BAL BUF CIN CLE DEN HOU IND JAX KC LAC LV MIA NE NYJ PIT TEN
ARI ATL CAR CHI DAL DET GB LAR MIN NO NYG PHI SEA SF TB WAS
QB RB WR TE PK | All Non-IDP | DT DE DL ILB OLB LB CB S DB | Footballguys View | All the news | FBG News Blogger Archive
Patriots | Mack Hollins did was not on the field Fri Jun 13, 05:09 PM
New England Patriots WR Mack Hollins (undisclosed) was present for offseason workouts but did not participate in drills.
Link to storyMack Hollins player page
New England Patriots WR DeMario Douglas 'looked at home' working out of the slot this spring and was Drake Maye's favorite receiver in the final two practices of the late spring, according to Evan Lazar of the team's website.
Footballguys view: Douglas has been the favorite target of Drake Maye in OTAs, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels made fantasy stars out of slot receivers in New England in the past. Stefon Diggs is currently the highest drafted Patriots receiver coming off of an ACL tear, and Douglas is available in the late rounds. That could change as the summer goes on. |
DeMario Douglas player page
New England Patriots OL Wes Schweitzer was placed on the Reserve/Retired list on Tuesday, June 10.
Link to storyNew England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs (knee) was limited to individual drills during practice Monday, June 9.
Link to storyStefon Diggs player page
New England Patriots WR DeMario Douglas has 'gotten better' and 'picked up everything that we have asked him to do,' according to head coach Mike Vrabel on Monday, June 9.'I love the person. I love his attitude. I love his spirit. He loves to practice. He loves to play this game; he loves football....He's gotten better....He's picked up everything that we've asked him to do,' Vrabel told reporters during his Monday presser.
Footballguys view: The Patriots drafted Douglas in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he quickly proved himself. However, things have not been easy for Douglas, as he's played under three different head coaches in his first three seasons in the NFL. It started with Bill Belichick, where Douglas finished the year with 49 receptions for 561 receiving yards and zero touchdowns. Then, under Jerod Mayo, he recorded 66 receptions for 621 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Now, it's time to see what he can do with Vrabel. Douglas opens as WR81 on the Footballguys Projections. |
DeMario Douglas player page
After receiver Stefon Diggs got himself into a bit of controversy, he's been with the team to end the club's offseason program -- including at minicamp this week. Head coach Mike Vrabel was asked about Diggs and how he's done in the building on Monday. "Good. I mean, he's tried to figure out where everything is and what his role is, making sure that as we add those situations -- the third down, the no-huddle, the red zone -- that he's staying up on it," Vrabel said in his press conference. "He's working hard in his rehab, and when he can -- there's certain drills he can be out there and certain drills he won't be. But I think he's engaged, and I like his energy."
Footballguys view: As Profootballtalk.com suggests, that's about all the Patriots can ask for as Diggs continues to rehab from a torn ACL suffered midway through the 2024 season. In eight games for Houston last year, Diggs caught 47 passes for 496 yards with three touchdowns. A healthy Diggs would likely be the top receiving asset in New England. He's being drafted as WR43 in early drafts. |
Stefon Diggs player page
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye has done a good job picking up the offense and has shown solid development this offseason, according to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. 'He's doing really well. He's very smart. Works really hard,' McDaniels said. 'He's doing a really good job of digesting the information, processing the corrections when there is a correction to be made, and going out there with a great attitude and mindset the next day.'
Footballguys view: McDaniels offense is going to be challenging, but it should unlock more of Maye's value than Alex Van Pelt's did last year. The team also added TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams in the draft and Stefon Diggs in free agency to bolster the passing game, and drafted Will Campbell at #4 to improve the line. Maye already had fantasy value in a poor offense, he could be one of the breakout quarterbacks of the year in fantasy league with better surroundings. |
New England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson said he is very comfortable with the offensive playbook because offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was with the Patriots when he was a rookie.
