We Ain't Going Nowhere.

[Soapy]

Top NFL Free Agents
ESPN.com

Quarterbacks
Drew Brees :: 84 Overall
Dak Prescott :: 82 Overall
Teddy Bridgewater :: 74 Overall
Jacoby Brissett :: 72 Overall
Ryan Tannehill :: 71 Overall

Running Backs
Kareem Hunt :: 90 Overall
Matt Breida :: 83 Overall
Lamar Miller :: 83 Overall
Derrick Henry :: 83 Overall
Jordan Howard :: 80 Overall

Wide Receivers
Nelson Agholor :: 84 Overall
Paul Richardson Jr. :: 81 Overall
Josh Gordon :: 81 Overall
Dez Bryant :: 79 Overall
Cameron Meredith :: 79 Overall

Tight Ends
Hunter Henry :: 87 Overall
Eric Ebron :: 86 Overall
Austin Hooper :: 86 Overall
Austin Seferian-Jenkins :: 81 Overall
Tyler Higbee :: 80 Overall

Offensive Linemen
T Jason Peters :: 82 Overall
G Austin Blythe :: 82 Overall
C Ben Jones :: 77 Overall
G Clint Boling :: 76 Overall
G Graham Glasgow :: 75 Overall

Defensive Lineman
DT Chris Jones :: 90 Overall
DE Mike Daniels :: 87 Overall
DE Yannick Ngakoue :: 84 Overall
DE Michael Bennett :: 79 Overall
DT Tim Jernigan :: 79 Overall

Linebackers
ILB Ryan Shazier :: 84 Overall
OLB Sean Lee :: 80 Overall
OLB De'Vondre Campbell :: 80 Overall
OLB Terrell Suggs :: 78 Overall
OLB Zach Brown :: 78 Overall

Defensive Backs
CB Kendall Fuller :: 89 Overall
S Devin McCourty :: 85 Overall
CB Ronald Darby :: 83 Overall
CB Marcus Peters :: 82 Overall
S Ha Ha Clinton Dix :: 81 Overall

[Soapy]

Hightower, Harmon re-work deals to bring back McCourty, Collns
DynastySports.com

The gang is back together.

The New England Patriots have signed safety Devin McCourty and linebacker Jamie Collins to one year deals.

McCourty's deal is worth up to $11 million while Collins' is $1.64 million. The deal was possible after the team re-worked the contract of linebacker Dont'a Hightower and safety Duron Harmon.

Hightower was set to make $11 million this year but were able to convert his cap hit to $8.92 million by giving him a two tear, $18.3 million extension. Harmon is now set to make $6.15 million over three seasons compared to his $4.5 million previous salary hit.

The salary cuts will allow New England to be a player in the pursuit of defensive end Chris Jones.

[Soapy]

Patrios strike out on defensive lineman Chris Jones could prove to be costly
DynastySports.com

Defensive end Chris Jones has signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite reportedly getting a bigger off from the New England Patriots.

The lack of state income taxes could be why Jones decided to spurn the Patriots for the Buccaneers. His decision has a ripple effect that could impact New England quite heavily. New England had tied up a good chunk of its after the Devin McCourty and Jamie Collins' signing into Jones. By doing so, they were reportedly out on signing tight end Hunter Henry, who signed with the Miami Dolphins. Defensive end Mike Daniels also signed with the Seattle Seahawks while former Patriot Kyle Van Noy is now in Cincinnati.

Another potential Seahawk is Josh Gordon, who the team felt strongly as of last week, they'd be able to bring back at a discounted rate but that no longer seems to be case. The Patriots like what they have in N'Keal Harry and Jakobi Meyers and could kick the tires on a few former Patriots in Danny Amendola and Kenny Britt as free agents.

New England still has options at defensive end in perhaps bringing back Michael Bennett or going after Arik Armstead. There's also the draft with defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos out of Penn State being an option in the first round that New England has been linked to.

