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Patriots Remain In DeAndre Hopkins Pursuit

June 29th, 2023 at 9:55am CST by Sam Robinson

The Patriots took care of one of their own wide receivers Wednesday, coming to terms on a deal that pushes DeVante Parker‘s contract past 2023. Rather than the contract being a sign the Patriots are steering away from DeAndre Hopkins, the Parker deal may end up helping the team on this front.

Parker’s extension numbers are not out yet, though the initial report indicated the 2022 New England trade acquisition can earn up to $33MM — with up to $14MM guaranteed — on the new pact. But veteran reporter Mike Giardi notes the deal lowered Parker’s cap hit (Twitter link). Considering Parker already was tied to just a $6.2MM 2023 number, it will be interesting to see these new terms. The incentives in Parker’s deal range from playing time-based escalators to performance thresholds, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss notes, adding the former Dolphins receiver’s 2023 base salary will drop below $5.7MM on this new deal.

As for Hopkins, Giardi adds the Patriots believe they are still in the mix. They hosted Hopkins earlier this month, following the Titans in securing a meeting with the free agent standout. The Parker move does give the Pats two veteran wideouts signed beyond 2023, joining March addition JuJu Smith-Schuster, but the team has not ruled out having two 30-something receivers on its roster.

A 2015 first-round pick, Parker is going into his age-30 season. Hopkins turned 31 earlier this month. Parker and Hopkins are each known more for catch radiuses than separation ability, especially at this point in their respective careers, so seeing them on the same team would represent an interesting configuration for new OC Bill O’Brien‘s offense. Smith-Schuster, 26, has primarily been a slot receiver throughout his career; the ex-Steelers and Chiefs pass catcher would stand to complement a Parker-Hopkins outside duo.

The Pats landing Hopkins would seemingly relegate 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton to a reserve role, though the Baylor product remains an intriguing option after missing a chunk of his rookie year due to injury. Mike Gesicki is also in line to see extensive receiver time, crowding this position group — in the event Hopkins chooses to relocate to Massachusetts.

Kendrick Bourne amassed 800 receiving yards in 2021 before falling out of favor — to some degree, at least — with the coaching staff last season. The free agency addition totaled just 434 yards during a dysfunctional 2022 campaign for the Patriots’ offense. Bourne, who is going into his age-28 season, is signed through 2023. Parker’s deal, however, may put Bourne on New England’s roster bubble, AtoZsports.com’s Doug Kyed notes. The Pats can save $5.4MM by releasing or trading the seventh-year veteran. Trade calls came in on Bourne before the deadline last year; he was believed to be available for “the right price.”

Both the Pats and Titans extended offers to Hopkins, but the 10-year veteran is still waiting for his market to expand. While the Chiefs and Bills — long-rumored suitors who had previously discussed trade terms with the Cardinals — have been quiet here for a stretch, and a Deshaun Watson reunion in Cleveland is looking increasingly unlikely. But the Panthers have emerged as a team to monitor here.

Patriots, DeVante Parker Agree On Extension

June 28th, 2023 at 5:28pm CST by Sam Robinson

Previously attached to a Dolphins-designed extension, DeVante Parker is no longer in a Patriots contract year.

The Patriots are giving the ninth-year wide receiver a three-year deal worth up to $33MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The contract includes $14MM between guarantees and per-game roster bonuses. No guaranteed money remained on Parker’s previous contract.

Parker’s previous deal — a three-year, $30.5MM pact agreed to in 2019 — was set to expire after the 2023 season. He was only carrying a $6.2MM cap number in his second Patriots campaign. The Dolphins traded Parker to the Patriots last year. In 13 Pats games, the former first-round pick caught 31 passes for 539 yards and three touchdowns.

New England has been busy at wide receiver this offseason, signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year deal and hosting DeAndre Hopkins on a visit. The Pats made a push reach a deal with Hopkins while he was in Foxborough, but the former All-Pro remains a free agent. New England did join Tennessee in extending an offer to Hopkins, but Wednesday’s development shows the organization has notable plans for Parker as well.

Neither Hopkins nor Parker are known for their speed. Parker, 30, has finished last in Next Gen Stats’ average separation metric in each of the past three seasons. During Parker’s belated 2019 Dolphins breakout, the metric slotted the 6-foot-3 receiver in the bottom five. Parker still averaged 17.4 yards per reception during his first Patriots season. The Louisville product has one 1,000-yard season on his NFL resume — a 1,202-yard 2019 — but has been a starter for most of his career.