Footballguys view: Stevenson rushed for 606 yards with five touchdowns during that rookie campaign. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Stevenson might still have his spot atop the team's running back depth chart, but New England drafted TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of April's NFL Draft. More action for Henderson would mean less for Stevenson, who rushed for 801 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns for the Patriots over 15 games in 2024. Fantasy investors are drafting that way. Henderson is RB28 on the Footballguys Projections. Stevenson is RB37. |
Rhamondre Stevenson player page
Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs showed up for Monday's OTA session. His presence raises an obvious question. Has he passed the all-important physical mentioned in several portions of his contract? The Patriots have declined to answer whether the physical has been passed.
Footballguys view: Diggs was on hand for Monday's OTA session; he was limited to individual drills. The physical, if passed, will clear Diggs to fully practice and play. In addition, Diggs' $12 million signing bonus is expressly tied to passing that physical. Until Diggs passes the physical, the Patriots (who have "no plans" to release him) have a potential escape hatch from his contract. Stay tuned. This story will continue to draw headlines until it's resolved. |
Stefon Diggs player page
Updating a previous report, New England Patriots LB Jahlani Tavai (calf) suffered a calf injury on Monday, June 2, that is expected to keep him sidelined until training camp, according to sources.
Footballguys view: When Tavai had to exit practice on Monday, reporters noted that it looked like a potentially significant injury. So this latest report is good news. As pointed out by Mike Reiss of ESPN, Tavai had been in the mix at inside linebacker during the offseason program, though free-agent signee Robert Spillane has been leading the charge. |
Jahlani Tavai player page
New England Patriots first-round draft choice OT Will Campbell (Louisiana State) signed his four-year rookie contract worth $43.66 million - including a signing bonus of $28.39 million - on Tuesday, June 3.
Link to storyNew England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs is not in danger of being released this offseason.
Footballguys view: Former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, now a member of the local media, said last week that Diggs' release was "on the table." NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is reporting the Patriots have no plans to release the veteran wideout. Welcome to the NFL news cycle in June. The uncertainty began last week when a viral video showed Diggs providing a baggie of pink powder to women on a boat. On Monday, Diggs was present for the Patriots' organized team activities, working on a limited basis. Stay tuned. We're sure to hear more on Diggs before all is said and done. |
Stefon Diggs player page
New England Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk (undisclosed) was limited during practice Monday, June 2.
Link to storyUpdating a previous report, New England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs (knee) did not participate in team drills during practice Monday, June 2.
Link to storyStefon Diggs player page
New England Patriots LB Jahlani Tavai (leg) suffered an apparent right leg injury during practice on Monday, June 2. Tavai remained on the field 'for an extended period of time' and could put only 'limited pressure' on his leg once he was helped to his feet, according to ESPN.com's Mike Reiss.
Link to storyJahlani Tavai player page
New England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs (knee) reported to organized team activities Monday, June 2.
Footballguys view: Diggs' off-field drama has drawn headlines in recent days. Most recently, local observer Scott Zolak suggested Diggs is in danger of being released. So, with all the noise, it's great that Diggs reported for voluntary sessions. It's also great that Diggs, who has finished as a WR2 or better (including five WR1 finishes) every season from 2017 through 2023, is currently being drafted as WR45 in Round 7. Even if he opens the season at less-than-full speed, coming off a torn ACL suffered last October, he could be very productive in this offense once he hits stride. |
Stefon Diggs player page
The New England Patriots are considering releasing WR Stefon Diggs, according to Scott Zolak of 98.5 The Sports Hub. On Wednesday, May 28, a video surfaced of Diggs partying on a yacht during Memorial Day weekend with an unidentified pink substance in his possession while surrounded by three women. Zolak claims that the viral video is not the only reason why the organization is considering cutting ties with him, although he did not elaborate on other possible reasons.
Footballguys view: While Zolak believes Diggs could be cut, he contends the wideout should be retained. "I say he shouldn't be cut because I think he would help Drake Maye and this offense and Josh McDaniels because you would have a true viable guy that would set coverage. Right now, you still don't have a guy who sets coverage. I'm sorry." If healthy, Diggs will significantly upgrade a Patriots' wide receiver room that also includes DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, Ja'Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker. |
Stefon Diggs player page
Undrafted free-agent LB Adam Bock (South Dakota State) recently worked out for the New England Patriots, according to a source.
