BAL BUF CIN CLE DEN HOU IND JAX KC LAC LV MIA NE NYJ PIT TEN
ARI ATL CAR CHI DAL DET GB LAR MIN NO NYG PHI SEA SF TB WAS
QB RB WR TE PK | All Non-IDP | DT DE DL ILB OLB LB CB S DB | Footballguys View | All the news | FBG News Blogger Archive
Patriots | Liam Fornadel joins the fold in New England Tue Jun 18, 04:18 PM
Free-agent OG Liam Fornadel (UFL) signed an undisclosed contract with the New England Patriots on Tuesday, June 18.
Link to story Patriots | Teammate talks up Christian Gonzalez Tue Jun 18, 02:41 PM
New England Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez is 'going to be one of the best players in the game,' according to teammate Jonathan Jones.
Link to story Patriots | Christian Gonzalez feeling good Mon Jun 17, 04:22 PM
New England Patriots CB Christian Gonzalez (shoulder) said he is feeling good after missing most of the 2023 season because of a shoulder injury.
Link to story Patriots | Ryan Johnson let go Mon Jun 17, 04:10 PM
New England Patriots OG Ryan Johnson was released Monday, June 17.
Link to story Patriots | Drake Maye climbing depth chart Mon Jun 17, 03:21 PM
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye finished mandatory minicamp as the No. 2 on the depth chart after starting the spring workouts as the No. 3, according to sources Monday, June 17.
| Footballguys view: As previously noted in this space, after starting spring practices as the No. 3 option behind Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe, Maye was the No. 2 option by the end of mandatory minicamp. According to ESPN.com's Mike Reiss, Maye's comfort level grew with each practice. "Every day he's gotten better," Brissett said of Maye. Now we'll be looking for signs the youngster can improve enough to move ahead of Brissett, who is currently expected to be the team's Week 1 starter. |
Patriots | Drake Maye, Ja'Lynn Polk Put In Extra Work Together Sun Jun 16, 04:23 PM
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye missed a throw on an out route in last Wednesday's practice during the two-minute drill, so he followed his regular routine by staying after practice to work on it. He didn't have to recruit a receiver to join him. Ja'Lynn Polk, as usual, was right there. The Patriots' first- and second-round picks made it a habit over the past four weeks to take extra repetitions after practice and were usually the last players to leave the field. "I think it's important," said Maye, the No. 3 overall selection from the University of North Carolina. "It's picking up little things every day."
| Footballguys view: As ESPN.com's Mike Reiss suggested, little is expected of the Patriots in the 2024 season -- they are projected as one of the NFL's lower-echelon teams -- but the potential development of Maye and Polk sparks hope for the future. The question, specifically with Maye, is when the future starts. It's widely believed veteran Jacoby Brissett will be the Week 1 starter at QB. But it's fair to wonder how long Maye will have to wait before being thrown into the fray. He's already making progress. Per Reiss, at the start of the spring, Maye was taking repetitions behind Brissett and 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe. By the end of the spring, he was mostly repping immediately behind Brissett. We'll continue to watch for more. |
Patriots | Stephon Gilmore may be option Fri Jun 14, 05:30 PM
Free-agent CB Stephon Gilmore (Cowboys) is not ruling out the possibility of signing with the New England Patriots.
Link to story Patriots | Ja'Lynn Polk inks rookie pact Thu Jun 13, 02:49 PM
New England Patriots second-round draft choice WR Ja'Lynn Polk (Washington) signed a four-year contract worth a reported $9.694 million - including a $3.87 million signing bonus - on Thursday, June 13.
| Footballguys view: The Patriots don't have a great group of wide receivers, but Polk is there to build for the future. Polk was a secondary option in the Huskies offense, but he made plays for QB Michael Penix as a slot or outside receiver. We like Polk's hand strength, versatility, and ability to make difficult catches in contested situations. We like him more in dynasty formats where you can take the long view (something needed for this offense). |
Patriots | Jay Person let go Tue Jun 11, 05:15 PM
New England Patriots LB Jay Person was released Tuesday, June 11.
Link to story Patriots | Steele Chambers scooped up by New England Tue Jun 11, 05:00 PM
Free-agent LB Steele Chambers (Lions) was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots on Tuesday, June 11.
Link to story Patriots | Rhamondre Stevenson optimistic about deal Mon Jun 10, 06:14 PM
New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson said he believes he will receive a contract extension in the near future.