Parker profiles as an auxiliary pass catcher on team that now rosters Smith-Schuster and Mike Gesicki. Considering Smith-Schuster’s contract contains $16MM fully guaranteed and checked in at $8.5MM per year, it will be interesting to see if the Pats’ Parker deal outpaces both numbers in terms of base value.

The big-bodied weapon now joins Smith-Schuster in being signed beyond 2023. The Pats have Kendrick Bourne going into a contract year and selected Tyquan Thornton in last year’s second round. Parker went to the Pats in a pick-swap trade, one that sent the receiver and a fifth-rounder to New England and a third-rounder to Miami. Other teams pursued Parker, who wanted to land in Foxborough. The Patriots may be in better position to generate Parker production in 2023, seeing as Bill O’Brien — and not career-long defensive coach Matt Patricia — will be calling plays.

Dolphins Make Offer To Dalvin Cook; Other Teams Remain On Radar

June 27th, 2023 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

After communicating with Dalvin Cook in the days since his Vikings release, this market’s long-rumored frontrunner has extended an offer. The Dolphins made their first offer to Cook, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports (on Twitter).

This is not the only offer Cook has received, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who said during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show the six-year veteran has received multiple proposals. Around a “half-dozen” teams are in this market, Pelissero adds (video link).

Cook, who has said he wants to land with a contending team that has a need at running back, is not believed to be mandating a deal be done before training camp. It would not surprise if Cook attempted to drag this process into August, as proven veterans are generally fine with avoiding the rigors of camp. An injury or a team viewing its backfield situation as insufficient during camp could change Cook’s market, but it seems significant interest exists now.

Miami has loomed as the Cook favorite for months; PFR readers widely expect the Florida State alum to sign there. The Dolphins discussed a Cook trade with the Vikings but ultimately stood down and waited for a release. Cook is a Miami native who has expressed interest in joining the Dolphins. That said, the longtime Viking should not be expected to take a discount to end up in South Florida, Pelissero adds. But it is not known who the other suitors are here.

Although Cook mentioned the Jets as a team he has been linked to, it is unclear if New York has reached out with contract terms. The Jets do not have a need for a starting running back, with Breece Hall expected to be back from ACL surgery by Week 1, though their depth does not match the Dolphins’. While Miami’s backfield is deeper than New York’s, Cook would be positioned as a starter for Mike McDaniel‘s team. The Dolphins re-signed ex-McDaniel 49ers charges Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson and used a third-round pick on Texas A&M speedster Devon Achane. It would seem the Dolphins could get by without Cook, given Mostert and Wilson’s system fits. But Mostert is 31 and has run into major injury trouble in recent years. Wilson also missed a chunk of time in 2021 due to a foot injury.

While Pelissero also mentioned the Broncos and Patriots as potential destinations, neither has been connected to possessing genuine interest. The Broncos emerged as an early Cook suitor, with a report indicating Denver had monitored Cook for a stretch ahead of his release. But a subsequent report pegged the Broncos as a team more likely to stay out of this market.

Like the Jets, the Broncos have a starting back (Javonte Williams) coming off an ACL tear. Williams has made progress, participating in OTAs, and is expected to be ready by Week 1. Denver also signed Samaje Perine, who is on track to play a regular role in Sean Payton‘s offense. The Patriots did not re-sign Damien Harris or add a veteran backup to replace him; as of now, Rhamondre Stevenson is ticketed for a three-down role in his third season.

The Dolphins are not planning to make Cook an offer close to the $10.4MM base salary he was to earn with the Vikings, but if there are legitimately a handful of teams in the market, the six-year Minnesota starter is unlikely to be forced to settle for the low-cost deals Mostert, Wilson and Harris signed in March. It will be interesting to see how close Cook comes to the $10.4MM mark, as even with interest forming, he is a running back going into his age-28 season — and in free agency when teams’ budgets are largely depleted.

Former QB Ryan Mallett Drowns In Florida

June 27th, 2023 at 5:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Former quarterback Ryan Mallett drowned Tuesday in Florida. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, Deltaplex News reports. He was 35.

