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Tight ends get love, not so much for DTs
Tight ends are in favor, while defensive tackles are not on the Las Vegas team
Rob Gronkowski
TE · FA · 32 yrs · exp 12 · Arizona
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Who's next for Canton? Ranking the biggest names eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027
CBS Sports NFLSource ↗
In addition to 2026 snubs Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft and Eli Manning, a slew of other big names will be eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027. The list of first-time eligible players for 2027 includes two former league MVPs, a two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback, a former All-Pro defensive back and arguably the greatest tight end in NFL history. To get ready for 2027, we analyze first-time eligible stars in addition to some predictions along the way. While former Patriots haven't had much luck in recent years, it's hard to imagine that stopping Gronkowski, who wasn't affiliated with Spygate and remains in seemingly good standing with football media. Injuries may have slowed him down, but it hasn't stopped Gronkowski from being in the conversation among the greatest tight ends in NFL history. Along with being a constant mismatch in the passing game, Gronkowski was a devastating blocker, which strengthens his case as the most complete tight end of all time. His unique talent helped him win four Super Bowls. Peterson is also widely regarded as one of the best ever at his position. The fifth leading rusher in NFL history, Peterson is the last non-quarterback to win league MVP. That season (2012), Peterson ran for 2,097 yards, the second-highest single-season total in league history. He won his third rushing title at age 30 and was still putting up 1,000-yard seasons at age 33. The only thing that could hurt Peterson's chances next year is some recent legal issues , including an arrest in October of 2025. Peterson also ended his career with two forgettable seasons, but that alone would likely not be enough to prevent him from being voted in next year. Roethlisberger is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer; the question is whether or not enough voters feel that he is first-ballot worthy. Roethlisberger's career milestones suggest that he is. He's seventh all-time in passing yards (64,088), ninth in touchdown passes (418), a two-time Super Bowl champion and is the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. He twice led the NFL in passing yards and has the most 500-yard passing games (four) in NFL history. Roehtlisberger is also the only quarterback to throw six touchdowns in back-to-back games, doing so in 2014. He also holds the unofficial title of one of the hardest quarterbacks to take down. Roethlisberger's magnum opus was at the end of Super Bowl XLIII, when he capped off the Steelers ' game-winning drive with a touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes that has gone down as one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history. Sherman should receive a gold jacket at some point. A member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, Sherman was a three-time All-Pro cornerback and the leader of the Seahawks ' "Legion of Boom" defense, which led Seattle to its first Super Bowl title. A fellow 2000s All-Decade Team member, Mack delivered impressive longevity for an offensive lineman. He earned his first Pro Bowl nod at 25 and his last one at age 36. In between, he was named to five additional Pro Bowls and was a model of consistency. Weddle -- another member of the 2000s All-Decade Team -- was a complete safety who excelled in both pass coverage and run support. He led the NFL in interceptions once and had over 100 tackles in a season on four occasions. At age 36, Weddle returned from retirement and helped the Rams win the Super Bowl. Sherman's condensed prime (he made one Pro Bowl after his age-28 season) could prevent him from being a first-ballot inductee. Mack's lack of All-Pros will likely hurt his case, as offensive linemen are underrepresented in the Hall of Fame. Weddle also played a position that is underrepresented in Canton. Taking next year off the table, it'll be interesting to see if these players ever get inducted. McCoy was an excellent defensive tackle who was named to six straight Pro Bowls while manning the Buccaneers ' defensive line. But like Mack and Weddle, McCoy played a position th [... truncated ...]
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What can the Seahawks ‘D’ for a Super Bowl encore?
