Patriots Notes: Cannon, Branch, Kilgo
Under the terms of his extension with the Patriots, right tackle Marcus Cannon will earn $19.8MM in cash over the first three years of the deal, which, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes (Twitter link), is often a key metric in contract analysis. So while Cannon’s new pact won’t approach that of Lane Johnson, who remains the highest-paid right tackle in the NFL, Cannon is still earning a top-tier RT contract through the three-year cash lens. Recent right tackles that have signed comparable deals include Mitchell Schwartz ($19.56MM in the first three years), Bryan Bulaga ($18.96MM), and Joe Barksdale ($16.5MM).
- Negotiations between the Patriots and Cannon could have been greased by the recent agreement between the Falcons and fellow right tackle Ryan Schraeder, tweets Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap. Schraeder reached a five-year, $31.5MM deal with Atlanta last week that included $7.5MM in full guarantees. Cannon, meanwhile, scored $1MM more in total value, and while initial reports peg his guarantee at $14.5MM, that figure almost certainly refers to injury-only guarantees. As Fitzgerald notes (Twitter link), the Schraeder/Cannon extensions could place a cap on the right tackle market, and it will likely be up to a free agent to break through that barrier. Upcoming free agent right tackles include Riley Reiff, Ricky Wagner, and Sebastion Vollmer.
- The Patriots‘ recent move to claim defensive tackle Darius Kilgo off waivers could indicate that the verdict of Alan Branch’s appeal of his four-game suspension is coming soon, Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com writes. Kilgo is a run stopper in the middle, which is Branch’s strong suit, so New England could be bracing for the impending loss of Branch.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Kevin Graf
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Hubert
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Asa Jackson
- Cut: LB James Burgess
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T Jake Rodgers, T Tyrus Thompson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Tony McRae
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE Kennard Backman, RB D.J. Foster
New York Jets
- Cut: OL Zach Sterup
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Wynton McManis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Kevin Smith
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks, RB Malcolm Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB D’Joun Smith
Patriots, Marcus Cannon Agree To Extension
The Patriots and starting right tackle Marcus Cannon agreed to a five-year contract extension, according to Mike Reiss and Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Cannon was scheduled for free agency after the season. Cannon’s deal is for five years and $32.5MM, according to Albert Breer of The MMQB (on Twitter). The deal includes $14.5MM guaranteed. 
Heading into this past offseason, Cannon was actually thought to be on the roster bubble. That lit a fire under the 28-year-old and motivated him to drop a good deal of excess weight. Playing fitter and meaner than ever before, Cannon has delivered his best season in some time and has started in every game he has been available for. He has been more than a capable fill-in for the injured Sebastian Vollmer.
Cannon has earned an 83.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus with slightly higher marks for his run blocking than his pass blocking. In his 670 snaps, he has established himself as a top 20 tackle in the league this year, per PFF. Teammate Nate Solder, with a 83.1 overall grade, is right behind him.
The TCU product has been with the Pats since 2011 when he was taken in the fifth round. New England will now have him locked up for the remainder of his prime.
Patriots Claim Kilgo Off Waivers From Broncos
- Defensive tackle Darius Kilgo fell out of the Broncos’ rotation this season but will have a chance to crack the Patriots‘ after the AFC East-leading team claimed the second-year player off waivers, Doug Kyed of NESN.com reports. To make room for Kilgo, the Patriots waived running back D.J. Foster, whom Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link) notes could be bound for the practice squad if he clears waivers. Kilgo did not make it far into waivers, going to a contending team shorthanded due to Alan Branch‘s suspension. The 24-year-old interior lineman played in nine games for the Broncos this season, while Foster represented a superfluous fifth active running back for the Pats once Dion Lewis returned. Kilgo’s arrival in New England will give the Patriots the Broncos’ 2015 sixth-round pick after trading their own 2015 fifth-rounder to Denver in A.J. Derby.
Rob Gronkowski's Back Injury Not Serious
- Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski exited Sunday’s 22-17 win against the Jets in the first quarter because of a back injury, but the silver lining is that it doesn’t appear to have the makings of a lingering issue. Gronk is not expected to miss any further time as a result of the injury, a source with knowledge of the situation tells Florio. Various ailments, including a perforated lung, have limited the four-time Pro Bowler to eight appearances this year.
Could Browns Pursue QB Jimmy Garoppolo?
- If the Patriots were willing to part with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, Cabot believes he’d be a great addition to the Browns. Of course, that wouldn’t necessarily prevent the organization from taking a quarterback in the draft. Cabot says the team could still target North Carolina signal-caller Mitch Trubisky regardless of whether they acquire a quarterback via trade or free agency.
[SOURCE LINK]
Alan Branch's Appeal To Be Resolved Within A Month
- Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch will continue to play as he appeals his recent four-game suspension, and Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports that the appeal is expected to be heard within the next month. That means that New England could lose Branch very late in the season and into the playoffs, which begs the question of whether it would be better for the team if Branch simply accepts his suspension now so that he is sure to be back for the stretch run. Branch, though, needs to do what is best for him, as the suspension could cost him about $1.13MM and could hurt his market when he reaches free agency this spring.
- ESPN’s Adam Schefter passes along another interesting detail about Matt Forte‘s brief flirtation with the Patriots. According to Schefter, Forte flew into New Jersey to meet with the Jets on the first day of free agency, and Gang Green decided to sign him. However, there were some concerns about the condition of Forte’s knee during the physical, and the Jets did not rush to get the paperwork done. That made Forte a bit antsy, and he made plans to board a plane and visit the Patriots. But when New York learned of those plans, the team’s concerns with Forte’s knee suddenly evaporated and Forte was handed his contract.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
New England Patriots
- Cut: DB Shamiel Gary
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Sean Hickey (via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Contract Year Affecting Pats Players?
The Patriots are in a tough spot with their contract players, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe writes. Players often find extra motivation in their contract years, but Volin wonders if the pressure of a big payday is getting to some Pats players. Linebacker Jamie Collins was traded to Cleveland in the midst of a disappointing year. Meanwhile, cornerback Logan Ryan has found himself in and out of the starting lineup and defensive end Jabaal Sheard was left home from the trip to San Francisco. Owner Robert Kraft admits that the uncertainty could be getting to some players, but coach Bill Belichick doesn’t want to hear any of that.
This spring, the Pats will have to address the contracts of key guys like Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Butler, and Martellus Bennett. Right now, it doesn’t look like Sheard or the suspended Alan Branch will be among the team’s top priorities.
Jabaal Sheard Discusses Reduced Role
Following a productive 2015 season, many expected Patriots defensive end Jabaal Sheard to get paid this offseason. Instead, the Patriots have continued to reduce the 27-year-old’s playing time, culminating in the former second-rounder being inactive for last weekend’s game against the 49ers.
- Tom E. Curran of CSNNE.com examines what the Patriots could do with all of their cap space this offseason. The writer believes the team will look to retain many of their key free agents, including Dont’a Hightower, Malcolm Butler, and Martellus Bennett. Curran notes that Sheard and defensive tackle Alan Branch “don’t figure to be high-priority guys at this juncture.”