Mallett was transported from a beach to the hospital. The former Arkansas standout had not played in the NFL since 2017; he had been in coaching, being hired as head coach by White Hall (Arkansas) High School in 2022. Officials with the school district confirmed (via KARK.com’s Ryan Turbeville) Mallett drowned while swimming in Florida.

Previously serving as an assistant high school coach in his native Arkansas, Mallett had been out of the NFL since 2018. The 6-foot-6 passer finished his career as a member of the Ravens, serving as a Joe Flacco backup. Mallett filled in for an injured Flacco twice during the 2015 season, one he began with the Texans, and continued as a backup for two more seasons.

The Patriots used a third-round pick on Mallett in 2011, bringing him in as a backup to Tom Brady. Mallett only attempted four passes as a member of the Patriots, who traded him to the Texans months after drafting Jimmy Garoppolo in the 2014 second round. Mallett served as Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s backup during the 2014 season in Houston, starting two games before seeing his season end early due to a pectoral injury. While the team did not bring back Fitzpatrick, Mallett re-signed on a two-year deal in March 2015.

The Texans pitted Mallett and ex-Patriots teammate Brian Hoyer in a competition for the starting job in 2015, a battle chronicled on that year’s Hard Knocks. After Hoyer won it, the Texans benched him one game in. Mallett started the next four games for the eventual AFC South champion Texans, but the team benched him for Hoyer. Mallett missing a charter flight for an October 2015 game in Miami led to the Texans releasing him soon after.

Mallett finished seventh in the 2010 Heisman voting, throwing 32 touchdown passes and leading Arkansas to a 10-3 record. The former Michigan recruit started two seasons at Arkansas, combining for 62 TD passes and 7,493 yards.

30 Unsigned Draft Picks Remain

June 26th, 2023 at 2:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

With training camps less than a month away, 30 members of the 2023 draft class remain unsigned. Several teams have agreed to terms with their entire draft classes, but a handful of teams have multiple players still unsigned. Draft slots largely explain this. First- and second-rounders comprise the bulk of the unsigned lot, with guarantees the core issue for the latter group. Here are the unsigned draftees:

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 3:

Round 4:

Round 6:

The second-round slowdown continues a trend. Last year, more Round 2 choices received three fully guaranteed years compared to prior drafts. This year’s No. 39 overall pick — Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (Ole Miss) — broke through with three locked-in years and a partial 2026 guarantee. This would explain the next nine players drafted being unsigned, with the agents for the players chosen immediately after Mingo angling for the same terms or guarantees in the same ballpark.

No. 31 overall choice Felix Anudike-Uzomah‘s four-year Chiefs deal is fully guaranteed, while No. 34 pick Sam LaPorta (Lions) has a partial 2026 guarantee. This would explain the Nos. 32 and 33 choices remaining unsigned. Other issues — like offset language and signing bonus payouts — annually arise in rookie-deal negotiations, but most of these players will be signed by the time teams head to training camp. A few stragglers report late due to their contracts each year, but the 2011 CBA’s slot system — which the 2020 CBA kept in place — largely addressed the issues that once emerged frequently regarding rookie pacts.

Latest On Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez

June 24th, 2023 at 7:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

Not much is certain at the cornerback position for the Patriots heading into training camp, but the presence of Christian Gonzalez should give the team a notable contributor over the short- and long-term future. The first-round rookie is in line for a signficant role right away, and it will likely include playing on the boundary.

Gonzalez was widely viewed as one of the top two corners in this year’s class, along with No. 5 pick Devon Witherspoon. The Commanders’ preference at the position was Emmanuel Forbes, who was selected one spot before the Patriots added Gonzalez with their first-rounder. The latter enters the NFL with signficant expectations after his lone season spent at Oregon in 2022.

Gonzalez recorded four interceptions and seven pass deflections with the Ducks, making him a first-round lock and an obvious target for a New England team looking to add further to their secondary. The team ranked third in the NFL with 19 interceptions last season, but only 16th in terms of passing yards allowed. Gonzalez could help in both departments with a strong rookie season, one in which he appears to have earned a starting spot.

“We’ll work him into a number of positions like we do almost all players at this point in time in the spring, and then narrow it down a little bit when we get to training camp,” head coach Bill Belichick said during an interview with Mike Tannenbaum of the 33rd Team (video link). “Ultimately, he’s most likely going to be a perimeter corner, but I think there are other situations where he could play inside or in a deeper part of the field, depending on what the call is or how things present themselves from a game-plan structure from time to time.”

