Tag: Patriots

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Christian Elliss (53) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Report: Pats match Raiders’ offer, retain LB Christian Elliss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The New England Patriots matched the Las Vegas Raiders’ offer sheet for linebacker Christian Elliss, NFL Network reported Monday.

The Raiders agreed with the 26-year-old restricted free agent last week to a reported $4.8 million offer sheet and the Patriots had until Monday to match it.

New England’s original tender to Elliss was worth $3.26 million. He is now locked in for two more seasons with the Patriots.

Elliss recorded a career-high 80 tackles with 1.5 sacks, five passes defensed and one interception in 16 games (five starts) for the Patriots in 2024. New England claimed him off waivers from Philadelphia in December 2023.

Elliss has 117 tackles in 39 games (six starts) with the Eagles (2021-23) and Patriots.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Detailed view of a Texas Longhorns helmet during the CFP National playoff first round at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Ex-No. 1 overall pick, college Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims dies at 65

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Former No. 1 overall NFL draft pick and College Football Hall of Famer Kenneth Sims died Friday at age 65, the University of Texas announced.

The university said Sims died peacefully at his home. According to a report, Sims had been battling an illness.

Sims played defensive end for Texas from 1978-81 and was a consensus All-American as a junior and senior. He had 23 tackles for loss as a senior, won the Lombardi Award and finished in eighth place in Heisman Trophy balloting.

Sims then went No. 1 in the NFL draft to the New England Patriots in an era in which quarterbacks didn’t always go first overall. In this draft, Ohio State’s Art Schlichter went No. 4 overall to the Baltimore Colts and BYU’s Jim McMahon went fifth to the Chicago Bears. Heisman Trophy-winning running back Marcus Allen was the 10th pick by the Los Angeles Raiders.

Sims had three sacks in nine games as a rookie and placed fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year balloting. He had a career-best 5.5 sacks in 13 games in 1985 before breaking a leg. That caused him to miss the postseason, including the Patriots’ Super Bowl XX loss to the Chicago Bears.

Overall, Sims had 17 sacks and five fumble recoveries in 74 games (64 starts) over eight NFL seasons with the Patriots.

Sims was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 2021. According to Texas, Sims had 322 tackles (50 for loss), 29 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and three blocked kicks during his stellar college career.

–Field Level Media

Browns quarterback Josh Dobbs warms up before playing the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 in Cleveland.

Patriots sign QB Josh Dobbs

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The New England Patriots officially have their new backup quarterback, signing journeyman Joshua Dobbs on Tuesday.

The team did not disclose terms, but it was originally reported last week to be a two-year, $8 million contract with $3.8 million fully guaranteed, per NFL Network.

Dobbs will back up Drake Maye in New England after Jacoby Brissett left for the Arizona Cardinals earlier this month.

Dobbs, 30, spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers. He took over late in their Week 17 game against the Detroit Lions when Brock Purdy left with an injury and started in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals. He went a combined 32-for-47 for 361 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions plus two rushing touchdowns in those appearances.

Stints as a backup for Pittsburgh (2018, 2020) and Tennessee (2022) led him to seize on some unlikely opportunities in 2023.

The Arizona Cardinals acquired him from the Cleveland Browns just before the season to be their starter while Kyler Murray continued to rehab from an ACL tear. After eight starts, he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings and made four starts for them after a season-ending Achilles injury to Kirk Cousins.

In 23 career appearances (3-12 record in 15 starts), Dobbs has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 3,281 yards, 17 TDs and 15 interceptions. He has added 520 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) looks to pass during a game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christine Tannous/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Reports: QB Mac Jones to sign 2-year deal with 49ers

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Former first-round draft pick Mac Jones is signing with the San Francisco 49ers, multiple outlets reported.

Jones, 26, chose the 49ers because he wanted the chance to work with head coach Kyle Shanahan, ESPN reported, adding his deal is worth $7 million over two years with $5 million in guarantees.

Jones was under consideration when the 49ers traded multiple draft picks to select Trey Lance No. 3 overall in 2021.

Hoping to find the next Tom Brady, the Patriots selected Jones with the No. 15 overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. He threw 22 touchdown passes, went 10-7 and earned a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie before offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become coach of the Raiders. In three seasons in New England, Jones was 18-24 as a starter. He completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 8,918 yards with 46 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

After losing the starting job, Jones was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars before the 2024 season for a sixth-round draft pick.

