6 rings & football things: end of an error with mac jones traded to jacksonville
NFL Free Agency is upon us!
With the Patriots set to embark on a new chapter led by head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf, they have plenty of roster holes and the most salary cap space in the NFL. Here's a one-stop-shop of all the moves they've made, along with news, notes, and rumors from around the NFL:
Mar. 13 -- LB Anfernee Jennings returning to Patriots on three-year deal
The Patriots and Eliot Wolf's attempt at bringing the "Packer Way" (i.e. draft, develop, and extend) continued on Wednesday morning with the signing of LB Anfernee Jennings.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, New England and Jennings have agreed to terms on a three-year deal for $12 million with a maximum value of $24 million.
Mar. 12 -- New England adds to offense with signing of TE Austin Hooper
The Patriots are adding a pass catcher in free agency, agreeing to terms with tight end Austin Hooper to a one-year, $4.25 million deal.
Hooper played under now-Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt while in Cleveland and caught 84 passes for 780 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons with the Browns.
Mar. 12 -- Patriots announce signings of three exclusive rights free agents
New England announced that the signings LB Christian Elliss, OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr., and QB Nathan Rourke. All three were exclusive rights free agents and are signing one-year, league minimum deals.
Mar. 12 -- Patriots re-sign LB Josh Uche to one-year, $3 million deal
New England is bringing back one of their own on defense, re-signing linebacker Josh Uche according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo.
Garafolo reports that Uche, "had much more on the table elsewhere." He instead is returning for one year on a $3 million contract that can go up to $8 million with incentives.
Mar. 12 -- Patriots have 'checked in' with Chargers on trade candidates
With the Los Angeles Chargers more than $25 million over the cap for 2024, the Patriots have called on some of their obvious trade/cut candidates, per the Boston Herald's Doug Kyed.
That list includes wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams and edge defenders Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa.
Mar. 12 -- New England loses tight end Mike Gesicki to Bengals
While they were able to retain Hunter Henry, the Patriots are losing one of their other tight ends from last season.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Cincinnati Bengals are signing tight end Mike Gesicki to a one-year deal worth up to $3.25 million.
Mar. 12 -- Patriots 'hope to' sign free agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley
According to CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones, the Patriots "hope to sign" Calvin Ridley, but is reporting that there could be a dark horse team lurking as well.
Mar. 11 -- Patriots re-sign WR Jalen Reagor
New England is reportedly set to re-sign wide receiver & kick returner Jalen Reagor, according to Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz.
Mar. 11 -- New England's first out-of-home defender is on the books in Sione Takitaki
The Patriots agreed to terms with former Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. It's a two-year deal for $6.5 million that can go up to $10 million with likely-to-be-earned incentives. New England executives Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith were among the Cleveland front office brass who drafted Takitaki in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Mar. 11 -- Patriots find their bridge quarterback in Jacoby Brissett
New England's 2024 quarterback plans are coming into place.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots are signing QB Jacoby Brissett. It's reportedly a one-year, $8 million deal.
During his time in Cleveland, Brissett worked with now-Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and started the first 11 games of the 2022 season during Deshaun Watson's suspension.
Mar. 11 -- Patriots re-sign OT Mike Onwenu to three-year, $57 million deal
New England brought back the anchor of their offensive line, re-signing OL Mike Onwenu to a three-year contract worth up to $57 million. The deal includes $28 million in guarantees and includes a $22.5 million signing bonus.
Mar. 11 -- Mack Wilson Sr. is headed west
According to multiple reports, former Patriots LB Mack Wilson Sr. is signing a three-year deal worth up to $15 million with the Arizona Cardinals.
Wilson tallied 37 total tackles and 3.5 sacks for New England in 2023-24.
Mar. 11 -- WR DeVante Parker to be released by Patriots on Wednesday
The Patriots are moving on from WR DeVante Parker. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the team will be releasing the pass catcher on Wednesday and has given him permission to speak with other teams. Due to the contract extension he signed last June, Parker will leave a $6.3 million dead cap hit on New England's 2024 salary, according to OverTheCap.
Mar. 11 -- Patriots make their first signing, agree to terms with RB Antonio Gibson
New England is on the board! According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Patriots are signing former Commanders running back Antonio Gibson.
Gibson, 6-foot-2, joins a running back room with Rhamondre Stevenson, Ja'Mycal Hasty, and Kevin Harris, & adds an element to the passing game. Through four seasons in Washington, he's caught 172 passes for 1,282 yards and seven touchdowns.
