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Latest On Texans, TE Dalton Schultz

March 3rd, 2024 at 11:22am CST by Sam Robinson

Dalton Schultz‘s free agent market underwhelmed last year. After being franchise-tagged by the Cowboys in 2022, the veteran starter settled for a one-year, $6.5MM Texans accord. It seems likely he will fare better this year.

The Texans are interested in retaining Schultz, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson indicating the tight end still wants to stay in Houston. Naturally, it will come down to terms. The Cowboys prevented Schultz from testing the market two years ago, and teams had cooled on the former Jason Witten successor by 2023. After another solid showing as a pass catcher, Schultz should have a chance to make up for lost time if he hits the open market.

[RELATED: Jonathan Greenard’s FA Price Rising]

Although neither of the tight ends who played 2022 on the tag did well as free agents in 2023 — Mike Gesicki scored just $4.5MM in base value from the Patriots — ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes many teams expect Schultz to command a deal north of $10MM per year.

Evan Engram and Cole Kmet became the latest tight ends to cross the eight-figure-per-year threshold, doing so in 2023; 11 TEs are there presently. This market has not shown substantial growth, but Schultz’s production should warrant a commitment in this range. He ranks in the top 10 in receptions, yards and touchdowns among tight ends since taking the reins in Dallas in 2020. The 6-foot-5 pass catcher has topped 575 yards in each season, reaching 808 in 2021 and totaling 635 and five TDs in Houston last season.

The Patriots could potentially be in play for Schultz, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler writes. They have Hunter Henry‘s three-year deal coming off the books soon. That said, the Pats’ 2021 tight end splurge — for Henry and Jonnu Smith — offered middling results. Henry did produce at points, however, and the Patriots have carved out considerable cap space ahead of Jerod Mayo‘s first offseason in charge. As of Sunday morning, New England leads the league with $101MM in cap room. The Texans carry a hefty amount, too, holding just more than $70MM.

Barring 11th-hour re-ups, this year’s TE free agent crop is set to include Schultz, Smith, Henry, Gesicki, Noah Fant and Gerald Everett. Fant is a player who figures to join Schultz as a coveted free agent, Fowler adds. Included in the Russell Wilson trade, Fant did not see his numbers spike in Seattle. After back-to-back seasons north of 650 yards in Denver, Fant did not clear 500 in either Seattle slate. But the Iowa product carries a first-round pedigree and is going into his age-26 season.

Patriots Interested In Baker Mayfield

March 1st, 2024 at 10:15pm CST by Sam Robinson

The expectation remains the Patriots will address their quarterback need by selecting a passer with the No. 3 overall pick. But Jerod Mayo‘s first roster needs help in many places. Trading down could potentially be an option.

If the Patriots are considering moving down, it would put them in play for one of the top free agent arms. They are indeed believed to be monitoring Baker Mayfield, with the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed indicating the Buccaneers QB has some supporters within the organization. A number of connections exist.

In addition to the Patriots being connected to Mayfield interest back in 2018, a few staffers from the team that did draft him are working in Foxborough now. That includes de facto GM Eliot Wolf, who was with the Browns when they pulled the trigger on taking Mayfield first overall six years ago. OC Alex Van Pelt coached Mayfield for two seasons in Cleveland. So was QBs coach T.C. McCartney. Additionally, assistant Ben McAdoo and front office staffer Pat Stewart were with the Panthers during Mayfield’s woeful stay in Charlotte.

Outside interest in Mayfield will only stand to drive up the QB’s price in Buccaneers negotiations, which have begun. Tampa Bay has expressed interest in re-signing Mayfield for a bit now, but the cost is expected to skyrocket after his bounce-back season. Mayfield, 28, showed considerable improvement after an injury-plagued 2021 slate and a brutal 2022 showing in Carolina. The former Heisman winner showed flashes with the Rams and is coming off setting career-high marks in TD passes (28) and passing yards (4,044). He also mixed in a career-low 10 INTs.