The backup to Trevor Lawrence, Jones played in 10 games and started seven in place of an injured Lawrence. He finished 2-5 as a starter. Jones passed for 1,672 yards with eight scores and eight interceptions.

Brock Purdy is entrenched as the starter in San Francisco, where he is expected to sign a long-term contract extension.

–Field Level Media

Aug 03, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots center David Andrews (60) waves to his son at training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots to release C David Andrews

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Longtime Patriots center David Andrews will be released after 10 seasons in New England, according to multiple reports.

Andrews, 32, has been a starter since he arrived as an undrafted free agent in 2015. The Georgia product won two Super Bowls with the Patriots but played only four games last season because of season-ending shoulder surgery.

He also missed the 2019 season after suffering a pulmonary embolism.

Andrews had one year, $8 million fully guaranteed left on his contract.

Ben Brown started 10 games for the Patriots at center in 2024 and remains on the roster.

Andrews was named a team captain eight times and started 121 regular-season games and 10 playoff games.

–Field Level Media

Nov 10, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) intercepts a pass interned for Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots, CB Carlton Davis agree to $60M contract

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Free agent cornerback Carlton Davis agreed to join the New England Patriots on a three-year contract worth up to $60 million, according to multiple reports.

New England also picked up linebacker Robert Spillane (Las Vegas Raiders) on a reported three-year, $37.5 million agreement, according to multiple reports.

Adding Davis addresses the secondary and a focus of the new defense being implemented by head coach Mike Vrabel, who can pair the physical and aggressive Davis with left cornerback Christian Gonzalez in 2025.

Davis, 28, was acquired by the Detroit Lions before the 2024 season but finished his lone season in Detroit on injured reserve with a broken jaw.

A self-described lockdown corner, Davis is a top-end competitor with the size to line up at multiple positions in New England’s scheme.

Spillane is a former Titans linebacker under Vrabel and an ex-teammate of outside linebacker Harold Landry, who agreed to join the Patriots after being released by Tennessee last week.

He led the Raiders with a career-high 158 tackles and had two sacks and two interceptions in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (92) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots ship DT Davon Godchaux to Saints

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Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux is headed to the New Orleans Saints in a trade that nets New England a 2026 seventh-round pick, according to multiple reports.

Godchaux, 30, was given permission to seek a trade in February less than a full year removed from a three-year extension he signed with the Patriots in July 2024. The contract includes base salaries of $4 million in 2025 and $5.5 million in 2026 and will be assumed by the Saints barring a restructure.

Godchaux played at LSU and was not an ideal fit for the gap-penetrating defense of new head coach Mike Vrabel.

A four-year starter for the Patriots who previously played for the Dolphins, Godchaux has 429 career tackles and 5.5 sacks in 120 career games (109 starts) for Miami (2017-20) and New England. The former fifth-round pick also has 26 quarterback hits.

–Field Level Media

Nov 17, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry III (58) celebrates the fumble recovery against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots signing LB Harold Landry III, TE Austin Hooper

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The New England Patriots signed free agent outside linebacker Harold Landry III on a three-year contract and re-signed tight end Austin Hooper to a one-year deal, according to media reports on Sunday night.

Landry, a one-time Pro Bowl selection who was recently released by the Tennessee Titans in a salary cap move, has a new contract worth $43.5 million with $26 million guaranteed, per reports.

Hooper, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is returning to New England on a $5 million contract with a maximum value of $7 million, ESPN reported.

Both players have connections to the Patriots’ new head coach, Mike Vrabel, when he was at the helm of the Titans, as well as to other New England coaches.

Vrabel used a Titans second-round draft pick in 2018 to select Landry. The Patriots’ new defensive coordinator, Terrell Williams, was the Titans’ defensive line coach under Vrabel from 2018-23.

Hooper spent time with Vrabel at Tennessee in 2022 and with Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels with Las Vegas in 2023, when McDaniels was the Raiders’ head coach.

Landry, 28, was the Titans’ longest-tenured player when he was released. He would have earned $17.5 million in base salary with a $24.05 million cap hit in 2025.

He started all 17 games last season and made 71 tackles with a team-high nine sacks as well as 15 tackles for loss, one safety, 15 quarterback hits and four pass breakups.

He has 397 career tackles in 98 regular-season games (79 starts) with 50.5 sacks, 70 tackles for loss, 102 QB hits, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

After being voted to the Pro Bowl in 2021, Landry signed a five-year, $87 million deal in 2022 but tore his ACL in the preseason and missed the entire campaign.