Link to story Patriots | Jonathan Jones limited Monday Mon Jun 10, 05:55 PM
New England Patriots CB Jonathan Jones (knee) did not participate in team drills during practice Monday, June 10.
Link to story Patriots | No limitations for Matt Judon Mon Jun 10, 05:51 PM
New England Patriots LB Matt Judon (biceps) will not have any restriction during practice this week, according to head coach Jerod Mayo.
Link to story Patriots | Mayo Confident In Rhamondre Stevenson As New England's Starter Mon Jun 10, 05:04 PM
RB Rhamondre Stevenson is in the last year of his contract, and the possibility of extending his stay came up during head coach Jerod Mayo's press conference on Monday. "I will say this about Rhamondre," Mayo said. "I think he's one of the better backs in the league, it's no doubt about it. I think over the last few years, it's been kind of tough on him, as far as getting started. So, I'm excited to see what he does this season. And look, he's earned everything that he gets. He is our starting running back, and hopefully, we do get something done."
| Footballguys view: As Profootballtalk.com's Josh Alper acknowledged, Mayo is not in charge of negotiating deals, but having the head coach stumping for you to stick around has to be a positive. Even if the coach isn't involved in the talks, fantasy managers have to appreciate the level of confidence expressed in Stevenson. The Patriots added Antonio Gibson to their backfield in free agency, but Mayo couldn't have been more explicit in stating Stevenson is the starter. |
Patriots | Jacoby Brissett remains QB1 Mon Jun 10, 01:48 PM
New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett continued working as the starter ahead of rookie Drake Maye at minicamp Monday, June 10.
| Footballguys view: While Brissett continues to work as the starter, it's worth noting Maye was second in the QB order in today's session. According to the team's official website, the rookie is also seeing more volume, with 29 competitive reps (Brissett had 30). Maye was the standout today, but the expectation Brissett will be the Patriots' Week 1 starter remains until further notice. |
Patriots | Javon Baker limited at practice Mon Jun 10, 12:35 PM
New England Patriots WR Javon Baker (leg) was limited at practice and did not partake in team drills while wearing a sleeve on his leg, according to sources Monday, June 10.
| Footballguys view: There's no reason for concern at this point. Baker, selected in the fourth round, is one of two wideouts added in April's Draft. Fellow receiver Ja'Lynn Polk was drafted in the second round. Baker is a tremendous big-play threat (he had five catches of 50-plus yards at Central Florida last season). Still, he has a long way to go before assessing a potential role, even in a New England receiving corps that is most notable for a lack of high-end talent. |
Patriots | Several receivers may be on roster bubble Sun Jun 9, 10:18 AM
New England Patriots WRs Javon Baker, Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, K.J. Osborn and Ja'Lynn Polk appear to be locks to make the team's 53-man roster at the beginning of the regular season, according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald. A handful of other receivers, such as Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton are battling for one or two roster spots.
| Footballguys view: The Patriots have quite the collection at the wide receiver position. There are some has-beens, never-weres, and who knows among the group behind the top five. We'll have to see how these battles shake out in training camp, but from a dynasty perspective, none of these players are that exciting. |
Patriots | New England swaps out a pair of receivers Thu Jun 6, 04:26 PM
Undrafted free-agent WR JaQuae Jackson signed an undisclosed contract with the New England Patriots on Thursday, June 6. WR T.J. Luther was released to make room for him on the roster.
Link to story Patriots | Jacoby Brissett top QB option for now Thu Jun 6, 12:33 AM
New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett is currently the leading candidate for the starting quarterback job, according to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
| Footballguys view: The key words here are "for now" with no.3 overall pick QB Drake Maye behind Brissett on the depth chart. Maye has been impressing during offseason workouts, but Brissett is a solid starting option if the team thinks the rookie needs more time before he's ready. Brissett could begin the season as the starter, but things will be eventually turned over to Maye. |
Patriots | Layden Robinson under contract Wed Jun 5, 04:09 PM
New England Patriots fourth-round draft choice OG Layden Robinson signed a four-year contract with the Patriots Wednesday, June 5. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Link to story Patriots | OC happy with Drake Maye Wed Jun 5, 02:56 AM
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye has been impressive during offseason workouts and has been able to pick up new footwork quickly, according to offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt.
