Patriots Notes: Floyd, Develin
Now that the Patriots have acquired wide receiver Brandin Cooks from the Saints, fellow pass-catcher Michael Floyd may not be on New England’s radar, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Heading into the offseason, the Patriots reportedly expressed interest in re-signing Floyd, and Floyd himself indicated he’d like to return to the team. But given that he’s pleaded guilty to DUI, Floyd can’t leave the state of Arizona until this summer. By that point, the Patriots (and other clubs) will likely have moved on.
- Under the terms of his new two-year contract, Patriots fullback James Develin can earn $100K for playing 20% of New England’s offensive snaps, and another $100K for playing in 30% of the club’s snaps, per Ben Volin of the Boston Globe. Develin played in 31.3% of New England’s offensive snaps in 2016.
LeGarrette Blount, Patriots Couldn't Agree On Terms
Coming off an 18-touchdown season, LeGarrette Blount hasn’t found much traction on his latest free agency odyssey. The Patriots, though, have discussed a deal with the bruising running back, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. However, the sides could not agree on terms. Reiss suggests that even though the Pats signed Rex Burkhead they still don’t have a power back, with their roster housing only multipurpose cogs Dion Lewis and James White, pointing to a possible reunion between the oft-reunited parties after the draft. Blount rushed for a career-high 1,161 yards as well last season but turned 30 in December. He ranks as PFR’s No. 2 UFA running back.
La Canfora: Malcolm Butler Trade Will Happen
- There has been “momentum” regarding a Malcolm Butler-to-Saints trade, and Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com believes the deal will ultimately happen. The pundit says the Saints and Patriots “are motivated to make it happen,” and it will be a matter of New Orleans meeting New England’s price for the deal to be finalized.
- The Panthers essentially moved up eight spots when they dealt defensive end Kony Ealy to the Patriots, and general manager Dave Gettleman was perfectly happy with making that move. “It’s a heavy draft and it was an opportunity for us to move up. To you guys, eight spots doesn’t seem like much. But to me, it’s gold,” he said (via Conor Orr of NFL.com). “You’ve got to give up something to get something. You’re not fooling anybody anymore. There’s too much film available. We just wanted to move up and get another second-round pick. I think it gives us more flexibility.”
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Patriots Interested In OT Sam Tevi
- There were a number of offensive line coaches at Utah’s Pro Day, including staff from the Jets, Browns, Jaguars, and Lions. Offensive tackle Sam Tevi was impressive during the workouts, and the big man has drawn particular interest from both the Saints and Patriots.
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Patriots, Revis Have Not Discussed Contract
Reports from earlier this week indicated that it was looking “increasingly likely” that veteran cornerback Darrelle Revis would be returning to New England. While that could still be the case, CSNNE.com’s Tom Curran reports that the two sides have not had discussions regarding a contract.
The Jets released the seven-time Pro Bowler in late February, and the Steelers emerged as a potential landing spot (although earlier reports noted that the organization had no interest). Revis’ supposed decline is apparently scaring away suitors, but some executives believes the veteran hasn’t played his last NFL snap.
“We did our work on him. He can still play. He can cover,” the exec told Jason La Canfora. “He doesn’t have that long speed anymore; he’s not going to cover a No. 1 receiver deep. But he can cover in tight spaces and he has great instincts. The film is not as bad as some would have you believe. He’s a perfect fit in that quarters scheme Belichick runs, and they have the kind of safeties who can help him out, too. We’re convinced he’s going back to New England. It just makes too much sense.”
The Patriots could certainly use some reinforcement at cornerback. Despite signing Stephon Gilmore, the team lost defensive back Logan Ryan via free agency. It’s also sounding like Malcolm Butler could be on his way out of New England, meaning the Patriots would have to rely on some combination of Eric Rowe and Cyrus Jones to play opposite their free agent addition. If nothing else, Revis would at least provide coach Bill Belichick with some depth.
Revis ultimately appeared in 15 games this past season, compiling 53 tackles, one interception, and five passes defended. He was listed as the second-best remaining free cornerback in our positional rankings.