The Bucs gave Mayfield input in their OC search, which ended with ex-Rams OC Liam Coen. They could use the franchise tag to keep the starting QB off the market, but with that number coming in beyond $38MM, such a move is not anticipated. Tampa Bay is expected to tag Antoine Winfield Jr., giving the team until March 11 to hammer out a deal with Mayfield and prevent him from exploring the open market. Mayfield is also interested in staying with the Bucs, but other teams are naturally curious about a potential agreement. The Falcons are believed to be among them, though they are squarely in the Justin Fields mix.

While the Patriots may have Mayfield on their radar, Kyed adds they are not believed to be interested in Kirk Cousins. The latter is seven years older than Mayfield and coming off a torn Achilles. Cousins’ steadier track record is also likely to make him a more expensive free agent. Cousins also would not seemingly align with Mayo’s first Patriots roster, which needs help across the board on offense.

Mayfield would better align here, but it would still be surprising if the Pats went in this direction. The team may be interested in pairing a free agent with a QB at No. 3 overall, putting Mac Jones in limbo. Mayfield would certainly be leery of a team considering a first-round pick, though given what it will cost to acquire the veteran QB, it would be highly unlikely a team would sign him and then draft a passer in the first round. Several bridge-level options will be available in free agency, and it is more likely the Patriots pursue one of them instead of ponying up big bucks for Mayfield.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/1/24

March 1st, 2024 at 7:24pm CST by Ely Allen

The only minor move in a day full of bigger transactions:

New England Patriots

The former CFL standout passer will remain in New England after being claimed off waivers from Jacksonville late last season. Rourke has been a hot name of interest in the years following his Canadian success, meeting with 13 teams since that time. Despite time with the Jaguars and Patriots, Rourke has not yet made his NFL debut. He appears to be a part of New England’s plans at quarterback moving forward.

Patriots Release CB J.C. Jackson

March 1st, 2024 at 3:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Seeing the Chargers foot most of their J.C. Jackson bill, the Patriots will again separate from the veteran cornerback. They announced Jackson’s release Friday.

Due to the nature of last season’s trade, the Pats will pick up considerable cap room via this transaction. No guarantees remained on Jackson’s deal. Thus, no dead money is on tap; New England will gain $14.38MM in cap space.

Considering the Patriots already led the league in cap space, this will be a notable move. It stands to push their available funds past $100MM. Jackson was due $2MM on March 15, per the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin.

Given Jackson’s rocky 2023 season and the arrangement between the Bolts and Pats, it is unsurprising the AFC East team is moving on. Jackson will head back to free agency, but his stock has tanked two years after signing a top-10 cornerback pact. The Chargers gave Jackson a five-year, $82.5MM deal in 2022. They gave the former UDFA $40MM guaranteed; via the 2023 trade, that will turn into $20.8MM in dead money on the Bolts’ 2024 books.

Bill Belichick did move Jackson back into his starting lineup — weeks after Christian Gonzalez‘s season-ending injury. Although Jackson started six games back in New England, his hurdle-filled 2023 continued. The Pats did not take Jackson to Germany for their Colts matchup, with a curfew violation behind that. They also shut down Jackson early to close the season, citing mental health as the reasoning behind the latter decision.

Jackson did spend much of 2023 rehabbing the ruptured patellar tendon he sustained midway through the 2022 slate in Los Angeles. Jackson’s L.A. debut was not going well, however, and Brandon Staley demoted the high-priced corner early last season. Being a healthy scratch for an early-season Vikings matchup, Jackson was soon traded. He did add one interception to his impressive career total, which now sits at 26, but the 28-year-old defender’s career is at a crossroads.

Showing considerable promise during his first Patriots stint, Jackson went from UDFA — after a turbulent college career that involved some off-field trouble — to regular on the 2018 Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning team. Jackson then totaled 17 interceptions between the 2020 and ’21 seasons. Regularly letting corners walk for bigger paydays elsewhere during Belichick’s tenure, the Pats both passed on a franchise tag and a second contract in 2022. After circling back to Jackson in a borderline emergency circumstance last year, New England is moving on once again.