That comes as little surprise, considering Gonzalez’s skillset and size (6-2, 201 pounds), as well as the uncertainty surrounding Jack Jones‘ future with the team. League or team discipline handed down to the latter would leave the Patriots short on perimeter options in particular, something which would add further to Gonzalez’s value in 2023. He will face a large workload as a rookie and likely a variety of alignments, making him a crucial member of the team’s secondary from the outset.

DeAndre Hopkins Weighing Offers From Patriots, Titans

June 22nd, 2023 at 3:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Both of DeAndre Hopkins‘ visits produced contract proposals. The Titans and Patriots each made the free agent wide receiver an offer, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com said during an NFL Live appearance.

Hopkins is weighing both potential deals but is angling for more teams to emerge as suitors, per Russini (h/t MassLive.com). Other teams have been mentioned as interested, but Hopkins has only trekked to Nashville and New England since his Arizona release. The Patriots made a push to sign Hopkins last week. However, the former All-Pro is holding out for more.

Considering both teams told Hopkins they believe he can still be an impact receiver, it is unsurprising each submitted an offer during their respective visits. The Titans secured the first meeting and look to need receiving help a bit more than the Patriots. That said, Bill Belichick has long been intrigued by Hopkins’ skillset. And the team is aiming to maximize Mac Jones‘ capabilities this season, after the former first-round pick took a step back as the Patriots followed through with a strange 2022 setup that featured the since-departed Matt Patricia at the controls.

It does not sound like Hopkins is eager to accept one of these offers in the near future, with Russini echoing the refrain of patience. The 31-year-old receiver has clearly not received the kind of offer he wanted during either visit, and neither Jones nor Ryan Tannehill were on the list of quarterbacks with whom Hopkins would most want to align. Two of the passers on said list — Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen — lead teams that have been closely connected to this pursuit this offseason. Both the Chiefs and Bills negotiated a trade with the Cardinals. Kansas City’s discussions involved Hopkins adjusting his contract to facilitate a trade, but after the Ravens gave Odell Beckham Jr. $15MM guaranteed in late March, those talks ceased.

Hopkins likely hopes one or both of those AFC powerhouses will jump back into this derby — if nothing else, to accelerate his market — and the Chiefs can increase their cap space by extending Chris Jones. Talks are ongoing. The Chiefs ($409K) and Bills ($5.5MM) sit at or near the bottom for available funds. The Patriots hold $14.9MM; the Titans carry $7.9MM.

Tennessee has been reeling at wide receiver since trading A.J. Brown, a move that wounded the team’s passing attack last season. The Titans used a 2022 first-round pick on Treylon Burks, but he battled injuries as a rookie and finished with 444 receiving yards and one touchdown. More will be expected of Burks this year, but the Titans are light on complementary help as well. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine might be Tennessee’s top WR2 presence; the team did not draft a receiver until Round 7.

New England was more active this offseason, signing JuJu Smith-Schuster to a three-year, $25.5MM deal. The Pats used a second-round pick on Tyquan Thornton last year, but injuries limited the Baylor product as a rookie. DeVante Parker and Kendrick Bourne remain rostered, while the Pats also used two sixth-round choices on receivers. The team did not see consistency from its Bourne and Nelson Agholor 2021 investments, so it would be interesting to see another two-signing offseason. But Hopkins could obviously help this receiving corps.

Patriots CB Jack Jones Arrested

June 20th, 2023 at 9:49am CST by Ben Levine

JUNE 20: Jones posted bail, valued at $30K during his arraignment, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss (Twitter link). The 25-year-old pleaded not guilty on all counts, and attorney Rosemary C. Scapicchio said (via the Globe’s John Ellement and Sean Cotter) he had “no intention of bringing any guns onto an airport.” Jones’ next court date is set for August 18. In the time leading up to that point, it will be worth monitoring what developments, if any, take place with respect to his tenure in New England.

JUNE 19: Jones will be arraigned Tuesday, according to the Boston Globe’s Travis Andersen and Nicole Yang. If convicted and sentenced consecutively on each of the counts, Jones could face more than 30 years in prison, James Borghesani, a spokesperson for Suffolk (Mass.) District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden’s office, told the Globe. This outcome is unlikely, Andersen and Yang add, but the second-year cornerback’s NFL future might be in doubt.