Darrelle Revis To Land With Patriots?
Could Darrelle Revis circle back to the Patriots? It’s looking “increasingly likely,” according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who has spoken with numerous league sources, including some close to the defensive back. 
Many, including myself, feel that Revis has lost a step and his effort was lacking in 2016. However, not all talent evaluators agree. One personnel man spoke highly of Revis when speaking to La Canfora.
“We did our work on him. He can still play. He can cover,” the anonymous exec said. “He doesn’t have that long speed anymore; he’s not going to cover a No. 1 receiver deep. But he can cover in tight spaces and he has great instincts. The film is not as bad as some would have you believe. He’s a perfect fit in that quarters scheme Belichick runs, and they have the kind of safeties who can help him out, too. We’re convinced he’s going back to New England. It just makes too much sense.”
The Patriots have already allowed Logan Ryan to walk in free agency and Malcolm Butler could be traded to the Saints in the very near future. Even after signing former Bills standout Stephon Gilmore, the Patriots will need some help in the secondary. Revis might not be able to hold down a starting outside position, but he could theoretically be used in the slot, if he’s willing to make that adjustment. Word is that we won’t be seeing him at safety for New England, so slot could be his only real option if he wants to join the defending champs.
We have Revis ranked as the second-best corner remaining on the free agent market.
Bryan Stork “Stepping Away” From NFL
Free agent offensive lineman Bryan Stork has decided to “step away” from the NFL, as Stork himself tweeted today. Stork, 26, cautions that he isn’t officially retiring, which leaves open the possibility that he may return to the league at some point.
Stork, a former fourth-round pick, played two seasons with the Patriots (and managed 17 starts) before being involved in a curious set of transactions last summer. After reports indicated New England would waive Stork, he was then dealt to the Redskins for minimal compensation. Stork reportedly contemplated retirement, and the trade was subsequently after Stork failed his physical with Washington.
Stork was officially cut loose by the Patriots following those machinations, but he kept working out for clubs in the hopes of landing a job. Over the next several months, Stork met with the Jets, Browns, Giants, and Bears, but wasn’t able to come to terms with any of those clubs.
If this is the end of Stork’s NFL tenure, he’ll have hung up his cleats with a Super Bowl title under his belt, as he was a member of the 2014 Patriots club that defeated the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. The year prior, Stork won a NCAA Championship as part of the Florida State team the took down Auburn in 2014.
Latest On Dolphins’ Free Agent Targets
The Dolphins still want to sign free agent linebacker Zach Brown, but Brown is likely looking for a multi-year pact in the range of $6MM annually, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Miami, meanwhile, would be more comfortable paying $3-4MM per year. Brown, who’s been linked to the Bills, Raiders, and Colts in addition to the Dolphins, is “exploring all options” at the moment, as his agents tell Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.
Miami has also inquired on defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, and have in fact called on him “a half dozen times,” reports Salguero, but Hankins is still looking for more money than the Dolphins are willing to expend. Hankins, 25, is hoping to reel in $10MM annually on a multi-year contract, an asking price that appears unlikely to be met at this juncture. The Giants want to re-sign Hankins, but are reportedly hoping for a quick response on their outstanding offer.
Clearly, the Dolphins are searching for a defensive tackle to play alongside Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips, but former Miami defender Jared Odrick won’t be returning to town. While Odrick would like to reunite the Dolphins, the club won’t be placing a call to Odrick for “multiple reasons,” per Salguero, who doesn’t specify what those reasons may be. The Patriots worked out Odrick last month, but Odrick isn’t interested in playing for New England, says Salguero.
Finally, free agent defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois won’t be on the Dolphins’ radar as the team doesn’t view him as a scheme fit, according to Salguero. Jean-Francois has visited the Packers, Seahawks, and Bears since being released by the Redskins.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/20/17
Here are today’s minor moves.