Latest On Patriots’ QB Plans

March 1st, 2024 at 10:29am CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 1: Providing a rebuttal to the MassLive report, Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald write that no multi-step plan has been agreed upon and communicated throughout the Patriots’ organization. Nevertheless, they corroborate the overwhelming expectation around the league that New England will keep the No. 3 pick and use it on a quarterback of the future. The team’s actions aside from taking that route will of course be interesting to follow.

FEBRUARY 29: With a new regime in place and the opportunity to add a franchise passer in the draft, the Patriots will be a team to watch closely as the offseason unfolds. Trading out of the No. 3 slot remains a possibility, of course, but New England could favor remaining near the top of the board and adding one of the top signal-callers in the 2024 class.

The Patriots have “explored their options” with respect to free agent quarterbacks, Chad Graff and Jeff Howe of The Athletic report (subscription required). It remains the team’s preference, however, to make a long-term investment at the position through the draft, they add. Caleb Williams is likely to go first overall (provided the Bears move on from Justin Fields), which will leave the Commanders and Patriots with Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels to choose from in the second and third slots.

The Athletic report confirms Eliot Wolf – now in charge of roster decisions – values QB traits which align with Maye and Daniels. It adds that the second tier of passers in this year’s class (J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr.) could each be off the board by the next time New England picks at 34th overall. That could provide further incentive to remain at No. 3 and take the top available signal-caller.

Providing further detail on the subject, MassLive’s Karen Guregian and Chris Mason report the Patriots have a three-step plan in place at the QB spot. They corroborate that the first of those steps is selecting a passer third overall, although the second phase involves signing a veteran in free agency. The addition of a bridge option like Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett or Ryan Tannehill would allow the newly-drafted rookie to begin his career on the sidelines. The Packers (with whom Wolf spent considerable time prior to his Patriots tenure) have allowed first-round quarterbacks to sit behind established starters in the case of both Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love, though New England’s situation will of course be different if an experienced option arrives via free agency.

With respect to Mac Jones, the Athletic report confirms a trade is seen around the league as something which would represent the best outcome for both team and player. The former first-rounder has struggled over the past two seasons, and moving on would allow him to attempt to re-build his value in a new environment. Guregian and Mason note a Jones trade is indeed the final step in the Patriots’ plan for the offseason.

After bottoming out during Bill Belichick‘s final season at the helm of the franchise, the Patriots have a number of other roster holes to consider filling in free agency and the draft. Seen as being much more than one quarterback away from contention, a move down the board would yield extra draft capital and likely allow for an addition at the receiver or tackle spot. If the team’s evaluation of Maye and Daniels checks out in the coming weeks, though, it would come as no surprise if one of them ultimately became New England’s top option.

Belichick’s evaluation of the 2024 class produced an affinity for Daniels, NFL Network’s Bridget Condon reports (video link). While that is essentially a moot point with Wolf and new head coach Jerod Mayo now tasked with overseeing New England’s rebuild, it will be interesting to see if their examination of the top prospects yields a similar conclusion. In any case, the Patriots remain on track to have at least one new face in the QB room in 2024.

Latest On Patriots OL Michael Onwenu

February 27th, 2024 at 9:04pm CST by Ben Levine

With Michael Onwenu set to hit free agency in a few weeks, the Patriots offensive lineman is currently operating without an agent. The lineman recently informed NFL teams that he has “terminated his prior relationship” with representatives Roosevelt Barnes and Jovan Barnes, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com. NFL Players Association records also show that Onwenu doesn’t currently have an agent.

This could end up being a non-story. After all, players need to wait five days after terminating representation before hiring a new agent, per Florio. However, there’s also the possibility that the lineman could simply be looking to represent himself. With rookie contracts becoming more and more standard, we’ve seen a handful of first-year players enter the NFL without representation. However, it’s extremely rare for a veteran to operate without an agent, especially when they’re set to hit free agency for the first time in their career.

