1:45 PM EDT, Thu March 28, 2024
Pats Pulpit

Patriots are challenging Josh Uche to become a bigger part of their defense, contract incentives show

Photo by Cooper Neill/ The edge linebacker signed a one-year contract to stay with the Patriots in free agency. The New England Patriots were able to keep edge defender Josh Uche in the fold for the 2024 season. The former second-round draft pick, who explored free agency for the first time in his career, a one-year, $3 million contract with the Patriots — a deal that is significantly lower than other offers he reportedly received. Nonetheless, Uche will be in a position to boost his cash intake quite a bit before entering the open market once again next offseason....

Pats Pulpit

New England Patriots links 3/28/24 - Expert draft advice for Pats: Trade down AND stay put at No. 3

Hunter Henry reacting after loss to Raiders | Photo by Chris Unger/ Daily news and links for Thursday TEAM TALK Patriots 2024 Mock Draft Tracker. Evan Lazar’s Pro Day tour: Inside QB Jayden Daniels’ workout for NFL scouts at LSU Pro Day. Patriots Playbook with John Rooke: Reviewing the offseason so far, NFL rule changes & Draft preview. (2 hours) LOCAL LINKS Chris Mason resets the Patriots depth chart after free agency. Mike Kadlick discusses the Pats finishing their recent Pro Day circuit in Chapel Hill to watch UNC QB Drake Maye Brian Hines’ Scouting...

Cincy Jungle

Ted Karras helped recruit Trent Brown to Bengals

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK Karras convinced Brown to come to Cincinnati, selling him on the culture. The Cincinnati Bengals continue to tweak their offensive line in free agency by signing massive right tackle Trent Brown. Now, four of the five tentative starting offensive linemen on the team going into the 2024 season were brought in via free agency, the only exception being left guard Cordell Volson. Center Ted Karras, who won a Super Bowl while with the New England Patriots, was instrumental in bringing in his one-time teammate, Brown, who was on...

Pats Pulpit

Patriots draft profile: Patrick Paul could be a plug-and-play starter at left tackle

Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via New England needs a new left tackle, and Paul is an attractive candidate. The New England Patriots did make investments in their offensive tackle position in free agency, signing Chukwuma Okorafor to a one-year contract and extending Michael Onwenu for three more seasons. As of right now, Okorafor and Onwenu might just be the team’s starting options at the position. But while Onwenu is locked into the right tackle spot, the left one remains a major need. Even with Okorafor aboard as a possible starter, New England needs to...

Pats Pulpit

What Myles Bryant signing with the Texans in free agency means for the Patriots

Photo by Cooper Neill/ The fifth-year cornerback is taking his talents to Houston. The focus all across the NFL is shifting toward the draft, but free agency is still going on. And even though moves are becoming sparser by the day, signings continue to happen. One of those came on Monday, when the Houston Texans brought cornerback Myles Bryant aboard. Bryant spent the last four years in New England, and is now reuniting with former Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio in Houston. How does the move impact their former team, though? Let’s take a...

Pats Pulpit

K.J. Osborn will be part of Patriots’ wide receiver group in 2024, contract details show

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Osborn signed a one-year, $4 million contract in free agency. Even though they ended up not landing Calvin Ridley, the wide receiver-needy New England Patriots did manage to improve the position’s depth in free agency. K.J. Osborn, a 31-game starter in four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, signed a one-year, $4 million contract to move to New England. The deal’s base value already suggests that Osborn could factor into the Patriots’ wide receiver mix in 2024; a look at the full details shows that he very much can be locked into a...

NESN.com

Robert Kraft Shares Message To Patriots Fans After Offseason Stages

The New England Patriots have made a number of moves so far in the offseason with the NFL Draft still ahead. Those transactions have come without a splash addition to the roster after free agency opened. Team owner Robert Kraft understands that while the major move hasn’t come yet, laying a youthful foundation has been […]

NESN.com

Vikings Owner’s Remarks Will Fuel Patriots Draft Trade Speculation

With each passing week, the Vikings look more and more like a team ready to pounce in the 2024 NFL Draft. Minnesota officially entered the pool of quarterback-needy teams when Kirk Cousins signed with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. The Vikings quickly added Sam Darnold to maintain positional depth, but a far more intriguing […]

NESN.com

Everyone Made Joke After Robert Kraft Threw Calvin Ridley’s Girlfriend Under Bus

Patriots owner Robert Kraft shared one of the key reasons Calvin Ridley did not sign in New England, and in doing so threw one of Ridley’s close personal connections right under the bus. “We pursued the people we wanted in free agency, there was one outstanding receiver (Ridley) that unfortunately we couldn’t close,” Kraft told […]