| Footballguys view: That's good news for the Patriots. Maye was the no.3 overall pick, and his physical talent is there in terms of arm strength and athleticism. He did play 'hero ball' quite a bit in college at North Carolina, and Maye doesn't like to throw the ball away. Instead, he'll test coverage with varying results. The Patriots have Jacoby Brissett to start if Maye is not ready Week 1, but all roads lead to Maye being the starter perhaps sooner rather than later in 2024. |
Patriots | Demario Douglas draws praise from No. 3 overall pick Tue Jun 4, 04:51 PM
New England Patriots WR Demario Douglas reminds rookie quarterback Drake Maye of Josh Downs, who he played with at North Carolina.'Pop, he reminds me of a lot of ... Josh Downs. Can't guard him in a phone booth. Twitchy, speed ... I think those two things you cannot work on - speed and quickness. He has got them both,' Maye told reporters on Tuesday, June 4.
Link to story Patriots | Andrew Stueber to be let go Mon Jun 3, 04:45 PM
New England Patriots OT Andrew Stueber has been informed that he will be waived.
Link to story Patriots | David Wallis signed Mon Jun 3, 04:28 PM
Undrafted free-agent WR David Wallis (Randolph-Macon College) signed with the New England Patriots Monday, June 3. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Link to story Patriots | NE reportedly wanted to draft Xavier Worthy Sun Jun 2, 10:09 AM
The New England Patriots had interest in selecting WR Xavier Worthy in the 2024 NFL Draft, before the Kansas City Chiefs made a trade with the Buffalo Bills in order to pick him, according to an interview that former Patriots executive Michael Lombardi did on ESPN Radio's 'The Pat McAfee Show.'
| Footballguys view: The Patriots could use the help. They don't have much at the receiver position, and a guy like Worthy could have been their top target at the position. Worthy is now with the Chiefs where he can take the top off the defense for the league's best quarterback. |
Patriots | Caedan Wallace gets rookie deal done Fri May 31, 04:22 PM
New England Patriots third-round draft choice OT Caedan Wallace (Penn State) signed a four-year contract on Friday, May 31. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.
Link to story Patriots | Javon Baker impressing Fri May 31, 11:56 AM
New England Patriots WR Javon Baker had a 'standout day' at OTAs on Wednesday, May 31. The rookie caught two deep completions during team drills.
| Footballguys view: A fourth-round pick out of Central Florida, Baker has a chance to do more than some expect as a rookie. The Patriots don't have a great group of receivers in front of Baker on the depth chart. Let's see if he can continue to improve as training camp gets here in August. Baker wins with a size/speed combination and run-after-the-catch ability. |
Patriots | Jacoby Brissett to enter camp as QB1 Fri May 31, 01:34 AM
New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett received all of the No. 1 quarterback reps in practices open to the media, and it 'seems clear' he'll enter training camp as the starting quarterback, in the opinion of The Athletic's Chad Graff.
| Footballguys view: Brissett could be the starter for the team when the regular season opens. Rookie Drake Maye is a potential franchise quarterback, but his game is rough around the edges. His propensity to play 'hero ball' needs to be dialed back in the pros. As he develops, Brissett gives the Patriots a solid veteran starting option. |
Patriots | Drake Maye financials Tue May 28, 03:50 PM
New England Patriots first-round draft choice QB Drake Maye (North Carolina) reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth $36.639 million - including a $23.467 million signing bonus - on Tuesday, May 28. The deal includes a fifth-year team option.
Link to story Patriots | Drake Maye inks rookie pact Tue May 28, 02:21 PM
New England Patriots first-round draft choice QB Drake Maye (North Carolina) reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year contract on Tuesday, May 28. Financial terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed, but the contract includes a fifth-year team option.
| Footballguys view: New England will choose whether or not to exercise that fifth-year option in the spring of 2027. Veteran Jacoby Brissett may begin the 2024 season as New Englandâ??s starter, but Maye will likely take over as QB1 at some point this year. |
Patriots | Drake Maye working with rookie WRs Mon May 27, 05:04 PM
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye has been working with WRs Ja'Lynn Polk and WR Javon Baker after practices during organized team activities so he can build better connections with both.
| Footballguys view: According to ESPN.com's Mike Reiss, Maye would call out certain throws he wanted to work on -- "back shoulder!" -- and the receivers would then run routes at half speed as Maye mostly delivered in stride. Chemistry between quarterbacks and receivers can take time to develop. But the Packers have achieved success taking a similar approach with Jordan Love and a young receiving corps. It's early days in New England, but having the incoming batterymates putting in work is a huge plus. |
Patriots | JuJu Smith-Schuster at full strength Sun May 26, 09:24 PM
New England Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee) said he feels 100% heading into his second season with the team. 'Last year at this time, I was probably at 60%, so it's a big difference,' Smith-Schuster said. 'It's not easy coming off a knee injury having a long season and coming back with a quick turnaround the next year. I feel great. I've never felt better.'