- The Patriots released running back Tyler Gaffney, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Gaffney has an extensive history with the Patriots but hasn’t played in a game. He spent the past three summers with the team, failing to make New England’s 53-man roster out of camp in each. He vacillated between the Pats’ active roster and practice squad last year, so if history is any indication, a reunion at could ensue at some point later this year.
- The Chargers re-signed previously non-tendered defensive end Tenny Palepoi, according to a team announcement. Palepoi missed the entire 2015 season with a foot injury but returned to action in 2016. He had 13 tackles in 13 games but wound up missing the last three contests due to a PED suspension. He still has to finish out that ban by sitting out one game in 2017.
- Another Bolts move: ERFA wide receiver Geremy Davis signed his tender.
- The Panthers announce they’ve re-signed cornerback Teddy Williams to a one-year extension. Mainly utilized in a special teams role, Williams played in only three games last year due to a knee injury. In 2015, he appeared in all 16 regular-season contests for the NFC champions.
- Long snapper Jon Condo re-signed with the Raiders. Condo’s been the Silver and Black’s long snapper since the 2007 season after breaking into the NFL with the 2005 Cowboys. Given that long snappers have a precise salary range — 14 of them earn between $1MM and $1.15MM per year — it’s fairly easy to project Condo’s next contract’s AAV. The 36-year-old is the Raiders’ second-longest-tenured player behind Sebastian Janikowski.
- Cody Parkey will have some competition with the Browns this summer. Cleveland added CFL kicker Brett Maher from the CFL. The 27-year-old hasn’t appeared in an NFL game yet. He’s kicked in Canada for the past three seasons, spending 2016 with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Maher made 41 of 50 field goal tries for Hamilton. Parkey, 24, hit 20 of his 25 attempts and made 20 of 21 PATs.
- The Redskins announced the re-signing of left tackle Ty Nsekhe. Washington placed an ERFA tender on Nsekhe, who at 31 is much older than players normally involved in these transactions. Nsekhe spent the past two seasons with Washington, starting in six games in that span. Four of those starts came last season while Trent Williams was serving a substance-abuse suspension.
- After the Nick Folk signing created a stacked Buccaneers kicker depth chart, the team released John Lunsford, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. Folk and Roberto Aguayo will battle for the Bucs’ kicker job, leaving Lunsford without a role.
Butler, Saints “Not Far Apart” On Offer?
Malcolm Butler‘s camp and the Saints continue to exchange proposals about a potential offer sheet for the fourth-year cornerback. The sides at this point are not far apart on terms, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
The communication is unfolding entirely between the Saints and Butler, per Rapoport, who adds (Twitter link) the Patriots have not had discussions with the Saints — well, at least on the Butler front — or the cornerback and won’t until he signs his RFA tender.
Butler is a restricted free agent on whom the Patriots placed a first-round tender worth $3.91MM. The Saints are reportedly “enamored” with Butler, according to Michael Giardi of CSNNE.com, who also notes the sides have the parameters of a deal mostly in place. Guaranteed money’s an issue, per Giardi.
A Saints offer sheet that the Patriots don’t match would result in New Orleans’ No. 11 overall pick going to New England. Of course, Butler could sign his $3.91MM tender, and the teams could discuss a different exchange. Sending a pick that high for a 27-year-old talent might be a bit extreme, with Butler wanting top-10 cornerback money, but the Saints are serious about upgrading one of the league’s worst defenses as they showed with the Brandin Cooks trade. They acquired the Pats’ No. 32 overall pick for Cooks, who won’t turn 24 until September.
Butler has until June 15 to sign the RFA tender, which the Patriots can withdraw on that date and pay Butler 110 percent of his 2016 salary ($600K). The former UDFA visited New Orleans last week.
The Saints endured a rough 2016 at cornerback, with key cogs going down with injuries. They have Delvin Breaux, who will make just $619K in the final season of his three-year deal, along with P.J. Williams tentatively slated as their top corners. Both missed extensive time due to injuries last season. Breaux and Butler both played well in full-season breakouts in 2015, but Butler continued that pace last year while the 27-year-old Breaux played in only six games.