[Soapy]

Armstead headed to Oakland as Patriots sign depth-pieces
DynastySports.com

The Oakland Raiders and defensive linemen Arik Armstead have agreed to a two year, $13.3 million extension. Armstead is the latest defensive end that New England was interested in but ultimately sign elsewhere.

New England didn't leave the week empty handed. They signed defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster, brought back defensive tackle Adam Butler along with linebacker Elandon Roberts as well as the signing of tight end Temuchin Hodges.

Butler and Lancaster were one-year deals while Roberts and Hodges were two-years with Roberts' deal totaling $5.88 million, leaving New England with $13.3 million in cap space.

They won't be using those $13.3 million to sign Josh Gordon, who inked a deal with Seattle over the weekend. Gordon posted a thank you note to New England on his social media post. There are a few receivers available such as Phillip Dorsett, Demaryius Thomas and Danny Amendola but New England is currently staying quiet on that front.

Instead, they've re-engaged talks with defensive end Michael Bennett in hopes of bringing him back. The team released Bennett earlier in the month due to his $10 million cap hit.

[Soapy]

Dorsett, Bennett return to New England as Patriots re-load from Super Bowl squad
DynastySports.com

If it isn't broke, don't fix it.

New England has spent most of free agency bringing back their 2019 Super Bowl winning team and this week has been no different. The team has signed Michael Bennett and Phillip Dorsett to one-year deals to keep them in New England.

Bennett was released earlier in the month in what amounted to be a $2 million pay cut as he was brought back to $6.54 million. New England struck out on Chris Jones and Arik Armstead before eventually signing the veteran, who expressed to the team that he wanted back as well.

That was also the case for wide receiver Phillip Dorsett, who tested free agency. While his counterparts Josh Gordon and Cameron Meredith got paid, Dorsett's market was not as robust as he signs a one year, $3.06 million deal with New England.

New England also signed tight end Darren Waller to a one year deal.

[djp73]

Hodges is one of my favorite players in Madden.

[Soapy]

Free Agency Recap
ESPN.com

Quarterbacks
Drew Brees :: 84 Overall :: Buffalo Bills
Dak Prescott :: 82 Overall :: Denver Broncos
Jacoby Brissett :: 72 Overall :: Dallas Cowboys
Ryan Tannehill :: 71 Overall :: New Orleans Saints

Running Backs
Matt Breida :: 83 Overall :: Washington Redskins
Lamar Miller :: 83 Overall :: Detroit Lions
Jordan Howard :: 80 Overall :: Buffalo Bills

Wide Receivers
Nelson Agholor :: 84 Overall :: Miami Dolphins
Paul Richardson Jr. :: 81 Overall :: New York Giants
Josh Gordon :: 81 Overall :: Seattle Seahawks
Dez Bryant :: 79 Overall :: New Orleans Saints
Cameron Meredith :: 79 Overall :: San Francisco 49ers

Tight Ends
Hunter Henry :: 87 Overall :: Miami Dolphins
Eric Ebron :: 86 Overall :: Dallas Cowboys
Austin Hooper :: 86 Overall :: Arizona Cardinals
Austin Seferian-Jenkins :: 81 Overall :: Oakland Raiders
Tyler Higbee :: 80 Overall :: Houston Texans

Offensive Linemen
T Jason Peters :: 82 Overall :: Miami Dolphins
G Austin Blythe :: 82 Overall :: Miami Dolphins
C Ben Jones :: 77 Overall :: Arizona Cardinals
G Clint Boling :: 76 Overall :: Arizona Cardinals
G Graham Glasgow :: 75 Overall :: Buffalo Bills

Defensive Lineman
DT Chris Jones :: 90 Overall :: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
DE Mike Daniels :: 87 Overall :: Seattle Seahawks
DE Yannick Ngakoue :: 84 Overall :: Arizona Cardinals
DE Michael Bennett :: 79 Overall :: New England Patriots
DT Tim Jernigan :: 79 Overall :: Carolina Panthers

Linebackers
ILB Ryan Shazier :: 84 Overall :: Los Angeles Rams
OLB De'Vondre Campbell :: 80 Overall :: Buffalo Bills
OLB Zach Brown :: 78 Overall :: Cincinnati Bengals

