Patriots 2024 free agency tracker: Updated additions and departures
Patriots 2024 free agency tracker: Updated additions and departures originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Change is afoot in New England.
The new Patriots regime of head coach Jerod Mayo and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf already has made several notable moves since the team parted ways with head coach Bill Belichick in January, from re-signing core free agents Hunter Henry and Kendrick Bourne to trading quarterback Mac Jones.
Their work is just beginning, though: The Patriots enter 2024 NFL free agency with nearly $83 million in cap space -- second-most in the NFL -- and have needs at several key positions, most notably quarterback, offensive tackle and wide receiver.
Which in-house pending free agents will New England retain, and which free agents will they bring in? Here's an updated list of the Patriots' offseason moves as the NFL's legal tampering window opens at 12 p.m. ET on Monday, with free agency officially beginning Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET:
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Wednesday, March 13
6:37 p.m. ET: The Patriots bolstered their offensive line with the signing of guard Nick Leverett, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
#Patriots are signing free agent guard Nick Leverett, per sources. Former Tampa Bay Buc started 10 games in 2022.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 13, 2024
5:10 p.m. ET: The Patriots and Jaguars are losers in the Calvin Ridley sweepstakes as the star wideout is joining the Tennessee Titans on a four-year, $92 million deal, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
🚨 🚨 🚨
Sources: The #Titans are signing #Jaguars star WR Calvin Ridley, completing their FA with a splash. A stunner!!
The 29-year old Ridley gets a 4-year, $92M deal with $50M fully guaranteed on a contract negotiated by @DavidMulugheta and Reza Hesam of @AthletesFirst. pic.twitter.com/GcKaDQ79RL— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
4:54 p.m. ET: The Patriots have signed defensive end Armon Watts to a one-year deal worth $3 million, according to the Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan.
Source: The #Patriots are signing free-agent DL Armon Watts to a 1-year deal worth up to $3 million. pic.twitter.com/tzMdJEqpKb
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) March 13, 2024
4:41 p.m. ET: The Patriots are still in the mix for Calvin Ridley, per The Athletic's Jeff Howe.
Calvin Ridley update: The Jaguars and Patriots remain the two favorites, but other teams have stayed involved, per sources. Ridley hasn't yet made his decision, nor have the Jags or Pats been ruled out. All parties awaiting word. @TheAthleticNFL
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) March 13, 2024
12:30 p.m. ET: This would be an interesting development... The Patriots and J.C. Jackson have "mutual interest" despite New England releasing the veteran cornerback earlier this offseason, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports.
The #Patriots and cornerback J.C. Jackson have mutual interest in a return despite his March 1 release, per source. Could be a down-the-line development for the player and team, but something to keep in mind as New England's cornerback outlook shapes up this offseason
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 13, 2024
11:22 a.m. ET: Kendrick Bourne's contract with the Patriots includes incentives that make it a pretty favorable deal for New England, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reports.
The Patriots' 3-year, $19.5 million deal with Kendrick Bourne has a really interesting twist—Only $5.5 million (all of it part of this year's $6.5M) is fully guaranteed. But if he hits 800 receiving yards, then $2.5 million of his $5.5 million for '25 becomes fully guaranteed.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 13, 2024
8:00 a.m. ET: We've have another re-signing: The Patriots have agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract with linebacker Anfernee Jennings that has a maximum value of $24 million, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports.
Tuesday, March 12
10:45 p.m. ET: Shortly after Hooper's signing with New England was reported, tight end Pharaoh Brown joined the Seattle Seahawks, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Tight end Pharaoh Brown is headed to the #Seahawks, per source. Another veteran option for Geno Smith in the passing game.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 13, 2024
10:01 p.m. ET: Tight end Austin Hooper is signing a one-year, $4.25 million deal with the Patriots, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
#Raiders TE Austin Hooper is expected to sign with the #Patriots, per me and @TomPelissero. The veteran gets a 1-year deal worth up to $4.25M. He reunites with Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt who was with him in Cleveland.
The deal was done by @SteveCaric of @Wasserman Football. pic.twitter.com/A7doT6NU4J— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
5:29 p.m. ET: Former Patriots safety Jalen Mills has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
3:50 p.m. ET: Former Patriots receiver DeVante Parker has landed with the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year, $4.69 million contract, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The Eagles will only pay $1.2 million of that deal, while New England will pay the rest after releasing Parker on Monday.