Link to storyNew England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs (knee) was absent from voluntary organized team activity, Wednesday, May 28, one day after a video of him surfaced on social media in which he was on a boat and flashed an unidentified pink substance while surrounded by three women. 'It's something we're aware of and obviously we want to make great decisions on and off the field,' head coach Mike Vrabel said. '... Any conversations that I've had with Stefon will remain between him and I and the club.'
Footballguys view: Vrabel has been communicating with the veteran receiver, and we're unlikely to hear much about this going forward. The NFL has declined comment on the video, and Diggs is still recovering from the knee injury he suffered last year so he wouldn't be participating in OTAs anyway. |
Stefon Diggs player page
New England Patriots WRs Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, Javon Baker, and Ja'Lynn Polk are likely to have a 'spirited competition' for a place on the team's 53-man roster, in the opinion of ESPN's Mike Reiss, who considers WRs Stefon Diggs (knee), DeMario Douglas, Kyle Williams, and Mack Hollins to be the top-four receivers. Most NFL teams carry five or six wideouts, in which case the group of Bourne, Boutte, Baker, and Polk could be competing for one or two spots.
Footballguys view: The Patriots added Stefon Diggs this offseason, and they drafted Kyle Williams (Washington State) in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With the receivers already in place (not named Demario Douglas), there's going to be a fierce competition for roster spots. Playing special teams to give added value will help in determining who makes the team. |
Kendrick Bourne player page
Kayshon Boutte player page
New England Patriots WR Kyle Williams is the team's 'X-factor' at receiver, in the opinion of The Athletic's Chad Graff, who writes that the rookie 'excels off the line of scrimmage, was great against man coverage in college and wins downfield,' which Graff notes were 'three traits the Patriots sorely lacked last season.' Graff adds that 'a lot rides on Williams' development,' as he could become a starter opposite WR Stefon Diggs (knee) with WR Demario Douglas in the slot.
Footballguys view: While we have Diggs (as WR39) and Douglas (as WR76) as our highest projected Patriots receivers for redraft, Williams is absolutely as described by The Athletic. Footballguy Cecil Lammey notes that Williams has the speed to flip the field on any catch. Given that, Williams is WR8 on the Footballguys Rookie Rankings. |
New England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs (knee) could 'maybe reasonably' make his debut around Week 4, in the opinion of The Athletic's Chad Graff, who writes that Diggs' recovery and return to form will be essential for QB Drake Maye to take the next step. Diggs is recovering from a torn ACL suffered on Oct. 27, 2024.
Footballguys view: Although not yet fully cleared for all football activities, Diggs is doing plenty to impress his new teammates in New England. Reports indicate the veteran wideout has looked athletic and explosive while participating in voluntary offseason workouts. Assuming he hits the timetable outlined above, a healthy Diggs, who finished as a WR2 or better (including five WR1 finishes) every season from 2017 through 2023, could provide a boost to fantasy teams. He's currently being drafted as WR45 in Round 7 of early best balls. |
Stefon Diggs player page
New England Patriots OG Layden Robinson (undisclosed) was not a full participant during offseason workouts last week.
Link to storyNew England Patriots OT Morgan Moses (knee) has not been participating in full-team drills during the team's offseason program because he is recovering from recent knee surgery.
Footballguys view: As a member of the New York Jets in 2024, Moses sustained a bone bruise and medial collateral ligament sprain in Week 3's game but decided to play through the pain after missing two contests, rather than undergoing midseason surgery. Moses signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Patriots this offseason. There's not a concern at the moment, and it seems like Moses should be out there during training camp and the preseason. |
New England Patriots WR Stefon Diggs (knee) participated in drills during OTAs Thursday, May 22.
Footballguys view: Diggs is seen as perhaps the primary slot option for the Patriots. He lined up in the slot on 43 percent of his snaps last year for the Texans, and Diggs could be in for quite a bit of targets from QB Drake Maye. Fantasy GMs see Diggs as a player who could pay off as a WR2, but he's getting drafted in the WR3/flex range in early drafts. |
Stefon Diggs player page
New England Patriots WR Efton Chism III - whose undrafted free-agent contract contains more guarantees than any of the team's seventh-round draft picks - stood out in a big way during organized team activities on Tuesday, May 20, according to NBC Sports Boston's Phil Perry. One particular stop-and-go move had Perry reminiscing about Julian Edelman.'The guy who stood out to me today was Efton Chism, and it wasn't because he had this amazing connection with Drake Maye. I don't think Drake Maye threw him a pass in competitive periods. He looked really quick to me. This is the undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington. He decelerates at a very rapid rate. He'll be running a crosser, catch it and stop on a dime and create separation for himself in that kind of way,' Perry told Tom Curran on 'Patriots Talk Podcast'.