Defensive Backs
CB Kendall Fuller :: 89 Overall :: Buffalo Bills
S Devin McCourty :: 85 Overall :: New England Patriots
CB Ronald Darby :: 83 Overall :: Oakland Raiders
CB Marcus Peters :: 82 Overall :: Washington Redskins
S Ha Ha Clinton Dix :: 81 Overall :: Buffalo Bills

[djp73]

Quarterbacks
Drew Brees :: 84 Overall :: Buffalo Bills
Dak Prescott :: 82 Overall :: Denver Broncos
Jacoby Brissett :: 72 Overall :: Dallas Cowboys
Ryan Tannehill :: 71 Overall :: New Orleans Saints

gross

[Soapy]

Patriots trade Burkhead, 32nd pick to move up to 9th; select Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson
ESPN.com

The New England Patriots trade running back Rex Burkhead and their 2020 first round pick (32nd) to the Philadelphia Eagles for the 9th pick in this year's draft. With the ninth overall selection, New England selected linebacker Isaiah Simmons out of Clemson.

When you watch Simmons play, it seems like the guy was built in a new era linebacker factory. He can stand up to the run but he’s fast, athletic, and smart in pass coverage. A converted safety, Simmons fits the mold of a New England linebacker by not fitting the mold. New England will be able to move him all around the field in a similar fashion that they've used linebacker Jamie Collins, who also played safety in college.

Many wondered if New England moved up in the draft to perhaps select one of the top quarterbacks still remaining on the board with Jake Fromm and Justin Herbert not yet selected.

[Soapy]

Patriots trade up again, select defensive end Gross-Matos
ESPN.com

The New England Patriots have traded running back Damien Harris, their 2020 third round pick and a 2021 fifth round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for the right to select with the 30th overall pick in the draft defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos out of Penn State.

Gross-Matos still has room for growth as a pass rusher. He has ideal size (6-5, 265 pounds) and length and possesses a really impressive first step. He has above-average change of direction skills, too, which really help set him apart as a strong run defender. His biggest weakness right now is his limited pass-rush arsenal. If he doesn’t win off the snap, he simply doesn’t win.

New England has now parted ways with two running backs, Rex Burkhead and Damien Harris, to move up in the draft and select defensive prospects with elite potential.

First Round Recap
1. MIA :: QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama
2. JAX :: WR Jeury Jeudy, Alabama
3. WAS :: DT Derrick Brown, Auburn
4. NYG :: CB C.J. Henderson, Florida
5. ATL :: DE Chase Young, Ohio State
6. BUF :: CB Bryce Hall, Virginia
7. OAK :: T Andrew Thomas, Georgia
8. DET :: CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
9. NE :: LB Isaiah Simmons, Clemson
10. DEN :: LB Dylan Moses, Alabama
11. SEA :: T Walker Little, Stanford
12. BAL :: DE A.J Epenesa, Iowa
13. PIT :: DT Raekwon Davis, Alabama
14. NYJ :: T Trey Smith, Tennessee
15. MIN :: S Shyheim Carter, Alabama
16. CIN :: C Creed Humphrey, Oklahoma
17. ARI :: T Tristan Wirfs, Iowa
18. OAK :: S Grant Delpit, LSU
19. NO :: QB Justin Herbert, Oregon
20. HOU :: DE Nick Coe, Auburn
21. SF :: LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama
22. TB :: S Xavier McKinney, Alabama
23. IND :: QB Jake Fromm, Georgia
24. TEN :: LB Troy Dye, Oregon
25. LAC :: CB Kristian Fulton, LSU
26. LAR :: CB Paulson Adebo, Stanford
27. CLE :: T Alex Leatherwood, Alabama
28. DAL :: QB Jordan Love, Utah State
29. GB :: LB Paddy Fisher, Northwestern
30. NE :: DE Yetur Gross-Matos, Penn State
31. CAR :: TE Albert Okwuegbunam, Missouri
32. PHI :: T Alaric Jackson, Iowa