Hooper, 30, caught 45 passes on 59 targets for 476 yards and three touchdowns in 17 games (eight starts) in his first season in New England.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2018 and 2019, Hooper has 409 career receptions for 4,178 yards and 28 touchdowns in 139 regular-season games (76 starts) for the Atlanta Falcons (2016-19), Cleveland Browns (2020-21), Titans (2022), Raiders (2023) and Patriots.

The Falcons selected him in the third round of the 2016 draft.

–Field Level Media

Sep 24, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs guard Joe Thuney (62) takes the field prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Reports: Chiefs trade G Joe Thuney to Bears for ’26 fourth-round pick

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Kansas City Chiefs left guard Joe Thuney is headed to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft, according to multiple reports.

Thuney started at left tackle late in the season for the Chiefs and manned that spot for Kansas City in the Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears agreed to a trade for Rams guard Jonah Jackson, parting with a 2025 sixth-round pick, according to multiple reports.

Trades cannot become official until the first day of the league year on March 12.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles previously was in the Chiefs’ personnel department and was executive director for player personnel in Kansas City when the team signed Thuney as a free agent to a five-year, $80 million contract in 2021. He has one year and $16 million remaining on that deal.

The Bears are working to settle an offensive line that became a concern in front of 2024 No. 1 pick Caleb Williams last season. New head coach Ben Johnson said last week at the combine he would have no reservations changing out three or four starting spots in the offseason, pointing out the example of the Carolina Panthers’ overhaul last offseason that included two massive additions at guard: free agents Robert Hunt (Dolphins) and Damien Lewis (Seahawks).

The Athletic reported Wednesday that New England was in the bidding to reacquire Thuney via trade.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said at the NFL Scouting Combine last week that Thuney is a natural “center-guard” and would not be used at left tackle in 2025.

The Chiefs have a number of moving parts on the line even after securing right guard Trey Smith with the franchise tag. One piece the team is lacking entering the offseason is a certain solution at left tackle.

Thuney, 32, is a two-time All-Pro and two-team second-team All-Pro with four Super Bowl rings — two with the Chiefs, two with the Patriots. He has played in 146 regular-season games since being drafted by New England 78th overall in 2016.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New England Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (92) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Report: Pats give DT Davon Godchaux OK to seek trade

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Defensive tackle Davon Godchaux was granted permission to seek a trade by the New England Patriots, NFL Network reported Wednesday.

The team signed Godchaux to a two-year, $18 million contract extension in July. However, Godchaux’s role could be diminished in new head coach Mike Vrabel’s defensive scheme.

In 2025, Godchaux is due a base salary of $4 million while carrying a cap hit of $8.3 million and a dead cap value of $10.67 million, per Spotrac.

Godchaux, 30, has started every game for the Patriots the past three seasons. He has 429 tackles — 20 for loss — and 5.5 sacks in 120 career games (109 starts) for the Miami Dolphins (2017-20) and Patriots. The former fifth-round pick also has 26 quarterback hits.

The report comes amid questions about the return of Christian Barmore, who was limited to four games in 2024 due to blood clots. Vrabel said it was “too soon to tell” about Barmore’s status.

“There will be a checkup for where he’s at medically as we move closer to April,” Vrabel told reporters at the Scouting Combine. “But he seems to have the energy and the attitude that would be exciting to work with.”

Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots in July and returned to play four games late in the season before suffering a recurrence, landing him on the non-football illness list.

General manager Eliot Wolf said the Patriots “don’t know for sure yet” about Barmore’s 2025 status.

“The one thing we know is that he’s working out in Tampa right now and that’s going really well from the reports we’ve gotten. He’s doing everything in his power,” Wolf said. “He wants to play football, and that’s one of the things I’ve always admired about Christian is how passionate he is. He doesn’t want to let anyone down. And he’s passionate about getting back on the field.”

Barmore, 25, signed a four-year, $83 million contract last April.

The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Barmore paced the Patriots with a career-high 8.5 sacks in 17 games (six starts) in 2023, also setting career highs in tackles (64), quarterback hits (16) and pass breakups (six).

Barmore has recorded 12.5 sacks, 32 QB hits and 133 tackles in 44 career games (11 starts).

Many of the top defensive line prospects told reporters they’ve had formal interviews with Vrabel and Wolf this week at the Combine in Indianapolis or are planning to before the event ends.

–Field Level Media