Patscap

Status Update on potential Patriots RFAs

Alex Austin and Yasir Durant - Will not be tendered

Tommy Devito - Extended

Jack Gibbens and Jaquelin Roy - No reported news.

Patriots, QB Tommy DeVito agree to 2-year, $7.4M deal, agent says The Patriots and restricted free-agent quarterback Tommy DeVito have agreed to a two-year deal with a maximum value of $7.4 million, DeVito's agent told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

News story: RFA QB Tommy DeVito and Patriots agree to a two-year deal with a maximum value of $7.4 million (about $3 million of that in incentives etc.).

Sets team up to return same QB depth chart in 2026 - Drake Maye, Joshua Dobbs and DeVito.

www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/...

The Patriots avoid Tommy Devito becoming a RFA on the 11th and make him a possible trade target.

If this happens the NFL cap is going to increase a good deal more than has been happening. Maybe 15% to 20% a year instead of 8% to 14%

I’m not yet ready for those who told us in 2025 the Patriots overpaid for Player X the Patriots overpaid for Player Y in 2026.

Need to know how their evaluation skills improved.

Day 54 of reports that the Patriots are interested in A.J. Brown but the Eagles are firm in their asking price:

A terrible February jobs report. The U.S. economy LOST 92,000 jobs last month, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%, one of the highest levels seen in the past few years.

December was revised down to -17,000 jobs, while January was revised to 126,000.

HUGE payrolls miss, wow

Feb Payrolls -92k vs +55k est/+130k prev
2m net revision -69k
Unemplomyent 4.4% vs 4.3% est/4.3% prev
Avg hourly earn YoY +3.8% vs +3.7% est+/3.7% prev
Jan Retail sales MoM -0.2% vs -0.3% est/0.0% prev
Control group est MoM +0.3% vs+0.3% est/-0.1% prev

The U.S. unexpectedly loses 92,000 jobs, adding to worries about the economy The job market showed further signs of weakness last month as employers cut 92,000 jobs. The unemployment rate inched up to 4.4%, from 4.3% in January.

The job market showed further signs of weakness last month as employers cut 92,000 jobs. The unemployment rate inched up to 4.4%, from 4.3% in January. n.pr/4ucqZuv

Yes. A.J. Brown's option bonus if picked up would be prorated like a signing bonus.

Texans, Danielle Hunter agree to terms on a one-year extension For second straight year, Texans add one year to Hunter's deal.

Another year, another one-year extension for Texans edge rusher Danielle Hunter. His new-money APY bumps from $35.6 million to $40.1 million.

His age is one of the more compelling reasons to sign him IMO.

If A.J. Brown is traded before the off-season workout program begins his salary cap number for new team would be $7.04M if they decide to pick up the option bonus or $29M if they do not.

Not picking up the option allows his new team to have only $4M in dead money in 2027 if things don't work out.

Patriots transaction: OLB Jesse Luketa signed

🏈Cardinals (2022-2025), Rams (2025)

🏈 31 games (3 starts), 31 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble

🏈 6-foot-3, 260 pounds

🏈 27 years old

🏈 '22 seventh round, Penn State

🏈OLBs: Landry, Jennings, Ponder, Tavai*, Swinson, Luketa

Alright, I'm all in on Pierce. I've talked myself into it.

I just want people to realize that typically the risks in signing the most expensive wideout in this year’s 2026 FA class is not as risky as Steve and others believe.

Why?
1. Cap keeps on going up
2. Typical structure of a Patriots deal making it easy to get out of a deal in the latter years

The Patriots added a veteran edge rusher and special teamer on Thursday, signing Jesse Luketa to a 1-year contract www.masslive.com/patriots/202...

Please see bsky.app/profile/pats...

Based on what the Patriots have done in the past we can safely presume any free agent wideout deal (be it Alec Pierce or Romeo Doubs) will not guarantee any part of their 2028 deal in 2026.

Done deal: The Bills are sending a 2026 second-round pick to the Bears for WR D.J. Moore and a 2026 fifth-round pick, per sources.

A pick swap that gives Chicago extra draft ammo and Buffalo a new top receiver.

The City of Cambridge has stopped posting on Twitter.

Cambridge city councilors introduced an order urging the city to reconsider its presence here, arguing it has become harmful to certain communities.

At least 15 city department previously maintained accounts here.

Never said the Alec Pierce signing would be a slam dunk.

Doubt I have ever said during the decades of covering the Patriots salary cap that acquiring a player outside of the organization would be a slam dunk.

Bills acquire a veteran wideout for Josh Allen who is highly paid and will continue to be highly paid but some Patriots fans are reluctant to acquire one for Drake Maye who is on a rookie deal and whose future (2027-2030) cap numbers will be less than Allen’s.

What did Voltaire say about perfect?

The cap always goes up too. Expensive for this year is not expensive two years from now.

The whole point being - the risk of paying him would probably be worth the reward.

Agreed, have thought for a while that injury regression is a bigger concern than schedule regression.

That is a false choice. One bad mistake in free agency does not hurt a team’s ability to compete in the short term or the long term. It is multiple mistakes that hurts teams.

Untendered players like Yasir Durant do not become part of the compensatory picks process.

2007 - Pats trade a 2nd and 7th for a 25 yr old UDFA who in 3 seasons had 96 catches for 1121 yds and 1 TD. Big price for an unknown. We all know how Welker turned out. Flourished w/Brady and McDaniels.

Pierce is also 25. No question he could become Welker level production w/Maye and McDaniels.

Can’t win a Super Bowl running your front office scared.