NESN.com

Jerod Mayo Has Message For Patriots Fans After Slow Free Agency

Patriots fans who heard Jerod Mayo’s “burn some cash” comments and hoped it signaled the organization’s mindset entering NFL free agency surely have been left disappointed. New England retained many of its own, including a big payday for offensive lineman Mike Onwenu and a handful of lower-cost, but much-needed depth players. The Patriots also added […]

Pats Pulpit

Jerod Mayo asking for patience after rebuilding Patriots’ quiet free agency

Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via New England had the money, but decided not to make any splash outside acquisitions so far this offseason. Coming off a 4-13 season, the New England Patriots entered the offseason among the NFL’s leaders in available salary cap space. Paired with a much-publicized statement about the team being “ready to burn some cash” from head coach Jerod Mayo — one he would later walk back from — expectations were high for the team entering free agency. The Patriots had the cash and also appeared to have the willingness to...

NESN.com

Jerod Mayo Received This Message From Krafts About Free Agent Spending

The Patriots didn’t “burn cash” at the outset of NFL free agency like some expected, but the frugal spending wasn’t a directive from ownership. New England entered the offseason armed with the most salary cap space in the entire league. Instead of using the surplus of cash on a free-agent game-changer, the Patriots spread their […]

Silver And Black Pride

Raiders free agency: Who do you want back?

DeAndre Carter | Photo by Kirby Lee/ There are still several in-house Las Vegas free agents As we start the third week of NFL free agency, there are still several in-house Las Vegas Raiders free agents available. Now, seven unrestricted free agents have signed elsewhere in free agency. They are: Defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (Arizona Cardinals), running back Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers), tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (New York Giants), Austin Hooper (New England Patriots), cornerbacks Amik Robertson (Detroit Lions) and Tyler Hall (Philadelphia Eagles), tackle Brandon...

Pats Pulpit

Patriots committed to Antonio Gibson as their receiving back, contract details show

Photo by Scott Taetsch/ The Patriots signed Gibson to a three-year deal in free agency. While quarterback, offensive tackle, and wide receiver were — and still are — the New England Patriots’ most prominent needs heading into the offseason, the running back position also had plenty of room for investments. The team, after all, was lacking a true receiving option to complement Rhamondre Stevenson. The Patriots feel that Antonio Gibson can be just that. A former third-round draft pick by the Washington Commanders, Gibson arrived in New England via a three-year,...

NESN.com

Jerod Mayo Reveals Patriots Had Contract Talks With Budding Star

Retaining their own players was the “most important” priority for the Patriots this offseason, and New England made sure a few of them didn’t even hit NFL free agency. Jerod Mayo and company are trying to do the same with one of their most important players whose contract is expiring. Christian Barmore is poised for […]

Pats Pulpit

Sunday Patriots Notes: Jerod Mayo making strong first impression on roster newcomers

Photo by Maddie Meyer/ Notes and thoughts on the Patriots and the rest of the NFL. With the majority of free agency in the rearview mirror, the New England Patriots turn their attention back to the draft — where the pro days and top-30 visits are in full swing. Make sure to check out our Sunday Patriots Notes to stay up to date with all things not covered elsewhere on Pats Pulpit. 1. First impressions: Austin Hooper’s first tour of Gillette Stadium as an official member of the Patriots brought him through the team’s cafeteria. It was there the tight end met his...

Pats Pulpit

#PostPulpit Mailbag: Why did the Patriots fail to make a splash in free agency?

Photo by Stacy Revere/ The latest edition of our Patriots mailbag answers questions about free agency, trade targets and more. As the free agency “frenzy” winds down, the New England Patriots and the rest of the league turn their attention back to the NFL Draft. With Pro Days in full affect and Top 30 visits around the corner, let’s take a pause to break down the past week — and weeks ahead — for the Patriots in this week’s #PostPulpit mailbag. @FreeMan31224 People saying the free agent class was average, fair enough, but an average team is like 8-9 or 9-8,...