Footballguys view: Chism has some Danny Amendola to his game (he's not Cooper Kupp - a fellow Eastern Washington alum). He was impressive at the Shrine Bowl earlier this year, and he can get open in a phone booth. Chism is a player we appreciate in super deep dynasty formats. |
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye threw four interceptions during team drills at practice Tuesday, May 20.
Footballguys view: As USA Today's Jordy McElroy suggested, we shouldn't press the panic button at the first OTA practice open to the media. The offense has several new pieces, including the play-caller. They are still all working to get in sync with one another. It also wasn't all bad news, considering Maye started to settle down later in the practice. Limiting turnovers will be a point of emphasis for the second-year man, who's currently QB17 on the Footballguys Projections. |
New England Patriots DT Christian Barmore (illness) was a full participant during practice Tuesday, May 20.
Link to storyChristian Barmore player page
New England Patriots S Kyle Dugger (undisclosed), OT Morgan Moses (undisclosed), OG Michael Onwenu (undisclosed), WR Ja'Lynn Polk (undisclosed) and C Jared Wilson (undisclosed) were limited during practice Tuesday, May 20.
Link to storyKyle Dugger player page
New England Patriots WR Mack Hollins (undisclosed) and OT Vederian Lowe (undisclosed) did not participate in practice Tuesday, May 20.
Link to storyMack Hollins player page
Free-agent CB Christian Holmes (Giants) worked out for the New England Patriots Wednesday, May 21, according to a source.
Link to storyNew England Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (personal) has been absent from recent voluntary offseason workouts while he deals with personal matters.
Footballguys view: Stevenson's father, Robert, passed away in March at age 54. Stevenson also lost his childhood friend, Brandan Harley, last season. Understanding that Stevenson has experienced sudden and heartbreaking losses in a short period of time, teammates privately say they hope to provide him with as much support as possible once he starts spending more time at the facility. Meanwhile, his recent absences during the voluntary offseason program might explain why the team signed veteran Trayveon Williams to a one-year deal on Wednesday, adding another layer of depth to better evenly distribute some of the work. |
Rhamondre Stevenson player page
New England Patriots DT Christian Barmore (blood clots) told reporters on Thursday, May 15, that he has been cleared for football activity and should be ready well in advance of the team's Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Link to storyChristian Barmore player page
Free-agent RB Trayveon Williams (Bengals) signed with the New England Patriots Wednesday, May 14. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The team also released DT Eric Johnson.
Footballguys view: Williams, 28, has spent the last six seasons with the Bengals after joining the team as a sixth-round draft pick) in the 2019 NFL Draft. The 5-8, 206-pounder has played in 68 regular season games and has 62 rushing attempts for 307 yards and 15 receptions for 74 yards. He has also returned 33 kicks for 743 yards. Last season, he played in all 17 games for the Bengals, mostly on special teams. That's also his likely role in New England, with Ramondre Stevenson, rookie TreVeyon Herndson, and Antonio Gibson ahead of him on the current depth chart. |
Trayveon Williams player page
Free-agent RB Trayveon Williams (Bengals) worked out for the New England Patriots Wednesday, May 14, according to a source.
Link to storyTrayveon Williams player page
Free-agent RB Jordan Mims (Saints) worked out for the New England Patriots Wednesday, May 14, according to a source.
Link to storyJordan Mims player page
Free-agent DT Isaiah Iton (Titans) signed an undisclosed contract with the New England Patriots on Monday, May 12.
Link to storyAfter selecting Drake Maye at No. 3 overall last year, the Patriots have provided the young quarterback with a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and weapons to help his success in 2025. However, one of New England's veteran receivers has been with the club for several years and has noticed a difference in Maye during the offseason program. "The confidence is there, maybe even more confidence," receiver Kendrick Bourne said on Tuesday. "He's just -- obviously, he's gonna be in a new system. So I think he's in that process. He's learning. But the confidence is there. Drake is a competitor."