Onwenu has spent his entire career in New England. The former sixth-round pick found himself in and out of the starting lineup in 2021, but he started all 32 of his appearances over the past two years. Listed as a tackle in 2023, Pro Football Focus ranked Onwenu 29th among 81 qualifiers this past season. The lineman ranked top-10 at his position in each of his first three seasons in the league.

The 26-year-old may simply be gearing up to sign with the highest bidder in free agency. The Patriots apparently remain an option to retain the offensive lineman, with executive Eliot Wolf telling reporters today that the latest development about Onwenu’s representation doesn’t change anything for the organization.

“It doesn’t impact us,” Wolf said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “Mike is a core player for us. It’s no secret we want to try to keep Mike, and it will just be a little bit of a wrinkle dealing with him. Mike is really smart, he’s introspective, he’s thoughtful, and he understands; he knows what he wants, which is always good when you’re dealing with a player. He’s certainly someone we view as a cornerstone for us.”

Patriots, WR Kendrick Bourne Have Not Held Contract Talks

February 25th, 2024 at 1:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

Regardless of who will be under center for the Patriots in 2024, improvement in the passing game will be needed. New pass-catchers will no doubt be a priority for the team, but Kendrick Bourne is one of the incumbent options who could be retained on a new deal.

Bourne is a pending free agent after playing out the three-year, $15MM contract he signed in 2021. That deal came after his four-year tenure with the 49ers, though it did not entirely go according to plan. The former UDFA saw a downturn in playing time during the 2022 season after posting a career-high 55-800-5 statline the year before. Bourne’s third New England campaign came to an abrupt end in October due to an ACL tear.

The 28-year-old is on track to be ready for Week 1 of the the 2024 season, one which he hopes will allow him to continue his time with the Patriots. However, ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports that “no substantial” talks have taken place on a new contract to date. As a result, Bourne is on track to reach the open market once the new league year begins in March.

Given his injury and modest receiving totals for two of his New England campaigns, the Eastern Washington product could be hard-pressed to land a lucrative deal from an outside suitor. More accomplished wideouts like Michael Pittman Jr., Mike Evans and Calvin Ridley are among the headlining members of the 2024 free agent class, and Bourne would check in as a member of a lower tier for available options on the market. Looking to take a step forward in passing efficiency, the Patriots could also elect to turn elsewhere at the WR position this offseason.

New England already has veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and DeVante Parker on the books for the next two years. The team also has Demario Douglas and Tyquan Thornton as recent draftees set to hold a receiving role in 2024 and beyond. A big-money addition in free agency will be possible given the Patriots’ cap situation, though the team has a number of other roster holes which need to be addressed this offseason. As things stand, Bourne could be headed to a new environment relatively soon, but there is still time for his desire to work out a new contract to be reciprocated.

2024 NFL Cap Space, By Team

February 24th, 2024 at 9:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL provided clarity to its teams on Friday by setting the salary cap ceiling ($255.4MM). Franchise tag figures have been locked in as well, and clubs can now proceed with their offseason planning knowing exactly where they stand with respect to financial flexibility. Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is the current landscape in terms of salary cap space:

  1. Washington Commanders: $79.61MM
  2. Tennessee Titans: $78.66MM
  3. Chicago Bears: $78.34MM
  4. New England Patriots: $77.96MM
  5. Indianapolis Colts: $72.34MM
  6. Houston Texans: $67.58MM
  7. Detroit Lions: $57.61MM
  8. Arizona Cardinals: $51.1MM
  9. Cincinnati Bengals: $50.67MM
  10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $43.68MM
  11. Los Angles Rams: $43.11MM
  12. Las Vegas Raiders: $42.94MM
  13. Minnesota Vikings: $35.81MM
  14. Carolina Panthers: $34.57MM
  15. Atlanta Falcons: $33MM
  16. New York Giants: $30.8MM
  17. Philadelphia Eagles: $27.35MM
  18. Jacksonville Jaguars: $24.68MM
  19. Kansas City Chiefs: $18.19MM
  20. Baltimore Ravens: $16.63MM
  21. Seattle Seahawks: $12.97MM
  22. New York Jets: $12.76MM
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: $9MM
  24. Green Bay Packers: $2.3MM
  25. San Francisco 49ers: $5.07MM over the cap
  26. Cleveland Browns: $7.76MM over
  27. Dallas Cowboys: $9.86MM over
  28. Denver Broncos: $16.81MM over
  29. Los Angeles Chargers: $25.61MM over
  30. Miami Dolphins: $27.92MM over
  31. New Orleans Saints: $42.11MM over
  32. Buffalo Bills: $43.82MM over