JUNE 17: Patriots cornerback Jack Jones was arrested last night at Boston Logan International Airport after trying to bring two loaded firearms on a plane, according to Lindsey Thorpe of Boston 25 News.

Per Thorpe, Jones is facing charges of “possession of a concealed weapon in a secure area of an airport, possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, and possession of a large-capacity feeding device.” Jones was released from jail on $50K bail, and he’s set to be arraigned next week.

“We have been notified that Jack Jones was arrested at Logan Airport earlier today. We are in the process of gathering more information and will not be commenting further at this time,” the Patriots said in a statement (via Thorpe).

Jones had a tumultuous college career. He was booted off the USC squad for academic reasons, leading to him playing at Moorpark College, a California junior college, for the 2018 campaign. That season, Jones was arrested following an incident at a Panda Express, and he served 45 days of house arrest after pleading guilty to commercial burglary, which is a second-degree misdemeanor.

He spent the following three years at Arizona State and managed to rehabilitate his NFL stock. He ended up being selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by the Patriots, and he quickly showed that he was capable of being more than a depth piece in the secondary. Jones got into 13 games last season (two starts), finishing with 30 tackles and two interceptions (including a pick-six on Aaron Rodgers). Pro Football Focus ultimately graded him 17th among 118 qualifying cornerbacks.

However, things weren’t all positive in New England. Jones was hit with a two-game suspension to end the 2022 campaign after a violation of unspecified team rules. This spring, Bill Belichick noted that the suspension was in the past, and Jones has emerged as one of the top cornerbacks on New England’s depth chart.

Considering the lack of patience Belichick and co. have for off-the-field issues (coupled with Jones’ prior suspension), there’s a chance that the player may simply be done in New England following yesterday’s arrest. Jones isn’t owed a whole lot of money on his fourth-round rookie contract, although the Patriots would be left with more dead cap than cap savings for the 2023 campaign if they decided to cut the cornerback.

If Jones is cut or faces a suspension, the Patriots may need to lean on some inexperienced depth at cornerback. First-round rookie Christian Gonzalez should lead the depth chart, and the team also has veteran Jonathan Jones at nickelback. 2022 third-round pick Marcus Jones showed out as a special teamer during his rookie campaign, but it remains to be seen if he can contribute as a full-time starter on defense. He would likely compete with Shaun Wade for the leftover snaps at CB2, with rookies Ameer Speed (sixth round) and Isaiah Bolden (seventh round) also potentially getting looks.

Latest On DeAndre Hopkins’ Free Agency

June 19th, 2023 at 7:22pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following their free agency visit, the Patriots were making a push to sign DeAndre Hopkins. The former All-Pro wideout is believed to be intrigued by the idea of joining the Pats, but he remains unsigned.

Visits with both the Patriots and Titans are believed to have gone well, Albert Breer of SI.com notes, and veteran NFL reporter Mike Giardi offers that each team told the high-profile UFA he still offers “elite” capabilities (Twitter link). Like Dalvin Cook, however, Hopkins is taking his time surveying the market. Waiting on a potential injury or a team suddenly growing concerned about its receiving corps — scenarios that could come to pass during training camp — is also factoring into Hopkins’ decision-making, Giardi adds.

Hopkins and Bill Belichick spent time in one-on-one meetings during the Pats summit, per Breer, who adds the 10-year veteran remains close with Titans HC Mike Vrabel. That said, it looks like Hopkins is holding out hope teams with better Super Bowl LVIII odds will re-enter the equation. Absent big money, Hopkins is aiming to join a contender, Breer added during an NBC Sports Boston appearance (video link).

The Ravens’ Odell Beckham Jr. contract blew up Cardinals-Chiefs negotiations for Hopkins, who would have been bound for Kansas City on an adjusted deal. With Beckham securing $15MM fully guaranteed despite missing all of last season and having suffered two ACL tears since October 2020, Hopkins balked at taking a pay cut. Cardinals talks with the Chiefs and Bills ceased, and both Buffalo and Kansas City have drifted a bit compared to their spots on the Hopkins radar when Arizona first released him. But neither Tennessee nor New England appears to have blown Hopkins away with an offer, per Breer, potentially reopening the door for the Chiefs or Bills.