Footballguys view: Maye was one of few standout performers for the Patriots last season, completing 66.6 percent of passes for 2,276 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding 421 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. This year, Maye is learning a system that Bourne is already comfortable in with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels returning. Bourne had the best season of his career in his lone year under McDaniels when he caught 55 passes for 800 yards with five touchdowns in 2021. Having a receiver who can help him get up to speed will benefit Maye, who is being drafted as QB15 in Round 10 in early best-ball drafts. |
Drake Maye player page
Undrafted free-agent DT Wilfried Pene (Virginia Tech) signed with the New England Patriots as an international player and won't occupy a spot on the 90-man roster.
Link to storyNew England Patriots WR Efton Chism III could challenge for a spot on the team's 53-man roster, in the opinion of ESPN's Mike Reiss, who notes that the Patriots gave Chism, an undrafted free agent, a $25,000 signing bonus and guaranteed $234,000 of his base salary, which eclipsed the amount of guaranteed money that the team's seventh-round picks received. The rookie totaled 346 receptions in college and has drawn comparisons to current Seattle Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp, who preceded him at Eastern Washington.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent OG Mekhi Butler (Arkansas State) signed with the New England Patriots Monday, May 12. Terms of the contract were not disclosed. The team also waived OT Cole Birdow.
Link to storyFree-agent DT Isaiah Iton (Titans) agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the New England Patriots Sunday, May 11, worth $840,000.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agent OG Mekhi Butler (Arkansas State) is expected to reach an agreement with the New England Patriots after taking part in their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, according to a source.
Link to storyNew England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson (undisclosed) participated in practice Saturday, May 10, after missing practice Friday, May 9, because of an undisclosed reason.
Footballguys view: As USA Today's Danny Jaillet noted, there's hope that Henderson could either push Rhamondre Stevenson for the top running back job or serve as a strong complementary option. His explosive running style and pass-blocking abilities are two of his biggest assets. He has also shown exceptional receiving skills. Jaillet added the home-run potential is evident every time Henderson has the ball in his hands. So it'll fall on the Patriots to get him involved as much as possible on offense. We expect that to happen. Henderson is RB27 on the Footballguys 2025 Projections. Stevenson is RB38. |
New England Patriots third-round draft choice WR Kyle Williams, third-round draft choice C Jared Wilson, fourth-round draft choice Joshua Farmer, fifth-round draft choice LB Bradyn Swinson, sixth-round draft choice PK Andres Borregales, seventh-round draft choice OT Marcus Bryant, seventh-round draft choice CB Kobee Minor and seventh-round draft choice LS Julian Ashby signed four-year contracts with the Patriots Friday, May 9. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Footballguys view: Kyle Williams is a quick receiver with speed to flip the field on any catch. He'll have a chance to become a favorite target for QB Drake Maye this year. Williams begins his pro career as the no.3 receiver on the depth chart behind Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas. |
Tennessee Titans director of scouting A.J. Highsmith has been hired by the New England Patriots as their new pro scouting director.
Link to storyUniversity of Arizona OL Jonah Savaiinaea was a strong consideration for the New England Patriots with the 38th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft until the Miami Dolphins traded with the Las Vegas Raiders to get one pick ahead of the Patriots and select him. The Patriots ended up selecting Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson at No. 38.'According to multiple league sources, the player that they were discussing was Arizona guard/tackle Jonah Savaiinaea. He was the guy. And the Dolphins happened to, all of a sudden, jump in front of the Patriots sending a third-round pick to the Raiders. They jumped in front of the Patriots and took him,' Greg Bedard of the Boston Sports Journal told the Patriots Press Pass podcast recently.
Link to storyThe New England Patriots signed undrafted free-agent TE CJ Dippre (Alabama) on Saturday, April 26.
Link to storyUndrafted free-agents QB Ben Wooldridge (Louisiana), RB Lan Larison (UC Davis), WR Efton Chism III (Eastern Washington), and WR Jeremiah Webb (South Alabama) agreed to terms on undisclosed contracts Monday, April 28, with the New England Patriots.
Link to storyNew England Patriots LS Joe Cardona was released on Tuesday, April 29.
Link to story