New England Patriots

When the New England Patriots reached for offensive lineman Cole Strange in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, they were reportedly worried another team was going to take him in the second.

According to Albert Breer of MMQB, the Patriots were "concerned" the Tampa Bay Buccaneers planned to select him with their next pick.

Tampa Bay had traded back to Round 2, securing the No. 33 overall selection to go with its No. 60 pick. Per Breer, "Strange would’ve been a consideration at 60."

Instead, New England grabbed the UT-Chattanooga product at No. 29.

Strange's pick was surprising for many, as he was considered to be the 12th best interior offensive lineman in the class by Bleacher Report's Scouting Department. He was rated 98th overall entering the draft.

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay joked that he thought Strange would still be on the board by their pick at 104 overall:

While the Patriots selection might have been earlier than expected, few have doubted Strange's abilities. 

"Teams seem to really like him across the board," Breer reported.

The 6'5", 307-pound lineman started 44 games across five years in college and could use his experience to make a quick transition to the NFL, even with a large jump in competition. New England also needed help at guard after losing both Shaq Mason and Ted Karras this offseason, potentially putting Strange in position to win a starting job in Week 1.

Though Strange might have still been available for the team's second pick at No. 54, the Patriots acted quickly to make sure they got their guy.     

Odell Beckham Jr. probably doesn't have a future in the news-breaking game.

That said, his trolling game is on point.

Beckham briefly sent social media into a frenzy Saturday afternoon when he "broke" the news Deebo Samuel had been traded to the New England Patriots. The only problem was Samuel hadn't been traded and the Patriots are not even considered a contender for his services.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler broke down the situation Sunday on SportsCenter, saying the Samuel situation could be a "long process."

"I never got the sense the Patriots were involved, that his price tag would be too rich," Fowler said. "But right now, the teams who were involved or that inquired about Samuel addressed their needs at receiver in the draft. So this could be a long process. I'm told Deebo still is dug in, still wants to be traded, but knows this could drag out for a while."

While Samuel has made it clear he wants out, the 49ers seem equally dug in on their stance that the All-Pro is not available without a massive haul. The Niners watched on as the Tennessee Titans traded A.J. Brown and the Baltimore Ravens shipped out Marquise Brown on Thursday night, staying steadfast in their desire to repair the relationship.

"I can't ever imagine wanting to move on from Deebo," 49ers general manager John Lynch told reporters coming into the draft. "You put yourself through the exercises of, even though we don't have a first-round pick, you have to be thorough in this process and prepare for everything. So, you go through it and do that. He's just too good of a player ... We've got nothing but love for him and nothing but appreciation for what he's brought, but you just don't let guys like that walk. So, I can't envision a scenario where we would [trade him]."

Samuel reportedly grew frustrated with his role as the 2021 season progressed, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. After emerging as one of the NFL's top pass-catchers in the first half of the season, the 49ers used Samuel more regularly as a running back in the second half. He carried the ball 53 times as a runner and made only 28 receptions in the second half of the regular season. The trend continued in the playoffs, with Samuel carrying the ball 27 times and making 10 catches.

While his dynamic usage arguably led to his breakout 2021 numbers, it's also fair to wonder whether that type of wear and tear could lead to injuries. Running backs are also considered far more fungible talents than wide receivers, which could hurt Samuel's market when it comes to negotiating a long-term contract. He's set to make just under $4 million in the 2022 season, which is the last year of his contract.

That said, it doesn't appear any type of negotiations will transpire anytime soon.

The New England Patriots are signing Miami quarterback D'Eriq King, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The Patriots also selected Western Kentucky signal-caller Bailey Zappe in the fourth round.

King spent six years at the college level between his time with Houston and Miami. He threw for 8,378 yards, 76 touchdowns and 19 interceptions and ran for 2,055 yards and 32 scores.

The Texas native was the No. 287 overall player and the No. 13 quarterback on the B/R NFL Scouting Department's final big board.

New England performed its due diligence on King, with Alex Barth of 98.5 The Sports Hub noting Patriots assistant coach Joe Judge helped stage a workout for him with the team.

Mac Jones is firmly cemented as the starting quarterback heading into the 2022 season, and Zappe joined a QB room that already included Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer. The likelihood of King getting regular reps under center is probably slim.

The Patriots are likely hoping King can successfully follow the Julian Edelman career path.

Edelman was a full-time quarterback at Kent State and had one reception in his college career. He began his career as a receiver and return specialist and emerged as a critical piece of New England's aerial attack.

King is at least somewhat more versed at wideout than Edelman was, having not become Houston's full-time starting quarterback until his junior season. Between 2016 and 2017, he had 58 receptions for 492 yards and three touchdowns.

As an undrafted free agent, King is worth the gamble. His age—he turns 25 in August—means he may not have a lot of time to adjust before the Pats will expect some results.

Once upon a time, the New England Patriots selected a relatively unheralded quarterback prospect named Tom Brady with a sixth-round pick.

They reportedly have an extra pick in that exact round this year following a Monday trade.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Patriots traded a fifth-round pick to the Houston Texans for a sixth- and seventh-round selection.

This, of course, does not mean the Patriots have their eyes on the next Brady with their new sixth-round selection, but it does give them an extra pick to add depth near the end of this year's draft.

The franchise also has a history of discovering hidden gems late in the draft that goes beyond Brady.

New England selected 2021 first-team All-Pro return man Braxton Berrios with a sixth-round pick in 2018 even though it later released him. The team selected three-time Super Bowl champion Nate Ebner with a sixth-round pick in 2012 and chose three-time champion and Super Bowl LIII MVP Julian Edelman with a seventh-round pick in 2009.

