The New England Patriots are making a flurry of moves today. After CB Malcolm Butler signed his tender, and after WR Danny Amendola restructured his contract, and after the Patriots signed an offer sheet with RB Mike Gillislee, the Patriots have two more moves to announce, per NESN’s Doug Kyed.
The Patriots have waived OG Tre Jackson and signed exclusive-rights free agent TE Matt Lengel.
The Patriots waived guard Tre' Jackson, according to a source.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) April 18, 2017
Patriots TE Matt Lengel signed his exclusive-right free agent tender, according to a source.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) April 18, 2017
Jackson was a 4th round pick in 2015 and started half of the season at right guard, opposite of fellow 2015 4th round pick Shaq Mason. The Patriots invested a 2016 3rd round pick in left guard Joe Thuney and moved Mason over to right guard, eliminating any opening in the starting line.
The Patriots drafted Jackson knowing that he had severe knee problems; those problems prevented him from playing 2016. Jackson joins 2014 4th round center Bryan Stork as another former Florida State offensive lineman that battled chronic injuries with the Patriots that ended their time after just two seasons.
The Patriots will move forward with Thuney and Mason as starting guards and with Ted Karras as the top back-up. Don’t be surprised if the team adds another interior lineman to compete for a job in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Lengel returns as a camp body at tight end that has a solid chance of being the third tight end on the roster behind Rob Gronkowski and Dwayne Allen.