| Footballguys view: In case you missed it, Smith-Schuster played into February as a member of the Chiefs last year and needed a knee procedure following the Super Bowl. He was unavailable when the Patriots kicked off their voluntary program last spring and never hit stride in the offense in the fall. Smith-Schuster missed six games and finished 2023 as WR93. With a new coaching staff, a new QB, and a pair of wideouts -- Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker -- selected in April's draft, the Pats have an eye on the future. Smith-Schuster's WR105 spot on our current rankings indicates the role we expect this year. |
Patriots | Javon Baker signs contract Fri May 24, 03:21 PM
New England Patriots fourth-round draft choice WR Javon Baker signed a four-year contract with the Patriots Friday, May 24. Financial terms were not disclosed.
| Footballguys view: Baker is an explosive player, and you saw those traits on film at UCF. We like his size/speed combination, and Baker can get by defenders in a hurry. However, Baker needs to be better after the catch and he needs to calm his mind when catching passes in traffic. We'll monitor him in dynasty formats. |
Patriots | Marcus Jones recovered from injury Thu May 23, 01:47 PM
New England Patriots CB Marcus Jones said he has completely recovered from the shoulder injury that ended his 2023 season.
| Footballguys view: Jones was a bit of a sensation as a rookie in IDP leagues that score return yardage. He played enough as a nickel corner to be an elite fantasy producer because he also was also one of the best punt returners in the league. Jones even scored on offense to provide some punch to a toothless attack under Joe Judge and Matt Patricia. He should be back on your radar if you play in an IDP leagues after going down in Week 2 last year. |
Patriots | Cole Strange may have lengthy absence Tue May 21, 09:48 AM
Updating previous reports, New England Patriots OG Cole Strange (knee) will miss the start of the season, and he could be out until midseason.
Link to story Patriots | Jacoby Brissett first QB on field Mon May 20, 05:35 PM
New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett received the first snaps during drills at the voluntary workout Monday, May 20.
| Footballguys view: Even with rookie QB Drake Maye coming on board as the third pick overall, the expectation all along has been Brissett getting the first snaps. Don't be surprised if this extends into the regular season with Brissett holding down the starting spot until Maye is ready. |
Patriots | JuJu Smith-Schuster Says He's 100 Percent Mon May 20, 05:00 PM
Patriots WR JuJu Smith-Schuster said he was around 60 percent this time last year from his knee injury and never got up to 100 percent. He said he's at 100 percent now.
| Footballguys view: Remember, Smith-Schuster played into February as a member of the Chiefs last and needed a knee procedure following the Super Bowl. He was still sidelined when the Patriots kicked off their voluntary program last spring. He never gained any traction in a moribund New England offense. He missed six games and finished 2023 as WR93. With a new coaching staff, a new QB, and a pair of wideouts -- Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker -- selected in April's draft, the Pats have an eye on the future. Smith-Schuster will have work to do before he merits fantasy consideration. For now, he's WR105 on our current rankings. |
Patriots | Cole Strange month-to-month Mon May 20, 04:20 PM
New England Patriots OG Cole Strange (knee) is considered month-to-month because of a knee injury he suffered during the 2023 season, according to head coach Jerod Mayo.
Link to story Patriots | Kendrick Bourne to miss workouts Mon May 20, 04:17 PM
New England Patriots WR Kendrick Bourne (knee) will not participate in the organized team activities this offseason because he is still recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
| Footballguys view: Bourne tore his ACL in Week 8 last season, so it's no surprise he's still working his way back up to speed. Bourne has said he expects to be ready for training camp. Despite the ACL tear, the Patriots signed Bourne to a three-year deal to a three-year contract in March, which strongly suggests they expect him to be good to go when the time comes. |
Patriots | Drake Maye opens OTAs as QB3 Mon May 20, 02:14 PM
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye worked as the third quarterback on the depth chart to begin OTAs, according to sources Monday, May 20.