Mar. 11 -- Patriots were reportedly in on WR Gabe Davis before he agreed to sign with Jaguars
Former Bills wide receiver Gabe Davis has agreed to a three-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. According to FOX Sports' Henry McKenna, six teams were in on the bidding -- including the Patriots.
Davis heading to Jacksonville also may free up Calvin Ridley's market, who played with the Jaguars last season. New England is reportedly in on Ridley as well.
Mar. 11 -- The Patriots have yet to offer LB Josh Uche a contract prior to free agency.
While the Patriots have kept several of their own in house prior to the start of free agency (Hunter Henry, Kendrick Bourne), one player hasn't even been given an offer.
According to MassLive's Mark Daniels, New England has not made an offer to linebacker Josh Uche. He'll hit the open market at 12 noon.
Mar. 11 -- Bengals WR Tee Higgins requests trade out of Cincinnati
And Here. We. Go. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has requested a trade out of Cincinnati. Higgins was franchise-tagged last month.
According to CBS Sports' Josina Anderson, the Patriots are expected to target the veteran wide receiver market.
Mar. 11 -- Patriots will release veteran special teamer Chris Board this week
New England is set to release special teamer Chris Board when the New League Year begins on Wednesday, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Board played all 17 games for the Patriots last season and was second on the team with eight special teams tackles.
Mar. 10 -- Kendrick Bourne, Patriots agree to three-year deal for wide receiver to return to Foxborough
New England is getting some of the band back together on offense. According to multiple reports, the Patriots have come to terms with Kendrick Bourne on a three-year deal to return to Foxborough.
The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan reported that it's a three-year, $19 million contract with a maximum value of $33 million, and includes a $4.2 million signing bonus.
Before tearing his ACL in Week 8, Bourne Bourne was tallying a career season in 2023 with 37 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns.
Mar. 10 -- Patriots trade Mac Jones to Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2024 sixth-round pick (no. 192)
The Mac Jones era in New England officially came to a close on Sunday as the Patriots traded their former No. 15 overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for the 192nd overall pick (sixth round) in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Jones grew up in Jacksonville and now has a chance to reset his career behind Trevor Lawrence before hitting unrestricted free agency in 2025.
Mar. 10 -- New England is expected to 'swing big' at free agent WR Calvin Ridley
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Sunday that the Patriots are expected to "swing big" at free agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley when free agency opens. Ridley was traded to the Jaguars at the 2022 trade deadline, returned from suspension, and tallied a 76-catch, 1,016-yard and eight-touchdown campaign in Jacksonville in 2023.
Mar. 8 -- Patriots are reportedly 'open to' trading quarterback Mac Jones
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Friday afternoon that the Patriots are 'open to' the idea of trading Mac Jones, and that they've received calls from teams doing work on the quarterback. It was previously reported by MassLive that this was a part of New England's evolving plan at signal caller.
Mar. 8 -- Hunter Henry re-signs with Patriots on three-year deal
The Patriots brought back one of their own on Friday afternoon, re-signing veteran tight end Hunter Henry to a three-year deal with $27 million in base salary, worth a maximum of $30 million.
Henry was a team captain in 2023 and has led New England in touchdowns (17) over the last three seasons.
Mar. 7 -- Patriots sign veteran OT Chukwuma Okorafor
In an attempt to bolster their offensive line, New England signed former Steelers offensive tackle Chukwuka Okorafor. It's a one-year deal with a base value of $4 million. Okorafor played mostly right tackle over six seasons in Pittsburgh.
Mar. 7 -- CB Alex Austin, OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr. sign ERFA tenders with Patriots
With several "exclusive rights free agents" to handle, New England re-signed two of them on Thursday in CB Alex Austin and OT Tyrone Wheatley. As ERFAs with less than three accrued NFL seasons, both players signed one-year tenders at the league minimum.
Mar. 5 -- Patriots place transition tag on S Kyle Dugger
In a move to ultimately keep one of their top defensive players for the long term, the Patriots placed the transition tag on safety Kyle Dugger.
It's a one-year, $13.81 million tender that allows Dugger to negotiate with other teams and be extended an offer sheet. If New England doesn't match, he's free to sign with said team and they don't receive any compensation.
Mar. 1 -- Patriots re-sign QB Nathan Rourke
The Patriots re-signed QB Nathan Rourke, an exclusive rights free agent, to a one-year, league minimum tender. The signal caller was claimed off of waivers by New England in December.
Mar. 1 -- Patriots release CB J.C. Jackson
In a money move, New England released cornerback J.C. Jackson and saved over $13 million on their 2024 salary cap. Jackson was traded to the Patriots from the LA Chargers last season.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
Related