All teams must be cap compliant by the start of the new league year, but it will of course be more than just those currently over the limit which will make cost-shedding moves in the near future. Cuts, restructures and extensions are available as tools to carve out space in advance of free agency. Several have already taken place around the league.

That includes the Dolphins’ release of defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and the planned cut of Xavien Howard. The latter cannot be designated a post-June 1 release until free agency begins but once it happens, Miami will move much closer to cap compliance. The Saints have moved considerable commitments into the future via restructures (as usual), but more transactions on that front will be required even with the cap seeing an historic single-season jump.

The roughly $30MM spike from 2023 will provide unforeseen spending power for teams already set to lead the pack in cap space while also making the task of those at the bottom of the list easier. Spending more on backloaded contracts this offseason at the expense of future space obviously carries risk, however. Still, the news of a higher-than-expected ceiling will add further intrigue to each team’s financial planning.

With Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson each set to carry record-breaking cap hits for 2024, the Cowboys and Browns will be among the teams most in need of working out a deal to lower those figures. In Dallas’ case in particular, an extension would provide immediate breathing room in addition to clarity on his future beyond the coming season. For Cleveland, Watson’s fully-guaranteed deal has already been restructured once and will need to be again to avoid consecutive years of a $64MM cap charge over its remaining term.

If the Commanders and Patriots add a quarterback with the second and third picks in this year’s draft, each team currently in the top six in space will enjoy the benefits of having a signal-caller on their rookie contracts. That would allow for an aggressive approach to free agency, although the Chiefs’ success after Patrick Mahomes signed (and re-worked) his monster extension has proven it is possible to win Super Bowl titles with a substantial QB investment on the books.

Patriots Notes: Covington, Brown, Wolf

February 21st, 2024 at 5:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Considering New England’s unconventional approach to their defensive coaching staff in recent years, it was uncertain how much control new defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington would have on Jerod Mayo‘s staff. It sounds like Covington will have full authority over his defense, as the coach revealed to reporters today that he’ll be the defensive play-caller this season (via Karen Guregian of MassLive).

It had been years since Bill Belichick employed a traditional DC, with Mayo and Steve Belichick most recently splitting the unofficial role. The younger Belichick was the one calling defensive plays, but he won’t be sticking around New England after taking the DC job at the University of Washington. Mayo himself could have been a candidate for the defensive play-caller role, but it sounds like he’ll be leaning on his DC during games.

This will be Covington’s first time serving in either of those two roles in the NFL. Following a one-season stint as Eastern Illinois’ DC, he’s served in a variety of roles on New England’s coaching staff.

On the other side of the ball, Troy Brown will be sticking around as the Patriots’ wide receivers coach (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald). The long-time Patriots WR transitioned to coaching following his playing career, and he’s guided New England’s wideouts since the 2021 campaign. With Mayo revamping the coaching staff, it was uncertain if Brown would be retained in his current role.

Elsewhere in New England, there’s been a bit of confusion surrounding who’s actually leading the front office. Eliot Wolf is expected to control the 53-man roster for at least the time being, and it sounds like the executive had some extra responsibilities while Mayo filled his coaching staff. The new Patriots head coach told reporters that Wolf participated in all of the coaching interviews this offseason (via Kyed).

The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf, Eliot Wolf spent more than a decade with Green Bay before joining New England’s operation. His experience with the Packers has clearly been reflected on the coaching staff, as the team has brought in ex-Packers assistants like Alex Van Pelt, Ben McAdoo, Jerry Montgomery and Alonzo Highsmith.