History used to be kinder to dynasties. Steelers , Niners, Ming. You know, the big three. Now it kneecaps them, with notable exceptions. It’s widely known that Tom Brady , Patrick Mahomes and John Elway are the only quarterbacks to lead their team to Super Bowl repeats in the salary cap era. Of course, you’ll rightly tell me Brady and Mahomes are no Sam Darnold . And Rob Gronkowski or Travis Kelce aren’t even in the same discussion as AJ Barner . Silly to talk about those old men when it’s a young man’s league. Plus, Seattle is armed with Jaxon Smith-Njigba , the reigning Defensive AND Offensive Player of the Year, a cleated malevolent sprite who breaks ankles for breakfast and swallows souls for Sunday dinner. Ah, but to frame the Seattle Seahawks’ repeat chances through their offensive playmakers is both unjust and inaccurate. While Mahomes gets the endorsements, Brady gets to play owner in Vegas and Darnold is throwing out first pitches at ball games , the truth remains, defense wins championships, same as always. Same. As. Always. Which is better news for the Dark Side anyway. So in honor of the type of defense the 2025 Seahawks played, four D-related reasons they can repeat are listed below; in honor of how the National Football League actually works, three D-related reasons they cannot repeat will follow. Quick apology which is fake: I’m calling them Dreasons. Longtime fans will easily recall the 2000 Ravens, the 2002 Buccaneers, the 2013 Seahawks, the 2015 Broncos, and other examples from decades of defensive determinism. However, the Brady and Mahomes examples are also arguments for defense. The Patriots won consecutive titles before Tom was in anyone’s top QB tier because defensive guru Bill Belichick assembled a unit that led the league in scoring defense for 2003 and came in second a year later. The Chiefs’ last title came because defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo developed enough Shanahan counter-moves and spooked Brock Purdy in crunch time. Man, that guy would’ve made such a great Seattle DC when we desperately needed one. Minus a raw milk asteroid hitting the V-Mac midseason, the Seahawks defense will again stake a claim to be the league’s best. Ernest Jones , Julian Love , Leonard Williams, and Devon Witherspoon shepherded by Mike Macdonald in his third year — those are the dudes I want leading the charge for a repeat that would put Seattle in anyone’s discussion of the NFL’s most storied franchises. I want them angry that people are picking the Rams, and keeping their teammates sharp. DeMarcus Lawrence , Derick Hall , Byron Murphy , Jarran Reed and Uchenna Nwosu along the defensive line all at once? Sorry to say, your offensive play is probably wrecked. Nick Emmanwori being everything everywhere all at once, teleporting from the defensive backfield to the line of scrimmage because he can, sauntering from sideline to sideline, salivating with malice? God have mercy. Growing role players like Josh Jobe , Drake Thomas and Ty Okada coming into their own, now with valuable experience and a taste for winning? You can try and pick on them out of necessity, but they are not weak links. Y’all, if we’re throwing the Seahawks another parade in February, it’ll be because of those 14 men, their capable understudies, and their head coach, about whom no amount of superlatives will do. Which brings up — While it may sometimes feel to opponents like Seattle has 14 defenders on the field at once, I checked, and the rulebook says 11 at most, and no touching the receivers, ever. Still, you get my drift — while other squads struggle to fill the 53-man with 53 men who can actually hold their own on the field, the Seahawks have more starting-level players than starting spots. And that’s not even counting the incoming rookie class, which figures to hold one or more immediate pleasant surprises ( Bud Clark , Julian Neal, please pick up an action green courtesy phone). I’m not the spirit of John Clayton, RIP. I can’t re [... truncated ...]
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Beatdown roundtable: favorite almost-draft pick in Ravens history
Baltimore Beatdown is all about Almost Ravens this week! In addition to our reader-driven bracket narrowing down the biggest near-acquisitions in team history, our staff will also be providing their opinions on their favorite moves the Ravens almost pulled off. Today, we’re focusing on trades: This one is easy. Imagine a prime Cooper Kupp as Lamar Jackson ’s WR1 from 2019 to 2021. He was one of the most complete receivers in the game and could have been the kind of do-it-all target Jackson has never really had in his career. Does he still hit his receiving Triple Crown in Baltimore? Probably not, but Kupp was the kind of difference-maker that could have changed the outcome of a playoff game or two. – Nikhil Mehta My favorite player the Ravens almost drafted is Puka Nacua. Nobody predicted Nacua would instantly become one of the league’s top wide receivers, evidenced by him falling to the fifth round, but he’s exceeded expectations in a major way. The Ravens selected CB Kyu Blu Kelly at No. 157 overall, 20 picks earlier then Nacua was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. Blu Kelly went on to be released by the Ravens before Week 1. Nacua would have been a huge weapon for Lamar Jackson and an ideal fit alongside Zay Flowers as an elite possession-catch threat. Instead, the Ravens have struggled to get consistent production from their supporting wideouts over the last