NESN.com

Pay Up? This Emerging Patriots Star Could ‘Cash In’ Next Free Agency

The New England Patriots retained several of their free agents this NFL offseason. Will they continue that trend next offseason? ESPN’s Matt Bowen, a former NFL safety, explored the 2025 free agency class in a piece published Friday on ESPN.com. While evaluating the best players potentially available in several different categories, Bowen pointed to an […]

Pats Pulpit

Patriots free agency profile: Jaylinn Hawkins helps fill two needs on the roster

Photo by Sean M. Haffey/ Hawkins has joined the Patriots on a one-year contract. When it comes to outside acquisitions, the New England Patriots have had a relatively quiet free agency period so far. Despite being among the league leaders in salary cap space entering the new league year, they decided to invest a significant portion in re-signings rather than any big-name additions via the open market. Instead, the focus when it comes to external free agents was bolstering the team’s overall depth through high-quality rotational options. The latest signing falls into...

Pats Pulpit

Patriots optimistic about Austin Hooper’s fit in their offense, contract details show

Photo by Harry How/ The Patriots signed Hooper to a one-year contract in free agency. The New England Patriots headed toward free agency with only one tight end on their roster. La’Michael Pettway would not remain alone for long, however: not only did the team re-sign Hunter Henry to a three-year contract, it also added Austin Hooper as an external unrestricted free agent. Hooper signed a one-year, $3 million contract to join the Patriots. And looking at the pact’s finer print, one can get the impression that the club is rather optimistic about his fit in its...

NESN.com

How Patriots Depth Chart At Receiver Looks With New Addition

Taking action at the wide receiver position should have been high up on the to-do list for the New England Patriots this offseason. The Patriots have addressed the position … well, somewhat. There’s still a lot of time left in the offseason to do something, but the bulk of free agency is over and New […]

NESN.com

Six Deals Patriots Might Regret Not Making During NFL Free Agency

There were moves to be made. And not the type of moves that would tie the New England Patriots up for the long term. There were savvy ways to improve the 2024 team while still maintaining flexibility and build for the future. The Patriots opted to pass on many of them. Instead, the Patriots re-signed […]

Pats Pulpit

Instant grade for the Patriots signing S Jaylinn Hawkins in free agency

Photo by Ryan Kang/ The Patriots added the defender on a one-year contract on Thursday. The New England Patriots have made another free agency move. Safety Jaylinn Hawkins, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers, has joined the team on a one-year contract. Hawkins has 58 games on his NFL résumé, seeing time on both defense and special teams. He has four interceptions to his name as well as one forced fumble and recovery each, including one for a touchdown. S Jaylinn Hawkins: Signed (1 year) Bernd Buchmasser: The Patriots were in the market for some...

Pats Pulpit

Patriots’ needs after the first wave of free agency, ranked from quarterback to punter

Photo by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe via New England still has plenty of work to do this offseason. While NFL free agency is not over yet, the initial wave has come and gone leaving most of the big names on the market accounted for. The New England Patriots, who at one point leading into the new league year had an NFL-high $100.3 million in salary cap space available, were quite active as well. That said, most of their efforts focused on retaining talent rather than bringing players aboard from outside the organization. This resulted in the re-signings of...

Pats Pulpit

What signing Jaylinn Hawkins in free agency means for the Patriots

Photo by Ryan Kang/ The former fourth-round draft pick was signed on a one-year contract. Four days after adding wide receiver K.J. Osborn, the New England Patriots have made another signing in free agency. Their latest addition is safety Jaylinn Hawkins, who will arrive via a reported one-year contract. A former fourth-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons, Hawkins spent the second half of the 2023 season with the Los Angeles Chargers. Now, the 26-year-old is taking his talents to New England. Let’s assess what this means for the Patriots. The Patriots add an...

ClutchPoints

KJ Osborn drops eye-opening take after signing with Patriots

Even though the New England Patriots are coming off a 4-13 season and are in need of a quarterback, K.J. Osborn was more than willing to sign with the team in NFL free agency. Osborn told reporters that he recognizes that the Patriots still have a lot of work to do in order to compete […] The post KJ Osborn drops eye-opening take after signing with Patriots appeared first on ClutchPoints.

NESN.com

Austin Hooper Views Himself As ‘Jack Of All Trades’ Entering Patriots Chapter

Getting to play in four different offenses over the course of his eight-year NFL career served new Patriots tight end Austin Hooper well. Hooper believes it expanded his skill set and gave him the necessary tools to handle the vast amount of responsibilities at the position. And Hooper, who joined the Patriots in free agency […]

NESN.com

NFL Free Agency Rumors: Patriots To Sign Former Starting Safety

The New England Patriots reportedly are adding a piece to their defensive backfield. The Patriots have agreed to terms with safety Jaylinn Hawkins, as first reported Thursday by NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo. MassLive’s Mark Daniels reported it was a one-year deal. The 26-year-old Hawkins was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. […]