patriots in December. The 27-year-old plead guilty to “Super Extreme DUI” in February, and he’s unable to leave the state of Arizona until June 17. Floyd is likely to face an NFL suspension during the 2017 campaign.
Malcolm Butler Situation Still Worth Monitoring
Malcolm Butler reported to the Patriots earlier this week to participate in voluntary workouts, but as Ryan Hannble of WEEI.com writes, that does not mean he is happy to be back in New England. Butler has been displeased since the club signed Stephon Gilmore to a five-year, $65MM deal this offseason, and while the Saints were apparently willing to pony up big bucks for Butler, they were unwilling to also part with their No. 11 overall draft pick for his services. But with Gilmore set to assume the No. 1 cornerback role in New England, Butler may be shifted to the slot, which could decrease his value when he hits unrestricted free agency next year. Hannable says that the situation is worth monitoring because if Butler isn’t playing the way he wants, and if that creates a locker room distraction, the Pats could still trade him, just as they traded Jamie Collins last year.
Patriots Had Interest in Cole Hikutini
- Before signing with the 49ers, notable undrafted free agent tight end Cole Hikutini drew interest from the Saints, Lions, Patriots, and Texans, tweets Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Hikutini, a Louisville product, was a favorite of many draftniks — Rob Rang of CBSSports.com, for instance, graded Hikutini as a fifth- or sixth-round selection. Ultimately, Hikutini landed a $20K guarantee from San Francisco.