3:48 p.m. ET: Josh Uche is staying put: The Patriots are re-signing the 25-year-old edge rusher on a one-year deal, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
The #Patriots have agreed to terms with LB Josh Uche to return to New England on a one-year deal, sources tell me and @RapSheet. The 2020 second-round pick had much more on the table elsewhere but returns to Foxboro. pic.twitter.com/zx7rVIyzjI
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2024
Uche's deal is worth $3 million with incentives that can take it up to $8 million, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reports.
2:30 p.m. ET: The Patriots have shown interest in free agent defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, MassLive's Mark Daniels reports. Rankins racked up six sacks and 10 quarterback hits for the Houston Texans last season.
12:40 p.m. ET: Here's the latest on free-agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley: The Patriots are "pushing" to sign him, but he's discussing a deal to stay in Jacksonville, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
New England is pushing to sign free-agent WR Calvin Ridley, but sources believe that he currently prefers to return to Jacksonville and he has been discussing a deal with the Jaguars. pic.twitter.com/cmFLgY6aV9
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2024
11:05 a.m. ET: Former Patriots tight end Mike Gesicki is heading to the Cincinnati Bengals on a one-year contract worth up to $3.25 million, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
9:55 a.m. ET: Jalen Reagor's deal with the Patriots is worth nearly $1.3 million with $442,500 guaranteed, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.
Monday, March 11
9:23 p.m. ET: The Patriots are bringing wideout/returner Jalen Reagor back on a one-year contract, per Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz.
Breaking: The #Patriots are re-signing WR Jalen Reagor to a 1-year deal, source tells @BleacherReport.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 12, 2024
8:50 p.m. ET: The Patriots are signing linebacker Sione Takitaki, according to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero.
The #Patriots are signing former #Browns LB Sione Takitaki, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2024
8:24 p.m. ET: Veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett is signing a one-year contract worth $8 million with the Patriots, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports.
Source: The #Patriots have agreed to terms with QB Jacoby Brissett, who gets $8M on a 1-year deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2024
7:29 p.m. ET: The Patriots are re-signing another one of their top free agents, offensive lineman Mike Onwenu, to a three-year contract worth $57 million, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport.
Sources: The #Patriots are re-signing versatile OL Michael Onwenu, one of their cornerstone players, to a 3-year, $57M deal including $38M guaranteed. A clear priority for New England, he gets a $22.5M signing bonus. pic.twitter.com/mDpUz5CvSS
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
5:41 p.m. ET: Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. has agreed to a three-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Source: Former #Patriots LB Mack Wilson has agreed to terms with the #AZCardinals on a 3-year, $12.75M deal worth up to $15M. More help on defense.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2024
3:40 p.m. ET: The Patriots are releasing wide receiver DeVante Parker, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. He'll cost New England $6.3 million in dead cap money as a pre-June 1 release, according to OverTheCap.
2:46 p.m. ET: The Patriots are signing veteran running back Antonio Gibson, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports. He'll receive a three-year deal with a base salary of $11.25 million, per ESPN's Mike Reiss.
2:40 p.m. ET: Kirk Cousins' decision to sign with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency could start the quarterback domino effect. CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reports that free agents Jacoby Brissett and Joe Flacco both are potential options for the Patriots after Cousins' deal.
Now that Kirk Cousins has landed in Atlanta, the free-agent QB market should start to take shape. Broncos have discussed names like Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson, sources say. Jacoby Brissett and Joe Flacco are potential options in New England. Flacco could also return to Browns.
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 11, 2024
12 p.m. ET: The Patriots are expected to make a push for free-agent wide receiver Calvin Ridley, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. The Jaguars, Titans and Panthers are other potential options for Ridley, per Fowler.
10:05 a.m. ET: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins has requested a trade, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Higgins would be a fascinating target for the Patriots, who need a major upgrade at the position.
9:45 a.m. ET: The new-look Patriots won't include special teams ace Chris Board, who reportedly will be released this week. Board's release is another sign of how New England's roster should look different post-Belichick, who famously placed a high emphasis on special teams.