few seasons. – Frank Platko I could do Jalen Ramsey here again, but I’m more upset that the Ravens never traded for Ramsey after the fact, considering they got Ronnie Stanley in the 2016 draft. The one I think about a lot is the 2010 draft and both Dez Bryant and Rob Gronkowski . It was also no secret that the Ravens coveted Dez Bryant in that draft, and probably would have taken him with their 25th overall pick but the Cowboys traded up to the 24th pick and nabbed him. Then, the Ravens nearly drafted Gronk…twice. Gronkowski recently told a story where he said the Ravens were going to pick him at #25 overall in 2010 draft, likely their top option once Bryant was taken. Instread of drafting Gronk once they were on the clock, the Broncos traded up with the Ravens to take that pick and draft Tim Tebow . Later, in the second round, the Ravens were prepared to take Gronk once again at #43 overall, probably thrilled that he had fallen so far after prepping to take him with the 25th pick. Instead, history will remember the Patriots swooping at 42, drafting the tight end, and the Patriot dynasty continued for another near-decade. You have to wonder what Joe Flacco and the Ravens could have accomplished with such a dominate tight end, a favorite position for Flacco to target. And maybe wonder what would have happened with the Tom Brady and Patriots without Gronk in New England . Instead the Ravens lost two high impact receiving threats that would go on to become legends in the game. – Zach Canter I have to go with Rob Gronkoswki here. Possibly the greatest tight end in NFL history was so close to being a Baltimore Raven. Instead, Gronk’s name is forever etched in history as a key figure in the Patriots’ dynasty. While the Ravens certainly had quality tight ends over the years after failing to draft Gronk, you have to imagine just how much he could have helped Joe Flacco in the passing game as Baltimore struggled to field quality wide receiver corps following the 2012 Super Bowl. Not to mention Gronk’s dominance as a run blocker, which would have obviously fit in perfectly with the Ravens. – Dustin Cox Who is the biggest Almost-Raven in franchise history? | Baltimore Beatdown
RB · CIN
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Ken Anderson says Bob Trumpy was “Gronk before Gronk”
Cincinnati Bengals legend Ken Anderson spoke to Fox19 about two of his former teammates, Bob Trumpy and James Brooks, who were recently selected for the Bengals’ Ring of Honor. The former Bengals quarterback, QB coach, and offensive coordinator called both players “great teammates” and noted Trumpy’s ability to play like a traditional tight end, blocking and getting open over the middle, while also running wide receiver routes. “I always say [Trumpy] was Gronk before Gronk ,” Anderson said, referring to future Hall of Fame tight end Rob Gronkowski. Anderson then mentioned that Trumpy’s career yards per catch (15.4) was the best of any Bengal in the franchise’s history. Anderson also talked about Trumpy’s bold move into the broadcast booth and beautiful voice. Then the conversation shifted to Brooks, who Anderson praised for his exceptional toughness between the tackles despite his size as well as his pioneering play in the passing game. “At one point in his career, his touchdown receptions were head and shoulders ahead of every other running back in the league,” Anderson said. Watch the full interview here
RB · CIN
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Bengals News: James Brooks and Bob Trumpy join Ring of Honor
The Cincinnati Bengals season ticket holders elected two players well before their time into the team’s Ring of Honor yesterday with tight end Bob Trumpy and running back James Brooks. Trumpy caught comparisons to Rob Gronkowski for his size and ability as a route runner, well before any tight end was expected to be running routes so fluidly. Brooks helped pioneer what has become the prototype for what is expected of modern-day running backs. He was very talented as a runner, but he was also a weapon in the passing game. Head coach Sam Wyche also moved him all around the formation. Lining him up out wide and having the ability to do it in the hurry up offense. Tell us who you are looking to see added to the Ring of Honor next year. Quick Hits | Ring Of Honor Reflections: How Bob Trumpy Was ‘Gronk Before Gronk,’ The Day J.B. Blocked L.T. And Other Stories Ken Anderson, a member of the Bengals’ inaugural Ring of Honor class, has the rare perspective of this year’s group as the quarterback who threw tight end Bob Trumpy’s last career touchdown and running back James Brooks’ first Bengals’ touchdown seven seasons apart. Bengals training camp sleepers to watch at every position on defense Landon Robinson was a fan favorite seventh-round pick by the Bengals. He reminds some, in frame only, of Geno Atkins . But he’s a “sleeper” because he has a long way to go. Lawrence, BJ Hill, TJ Slaton and Jonathan Allen aren’t going anywhere. They’re still hoping Kris Jenkins develops, too, never mind the other guys on the depth chart. Robinson has some huge upside that could see him make plenty of noise over the summer and during preseason games, though. Bengals unveil first wave of upgrades at Paycor Stadium “Phase One” of the multi-year project includes “renovated restrooms, upgraded concessions, transformed club lounges, reimagined suites, a redesigned Bengals Pro Shop, modernized scoreboard control room, improved wayfinding, and core infrastructure improvements.”
