The New England Patriots are at the heart of every free agency story, so we’re going to keep track of all the rumors, reports, and updates in one place for your convenience. Teams cannot officially sign any player until Thursday, March 9th at 4:00 PM EST at the start of the 2017 league year, but the “legal tampering period” is in full swing- and the breaking reports are flying around left and right.
We’ll be updating this throughout the day. We’ll group the stories by Patriots free agents and then by external targets.
Recapping the first week of free agency:
How the Patriots will use their new acquisitions
Some Patriots free agency thoughts
Patriots free agents
TE Martellus Bennett (Packers)
3/10 - Bennett signs with the Green Bay Packers.
3/8 - Bennett says good bye to the Patriots.
3/7 - Bennett might be out of the Patriots price range.
3/5 - Patriots will let other teams set the market for Bennett.
3/4 - Patriots remain interested in re-signing Bennett.
2/23 - Bennett not interested in taking a hometown discount.
2/22 - Bennett is heading to free agency.
2/16 - Bennett explains why he wants to play near a city like Boston.
RB LeGarrette Blount
3/15 - Does signing of Rex Burkhead signify end of Blount’s time in New England?
3/6 - Patriots preparing for Blount to sign somewhere else.
2/12 - Blount shares his thoughts about remaining with the Patriots.
RB Brandon Bolden
3/15 - Does signing of Rex Burkhead signify end of Bolden’s time in New England?
DT Alan Branch (Patriots)
3/9 - Patriots bring back Branch on a 2-year deal.
3/2 - Patriots have made a contract offer to Branch.
2/26 - Branch will take a hometown discount to stay with Patriots.
CB Malcolm Butler (Patriots tender)
3/16 - “Momentum towards a deal” between Butler and the Saints.
3/14 - Butler negotiating with Saints; Texans also interested.
3/14 - Butler will meet with the Saints on Thursday.
3/14 - Maybe the Patriots offer wasn’t crazy.
3/13 - The Patriots offered Butler a laughably low contract one year ago.
3/13 - Anyone else getting Deion Branch and Logan Mankins vibes from the Butler saga?
3/12 - Butler wants to be traded.
3/12 - Do the Patriots value Butler like a #1 cornerback?
3/10 - Patriots could still trade Butler to the Saints.
3/10 - Patriots have not spoken to Butler about his contract “since last year.”
3/9 - Patriots considering trading CB Malcolm Butler for Brandin Cooks.
3/7 - Patriots place first-round tender on Butler.
3/1 - Butler “dissatisfied” with current contract situation.
2/14 - Looking at the contractual starting point for an extension with Butler.
CB Justin Coleman (Patriots tender)
3/17 - Coleman has signed his tender sheet.
3/7 - Patriots tender Coleman.
FB James Develin (Patriots)
3/6 - Patriots sign Develin to a 2-year deal.
3/3 - Patriots expect to re-sign Develin soon.
OT Cameron Fleming (Patriots tender)
3/7 - Patriots place original-round tender on Fleming.
WR Michael Floyd
2/26 - Patriots signing Floyd is not a “slam dunk.”
2/17 - Floyd to spend 24 days in jail for DUI.
FS Duron Harmon (Patriots)
3/9 - Patriots officially extend Harmon!
3/9 - Harmon is expected to be re-signed by the Patriots.
3/7 - Harmon expected to “command between 5 to 6 million per season.”
3/5 - Patriots will let other teams set the market for Harmon.
3/2 - Patriots will let Harmon hit free agency before giving an offer.
2/22 - Harmon is a top 3 free agent for the Patriots.
LB Dont’a Hightower (Patriots)
3/16 - The details of Hightower’s contract have been released
3/15 - Hightower re-signs with the Patriots on a 4-year deal!
3/15 - The New York Jets’ offer for Hightower reportedly exceeds $12 million per year
3/15 - RUMOR: Jets offer most money; Hightower will decide today
3/14 - Steelers tell Hightower to sign, or don’t come back.
3/14 - Steelers feeling “good vibes” from visit with Hightower.
3/13 - Hightower is scheduled to visit the Steelers; Titans reportedly "out of it".
3/13 - Hightower already visited the Jets and Titans; both are convinced he will return to New England.
3/13 - The Hightower situation is similar to Devin McCourty's in 2015.
3/12 - The Patriots and the Jets reportedly “lead the pack” to sign Hightower.
3/12 - Competing teams think Hightower will return to the Patriots.
3/11 - Hightower’s meeting with the Saints is canceled.
3/10 - Are the Titans afraid they won’t sign Hightower?
3/9 - Titans interested in Hightower.
3/7 - Patriots didn’t even consider transition tag for Hightower.
3/7 - Projected contract for Hightower is insane.
3/6 - Raiders trying to recruit Hightower.
3/5 - Patriots will let other teams set the market for Hightower.
3/2 - Patriots remain in contact with Hightower.
3/1 - What’s next with Hightower after not using the franchise tag?
2/28 - No franchise tag for Hightower.
2/23 - Hightower not interested in taking a hometown discount.
2/9 - Hightower turned down a big contract extension prior to the 2016 season.
ST Brandon King (Patriots tender)
3/9 - Patriots tender King.
TE Matt Lengel (Patriots tender)
3/7 - Patriots tender Lengel.
EDGE Chris Long
3/2 - What loss of Long means for the Patriots.
3/1 - Chris Long is moving on from the Patriots.