For a team with a track record of picking players like Brady and Edelman this late in the draft, adding more Day 3 selections probably isn't the worst idea.

As for Houston, it now has a pick earlier in the draft that could be used on a player with a higher ceiling than perhaps a project in the sixth or seventh round. The Texans are coming off two straight four-win seasons and could use young playmakers to facilitate a rebuild.

New England isn't in quite as dire of a situation coming off a AFC playoff appearance and can target positions of need this year.         

N'Keal Harry's future with the New England Patriots is uncertain after the franchise acquired veteran wide receiver DeVante Parker in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. 

However, Harry reportedly has not been told that he'll be released, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. There has been speculation the 24-year-old could be cut or traded, but his situation could become more clear around the NFL draft, Fowler noted.

ESPN's Mike Reiss reported Saturday that the Parker trade likely signals the end of Harry's time in New England. 

But a breakup between Harry and the Patriots already seemed imminent. Harry requested a trade in July but told reporters at the time he wasn't "worried about anything trade-wise" and was "focused" on improving.

Harry spent the entire 2021 season in New England and was used sparingly. He caught just 12 passes for 184 yards in 12 games. 

The Arizona State product has been buried on the Patriots depth chart since the team selected him in the first round of the 2019 draft. In 33 career games, he has caught just 57 passes for 598 yards and four touchdowns. 

Harry's lack of production has caused many to criticize the Patriots' decision to draft him. He was the second wide receiver taken that year at 32nd overall. Players like DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown and Mecole Hardman were still available.

With Parker in New England, Harry figures to see little playing time yet again, with Nelson Agholor, Jakobi Meyers and Kendrick Bourne expected to see the bulk of the other snaps.

The Patriots had been linked to free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., with Fowler noting New England had "exploratory talks" with the veteran early in free agency, but he later reported the Parker trade was a solution after the team had "exhausted options at receiver." 

There's also the possibility that New England will draft another young wide receiver. That would also likely spell the end of Harry's time in Foxborough. 

New England has eight picks in this year's draft, which begins April 28 in Las Vegas.

Free-agent cornerback Malcolm Butler is reportedly returning to the New England Patriots after agreeing to a two-year deal worth up to $9 million, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

The Arizona Cardinals, who signed Butler to a one-year deal last March, placed him on the reserve/retired list last August.

Earlier that month, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that Butler was considering retirement to address a personal situation.

Butler did not play in 2021, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported in February that he was planning a comeback after the Cardinals released him from the reserve/retired list.

Now Butler is back and playing for New England. 

Butler, 32, played four years with the Patriots and three with the Tennessee Titans, who released him in March 2021.

He'll forever be known as the Super Bowl XLIX hero after intercepting Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson in the final seconds of a 28-24 win.

Butler followed his fantastic finish to his 2014 rookie season with a Pro Bowl campaign in 2015. He had 44 passes defended and eight interceptions from 2015-2017.

Butler then left for Tennessee, which signed him to a five-year, $61,250,000 contract. He finished with the 27th-highest cornerback grade from PFF between 2018-2020.

The veteran had 100 tackles, four picks and 14 passes defended in 2020.

He now joins the Patriots, which have a major need at cornerback after losing J.C. Jackson to free agency. The squad also traded away All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore in the middle of last season.

Butler should have a significant role right away as he returns to the place where he began his career.

New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson is reportedly in line to "set the market in a big way" as he prepares to become an unrestricted free agent when the new NFL league year begins March 16.

Boardroom's Jordan Schultz reported Tuesday the Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers are among the teams showing interest in the 2021 Pro Bowl selection.

Jackson has quickly established himself as one of the NFL's premier ball hawks since the Pats signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He's tallied 25 interceptions in 62 career games, including 17 picks over the past two seasons.

The 26-year-old Florida native is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he recorded 58 total tackles, 23 passes defended, eight interceptions, one forced fumble and one touchdown while playing in all 17 regular-season games for New England.

Along with his strong baseline numbers, he also received a solid 82.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, so the widespread interest doesn't come as a surprise.

For now, it sounds like the Patriots are prepared to let him hit the free-agent market. He said in late February the team hadn't reached out about a potential contract extension, and the front office didn't use the franchise tag on him before Tuesday's deadline.

"I guess they feel like they don't need me," Jackson told Phil Perry on NBC Sports Boston last month. "I guess I can't be that important to them. I know I am, but they're not showing me."

New England's leadership hasn't commented on its willingness to let a key part of a secondary that ranked second against the pass (187.1 yards allowed per game) to leave, but it sounds like Jackson shouldn't have much trouble landing a lucrative contract.

Here's a look at the marks he'd have to surpasses to become the league's top-paid corner, per Spotrac:

• 2022 Total Cash: Marshon Lattimore (Saints): $24.1 million
• 2022 Base Salary: Darius Slay (Eagles): $16 million
• Total Contract Value: Jalen Ramsey (Rams): $100 million
• Average Salary: Ramsey: $20 million
• Guaranteed Money: Ramsey: $43.7 million

Of the teams listed by Schultz with interest, the Bengals are the most intriguing fit on the surface after their appearance in Super Bowl LVI.

They came within one win of a championship despite a 26th-ranked pass defense (248.4) that relied far too heavily on Eli Apple.

Adding Jackson to the secondary would give Cincinnati a major boost in its effort to remain a top-tier contender in the loaded AFC.