Patriots Unlikely To Re-Sign OL Michael Onwenu; Kyle Dugger Franchise Tag In Play

February 21st, 2024 at 9:55am CST by Sam Robinson

Showing an intriguing skillset at both guard and right tackle, Michael Onwenu is expected to generate extensive interest on the open market. The Patriots have the option of franchise-tagging the former sixth-round pick, but that does not seem like the route the organization will take.

The Pats are expecting Onwenu to depart in free agency, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who indicates teams are monitoring this situation ahead of what is expected to be a strong free agency derby. Several teams slot Onwenu as the top free agent O-lineman this year, per Fowler. Onwenu is among a number of young guard starters close to hitting the market; the former sixth-rounder’s RT past stands to bolster his case to become a well-paid player soon after the legal tampering period launches free agency.

[RELATED: 2024 NFL Franchise Tag Candidates]

Seeing their Riley Reiff-centered right tackle plan produce only a handful of snaps in 2023, the Patriots moved Onwenu back outside. He had spent time at RT as a rookie, before settling in at guard in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, ESPN’s pass block win rate metric placed Onwenu eighth among guards. Pro Football Focus slotted the Michigan alum 29th among tackles last season.

Onwenu, 26, joins a host of guards who are coming off their rookie deals. Robert Hunt, Jonah Jackson, Damien Lewis, Jon Runyan Jr. and Ezra Cleveland are weeks away from free agency status. Tackle, however, looks much thinner. Among players seeking their first payday, Jonah Williams headlines the tackle crop. Onwenu could give a team a solution at multiple spots. While this resume overlaps with the swingman job description, Onwenu is far above that level. His next team will pay him to start at either guard or right tackle.

The Patriots losing Onwenu would deal a blow to an offense already light on talent. Trent Brown is expected to depart, and Cole Strange has not yet justified his first-round status. Brown’s latest Pats contract voided this week, Fowler adds, creating a $2MM dead-money charge. Onwenu has made 56 career starts and is coming into his prime. The Pats are looking likely to need new solutions at left and right tackle. Onwenu extension talks did not progress too far, though that came when Bill Belichick was still running the show. Eliot Wolf is believed to be in charge now, creating a sense of uncertainty due to Belichick having been at the top of the Pats’ decision-making pyramid for so long.

In an antiquated setup, all O-linemen remain under one umbrella when it comes to the franchise tag. This results in guards and centers rarely being tagged. Though, the Patriots bucked this trend when they last unholstered their tag; New England cuffed Joe Thuney in 2020. The O-lineman tag is projected to check in around $19.9MM. The Pats have another player residing as a more realistic tag candidate. They are more likely to keep Kyle Dugger off the market, Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal writes.

A Dugger tag is probably on the table, per ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss, who reminds of the Pats’ run of failures extending highly drafted players in recent years. The team has not extended a homegrown first-, second- or third-round pick since re-signing 2013 third-rounder Duron Harmon in 2017. Dugger qualifies as a candidate to reverse that trend.

Although the safety market basically turned into Jessie Bates and the field last year, teams have been looking into a potential Dugger pursuit for a bit now. It would cost the Pats roughly $16.2MM to tag Dugger. Doing so would buy them time on an extension, as teams have until July 15 to extended tagged players. Jerod Mayo also pointed to the team being more aggressive in free agency recently, Reiss adds. Holding the NFL’s second-most projected cap space (at $69.5MM), the Pats can afford a Dugger tag and have money to spend to address other areas.

Belichick held onto Dugger and Onwenu at the trade deadline, though both were rumored candidates to be moved as the team found itself in the rare position as a potential midseason seller. Dugger played 97% of the Pats’ defensive snaps last season, and with Mayo and DeMarcus Covington sticking around, the former second-round pick offers continuity for a team that just released Adrian Phillips. Dugger played ahead of the veteran in 2023. PFF only ranked Dugger 68th among safeties last season but viewed his 2022 more favorably; the Lenoir-Rhyne alum returned two interceptions for touchdowns that year. Although Dugger has fared better closer to the line of scrimmage, he has nine INTs over the past three seasons.

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