LB Barkevious Mingo (Colts)
3/9 - Mingo signs with the Colts.
CB Logan Ryan (Titans)
3/9 - Ryan signs with the Titans.
3/6 - A few teams consider Ryan their top free agency target.
3/5 - Patriots will let other teams set the market for Ryan.
3/2 - Patriots will let Ryan hit free agency before giving an offer.
2/28 - Ryan is the Patriots 2nd most important free agent.
TE Greg Scruggs
EDGE Jabaal Sheard (Colts)
3/10 - Sheard signs with the Colts.
2/27 - How Mario Addison’s contract affects Sheard’s return to New England.
TE Michael Williams (Patriots)
3/9 - The Patriots did not tender Williams, but signed him to an alternate 1-year deal.
Jimmy Garoppolo Rumors
3/10 - No contact between the Patriots and Browns.
3/10 - Garoppolo says farewell to Boston in an Instagram post (HACKED).
3/9 - Browns will “put together a strong package” for Garoppolo.
3/9 - Did the Browns just do an NBA-style trade to prepare for Garoppolo?
3/8 - Very probable scenario where teams sign quarterbacks instead of acquire Garoppolo.
3/7 - Browns still looking to acquire Garoppolo.
3/3 - Patriots looking to add a back-up QB.
3/2 - 2 reasons why the Patriots aren’t trading Garoppolo.
3/1 - Patriots reportedly not trading Garoppolo.
2/22 - 3 NFL executives believe there is a blockbuster trade brewing for Garoppolo.
2/22 - 5 NFL executives discuss ideal trade partners for Garoppolo.
2/19 - What is Garoppolo’s actual trade value?
2/16 - Garoppolo “is better than any QB in the draft.”
Patriots internal contract updates
3/4 - What the release of OT Sebastian Vollmer means for the Patriots.
3/3 - Patriots release OT Sebastian Vollmer.
3/2 - Patriots expected to release OT Sebastian Vollmer.
2/20 - What would a Danny Amendola pay cut look like?
2/20 - Danny Amendola willing to take a pay cut to stay with Patriots.
Dwayne Allen trade!
3/11 - Allen wants to be an incredible blocker.
3/9 - How Dwayne Allen fits the Patriots offense.
3/9 - What the Dwayne Allen trade means for the Patriots.
3/8 - Patriots acquire Colts TE Dwayne Allen!
Stephon Gilmore signing!
3/14 - Gilmore explains how he fits in the Patriots defense.
3/11 - Breaking down the time Gilmore intercepted Tom Brady.
3/10 - Analyzing Gilmore’s contract.
3/9 - Patriots officially sign Gilmore!
3/9 - 5 reasons why the Patriots signed Stephon Gilmore
3/9 - Patriots to sign former Bills CB Stephon Gilmore to HUGE deal!
Kony Ealy trade!
3/10 - Patriots give up almost nothing to acquire Panthers Kony Ealy.
Brandin Cooks trade!
3/11 - Eagles might have offered more than the Patriots.
3/10 - Patriots acquire Cooks!
3/9 - Patriots considering trading CB Malcolm Butler for Brandin Cooks.
3/7 - Patriots still trying to acquire Saints WR Brandin Cooks.
3/5 - Patriots looking to add a #1 receiver to the roster.
3/4 - Patriots offer 1st round pick for Saints WR Brandin Cooks.
Lawrence Guy signing!
3/11 - Patriots sign Guy.
3/10 - Patriots bring in Ravens DL Lawrence Guy and Bills WR Justin Hunter for visits.
Rex Burkhead signing!
3/15 - Patriots give Burkhead starting RB money.
3/14 - Patriots sign Burkhead!
3/13 - Former Bengals RB Rex Burkhead is visiting the Patriots.
Patriots external free agent interests
3/10 - Patriots interested in former Chargers OL D.J. Fluker.
3/8 - Former Jets WR Brandon Marshall signs with the New York Giants.
3/8 - There’s “nothing going on” between the Patriots and RB Adrian Peterson.
3/8 - Should Patriots go after Bills RB Mike Gillislee?
3/7 - Patriots still trying to sign WR DeSean Jackson
3/7 - Should Patriots pursue Packers EDGE Julius Peppers?
3/6 - Vikings RB Adrian Peterson considering less money to play for Patriots.
3/4 - Jets WR Brandon Marshall is on the Patriots radar.
3/4 - Patriots interested in Falcons LB Paul Worrilow.
3/3 - Bills LB Zach Brown could be a good linebacker in New England.
3/3 - Should Patriots pursue WR Brandon Marshall?
3/2 - What about Chiefs NT Dontari Poe?
3/1 - Colts TE Jack Doyle will test the free agent market.
3/1 - Former Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles wants to play for a contender.
2/23 - Would Cardinals DL Calais Campbell be a fit for the Patriots?
2/22 - An NFL scout connects Washington WR DeSean Jackson to the Patriots.
2/22 - Patriots “should sign” Titans DT Karl Klug.
2/21 - Should the Patriots be interested in Jaguars DT Jared Odrick?
2/14 - Patriots could turn Packers RB Eddie Lacy into a star.
2/13 - Bills WR Robert Woods is a perfect fit with the Patriots.
Patriots trade rumors
3/7 - Eagles willing to trade WR Jordan Matthews; should the Patriots call?
2/14 - Should the Patriots trade for Eagles LB Mychal Kendricks?