The Patriots traded wide receiver Brandin Cooks and a 2018 fourth round pick to the Los Angeles Rams for the 23rd overall pick and a sixth round pick. The trade shouldn’t be a surprise. Cooks and the Patriots failed to make progress on negotiations for a new deal. The Patriots did not want to pay Cooks top ten receiver money after next season so they decided to trade him. Here…
Relax New England. The Patriots are not signing Johnny Manziel. I know they met with him on Tuesday after he threw at the Texas A&M Pro Day but they are not going to sign him. Bill Belichick has an affinity for athletic, running quarterbacks. After all, he has signed Doug Fluite and Tim Tebow in the past but here are three reasons why I don’t see the Patriots signing Manziel….
Several high profile players switched uniforms in free agency and through trades. Here are my thumbs up for players who I think will produce in their new home and a thumbs down for players who I don’t think will produce in their new home. Thumbs Up 👍 Kirk Cousins, QB, Vikings: Cousins signing with the Vikings makes him a top five fantasy quarterback in 2018. He has a legit running…
The Patriots added two intriguing pieces this past weekend when they signed free agent running back Jeremy Hill and traded for return specialist Cordarelle Patterson. At 6-1 233, Hill is a big back who runs down hill and pushes the pile. He is a short yardage, goal line back who could complement the other running backs on the roster well. The Patriots signed Hill to a one year, $1 million…
When it comes to acquiring players, Bill Belichick prefers to sign draft players or sign free agents from schools where he has or had a relationship with the head coach. Want proof? Look at the Patriots acquisitions this week. New England traded for cornerback Jason McCourty who played at Rutgers for Greg Schiano. Schiano and Belichick are good friends. They are so close in fact that Schiano almost joined the…
The Patriots agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Adrian Clayborn. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but the former Atlanta Falcon finished with 9.5 sacks last season. Six of those sacks came in one game against the Dallas Cowboys. The 6-3 280 pound Clayborn can play both the five technique and nine technique defensive end spots. Clayborn is primarily a power rusher but he is also a…
Count me as a fan of the Jason McCourty trade. The Patriots acquired Devin’s twin brother along with a 2018 seventh round pick for a 2018 sixth round pick. McCourty played well in his one and only season in Cleveland. He will be a good fit with the Patriots because of his style of play but also because of his brother being here to guide him through the learning process…
Nate Solder is one of four former Patriots who left via free agency in the last 24 hours. The Patriots lost four key contributors in the last 24 hours as Danny Amendola, Malcolm Butler Dion Lewis and Nate Solder all signed deals elsewhere. Here are my thoughts on their departures and the contracts they got. Amendola Flies South to the Dolphins: Danny Amendola signed a two year, $12 million dollar…
The Patriots acquired defensive tackle Danny Shelton from the Cleveland Browns for two draft picks. The 24 year old Shelton is coming off arguably the best season of his career finishing with 33 total tackles At 6-2 335, Shelton is your prototypical two gap nose tackle but he is athletic and versatile. He can play the nose in 30 fronts and the 2i defensive tackle in a 40 front. Shelton…
Michael Bennett makes a formidable Eagles front seven downright scary. Here are five thoughts on some of the big trades that have occurred in the NFL this week. 1. The Eagles Re-Create the Fearsome Foursome With Bennett Acquisition: The Eagles acquired defensive end Michael Bennett and a seventh round pick from the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for wide receiver Marcus Johnson and a fifth round pick. Bennett has been rumored to…