The Bills created some 2023 cap space by extending Ed Oliver but used that savings to add Leonard Floyd. They hold $5.5MM in space. The Chiefs are at just $651K, carrying the league’s lowest figure exiting minicamp. But Kansas City remains at work on a Chris Jones extension. While Jones is likely asking for a contract closer to Aaron Donald‘s $31.7MM per year than Jeffery Simmons‘ No. 2 defensive tackle deal ($23.5MM AAV), the Chiefs extending their All-Pro lineman would drop his cap number from its present $28.3MM place. That would create cap room for Kansas City to potentially re-enter the fray, and Hopkins — who has spoken highly of teaming with Patrick Mahomes on multiple occasions this offseason — can afford to be patient.

Regarding the New England fit, Hopkins and Bill O’Brien look to be back on favorable terms despite the 2020 Houston separation. And Belichick likely addressed potential concerns about Hopkins’ recent history of not practicing fully, famed ex-Patriots O-line coach Dante Scarnecchia said (via MassLive.com’s Karen Guregian). In-season practice schedules certainly do not present the grind they once did, with the CBA capping the number of padded workouts to 13 over the course of the regular season. But Hopkins has battled multiple injuries since his most recent Pro Bowl season (2020) and has missed nine games for health reasons over the past two years.

Although Hopkins did not begin his visit itinerary looking to take much of a discount from the $19.4MM salary he was due to make with the Cardinals, the first two meetings not producing take-notice money adds intrigue to this situation. The Bills and Chiefs could be back in the mix soon, but for now, the Titans and Pats are still interested.

Pats Notes: Mapu, RB, Ryland, Cunningham

June 18th, 2023 at 9:44pm CST by Ely Allen

We’ve already written a bit about Patriots third-round pick Marte Mapu out of Sacramento State and his dual ability to play both linebacker and safety, a role he played in college. We had a feeling that the Patriots would see that ability and likely play him in the same role, and it looks like that may be exactly what they’re planning to do. They have him officially listed as a linebacker on their roster, but according to Doug Kyed of A to Z Sports, they have been utilizing him lately to fill the void left by former safety Devin McCourty, who retired back in March.

The Patriots are no strangers to experimenting with young players and moving them around the field. Mapu gives them a perfect opportunity to do just that. At only 216 pounds, Mapu is a bit too light to be a perfect fit at linebacker. In Sacramento, he played mostly an in-between role in the slot before lining up at linebacker in the Senior Bowl. At his first OTA practice in New England, he played linebacker; in the two practices after that, McCourty’s old safety role.

Not only does he feel comfortable playing both roles, but his teammates are also under the impression that the adjustment from FCS to NFL is coming easy to Mapu, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss. His flexibility and progression have combined to earn him first-team snaps extremely early in his career, as reported by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.

Here are a few more rumors coming out of Foxborough:

  • After releasing James Robinson earlier this week, the Patriots may be looking to add another body to the position room, according to Karen Guregian of MassLive. The team will run with Rhamondre Stevenson as their No. 1 next year, no question, but the names behind him don’t inspire much confidence. Pierre Strong, Kevin Harris, and Ty Montgomery combined for 150 rushing yards last year. Strong and Montgomery are reportedly in the running to compete for a third down back role with Harris potentially slotting in as RB2, but one has to imagine the Patriots are considering their options. Obviously, Dalvin Cook is available, but if they’d like to pursue someone more used to working with another rusher, Kareem Hunt, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, and Kenyan Drake are interesting names to look out for.
  • New England spent two draft picks on specialists this year, drafting Maryland kicker Chad Ryland in the fourth round and Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer in the sixth. Despite demonstrating the commitment to spend draft capital on the two, Guregian asserts that neither is a lock to replace the incumbent specialists, Nick Folk and Corliss Waitman. Guregian expects a heavy competition for both kicking jobs but doesn’t rule out the possibility of the losers of those battles landing on the team’s practice squad.
  • Former Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham was highly sought after when he went undrafted this year. The Patriots landed his talents thanks to a deal that included $200K in guaranteed money. The money might not have been the only factor in Cunningham choosing New England as his professional destination, though. According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, Cunningham told the media that “the Patriots were the only team before the draft to work him out at (wide receiver).” He’s listed as a quarterback on the team’s roster, but perhaps working him out at receiver gave Cunningham the impression that he would have more playing opportunities or a higher chance to make the 53-man roster.
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