| Footballguys view: It's not a huge surprise to see both Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe ahead of Maye on Day 1 of this phase of OTAs. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo has made it clear the rookie will have to earn the starting assignment. That said, look for Maye to move ahead of Bailey as we head into training camp and, ultimately, for Maye to take over for Brissett as the starter. We project Maye to start the bulk of the season (14 games). But our current QB31 ranking puts him well outside QB2 range in single-QB fantasy leagues. |
Patriots | Antonio Gibson expected to be pass catcher Sat May 18, 07:45 AM
New England Patriots RB Antonio Gibson probably will be used mostly as a pass catcher out of the backfield this upcoming season, in the opinion of PatriotsWire's Jordy McElroy.
| Footballguys view: That sounds about right. Rhamondre Stevenson is there to soften up the defense as a battering ram between the tackles. He can be a pass-catcher out of the backfield as well, but Gibson (a former wide receiver in college) can line up all over the formation in addition to catching passes in the flat. We like Stevenson as a low-end RB2/flex play, and Gibson is more of a RB3/deep flex option in PPR formats. |
Patriots | Tyquan Thornton adding bulk Fri May 17, 10:07 AM
New England Patriots WR Tyquan Thornton, who looks 'noticeably bigger' according to Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, is attempting to add muscle this offseason and hopes to play at least five pounds heavier than his listed weight of 185 pounds during the 2024 season.
| Footballguys view: Thornton can absolutely fly down the field, but his build was always slender. With more weight to his frame perhaps he can stand up to the NFL punishment and maximize yards after the catch/contact. The Patriots' passing game is not full of fantasy potential, so Thornton is just a player who will be on the waiver wire in most leagues. |
Patriots | Extension for David Andrews Thu May 16, 05:15 PM
New England Patriots C David Andrews agreed to a contract extension with the Patriots Thursday, May 16, that will run through the 2025 season, according to a source. He is scheduled to make $12 million over the two years.
Link to story Patriots | New Englands inks two UDFAs Tue May 14, 01:42 AM
The New England Patriots signed undrafted free-agents RB Terrell Jennings (Florida A&M) and OL Ryan Johnson (Youngstown State) on Monday, May 13.
Link to story Patriots | Patriots sign 2 UDFAs Mon May 13, 10:14 PM
Undrafted free-agent LB Jay Person (Chattanooga) and free-agent DE Jotham Russell (Australia) signed undisclosed contracts with the New England Patriots on Monday, May 13.
Link to story Patriots | Ke'Shawn Vaughn let go Mon May 13, 04:32 PM
New England Patriots RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn was released Monday, May 13.
Link to story Patriots | Work to do for Drake Maye Sun May 12, 01:18 AM
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye is a 'work in progress,' according to head coach Jerod Mayo. 'He has a lot to work on. A lot to work on,' Mayo said. 'But I have no doubt that he will put the time in. He was here all night trying to get on the same page as everyone else.'
| Footballguys view: Interestingly, the team selected a 'work in progress' with the no.3 overall pick. It's Mayo's first year, and he's got upside as a head coach. We're curious why they selected Maye instead of giving themselves a year under Mayo just to see what they have (and what they don't have). Maye has talent, that's easy to see, but he must learn how to stay away from the 'hero ball' that plagued his game at North Carolina. |
Patriots | New England inks three draft picks Sat May 11, 09:54 AM
New England Patriots sixth-round draft choice CB Marcellas Dial, sixth-round draft choice QB Joe Milton III and seventh-round draft choice TE Jaheim Bell signed four-year contracts with the Patriots Friday, May 10. Financial terms were not disclosed.
| Footballguys view: Bell has speed and run after catch prowess, but he's only an H-back/move tight end and not a consistent blocker, so he fell to the seventh round. If he makes the Patriots roster, he could find playing time in an offense devoid of playmakers. |
Patriots | Calvin Anderson had battled malaria Sat May 11, 08:58 AM
New England Patriots OT Calvin Anderson missed time during training camp last year because of malaria, after having contracted the illness on a trip to Nigeria. Later in the season, he suffered a heart contusion during practice which was not believed to be related to his bout with malaria. It had previously been unclear why Anderson had been unavailable for extended periods of time in 2023.
Link to story Patriots | New England was targeting Xavier Legette Thu May 9, 12:52 AM
Carolina Panthers WR Xavier Legette was the player the New England Patriots were hoping to select with the 34th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com.
| Footballguys view: Legette has a ton of talent, and there's a reason why the Panthers moved into the first round to select him. The Patriots don't really have a no.1 receiver, and Legette would have immediately filled that role. |