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Titans TE Gunnar Helm eyes an even bigger second season
Titans tight end Gunnar Helm, a fourth-round pick in 2025, appeared in 16 games, with 10 starts, as a rookie. He ranked fourth on the team with 44 receptions, which set a franchise record for rookie tight ends, and fourth on the team with 357 receiving yards. Helm scored twice and had at least one reception in all 16 games he played. He isn’t satisfied. “There’s always something to go out there and do,” Helm said, via Jim Wyatt of the team website, “ always something to prove , and there’s somebody always coming for your spot.” Heim has a new head coach (Robert Saleh), a new offensive coordinator (Brian Daboll) and new teammates at tight end, with veterans Daniel Bellinger and Kylen Granson and rookie Jaren Kanak joining Helm, David Martin-Robinson and Joel Wilson on the roster this offseason. Helm knows Daboll’s offense utilizes the tight ends, which has him excited about building on his rookie season. “It’s been great,” Helm said. “Obviously [Daboll] is not afraid to use the tight end, did so wherever he’s been. There’s been great clips of like [Rob] Gronkowski [in New England], Dalton Kinkaid [and] Dawson Knox [in Buffalo], just doing things that usually receivers do. Being able to be worked into the offense like that, it’s been great.”
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Patriots links 7/10/26: Demario Douglas, small dog with huge fight
TEAM TALK Patriots Unfiltered: Training camp competition , offseason topics, FIFA World Cup. (2 hours) LOCAL LINKS Phil Perry ’s Numbers to Know: Why Maye-Brown connection could be lethal, and more. /Interesting . Hector Longo focuses on 5-foot-8 speedster Demario Douglas , who will be battling for a roster spot in one of the NFL’s bigger wide receiver rooms. Khari Thompson ’s 2026 position preview: Running backs edition. Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson headline a group that finished sixth in the NFL in rushing yards per game last season. Bill Heyen explains why this year will be different for TreVeyon Henderson in the Pats’ RB room. Ethan Hurwitz mentions how using Pro Scout Insights is helping Drake Maye improve in 2026. Hector Longo spotlights kicker Andy Borregales , who enters Year 2 with no competition and a big kick behind him. Stephen Sheehan relays Zak Kuhr on Christian Barmore and what he needs from the Pats star DT. Sara Marshall discusses a recent prediction that sees safety Kevin Byard III regressing in 2026. “ He’s getting older. He has nowhere to go but down after leading the NFL in picks. He’s going to have to adjust to a new team… and there’s a player behind him on the depth chart who might … challenge him for snaps.” Sara Marshall picks up on TE Eli Raridon hype as an overlooked Patriots rookie who hit the NFLs radar. NESN looks at the Patriots offseason losses in 2026: Who Replaces Stefon Diggs , K’Lavon Chaisson and other key departures? Lauren Campbell relays Tom Brady on realizing how important Rob Gronkowski was. Khari Thompson highlights Mac Jones opening up about his tumultuous time with the Patriots. “Brian Hoyer was the backup … but we were like, this is not going to be good.” Sara Marshall is thankful Eliot Wolf never pulled the trigger on the rumored trade offer on the table for WR Brandon Aiyuk . Aiyuk’s uncertain future and recent social media shenanigans underline that non-move. Patriots Daily podcast: Taylor Kyles and Mike Kadlick discuss the AFC East landscape , who are the kings of the division, if Drake Maye closed the gap on Josh Allen , and more. (49 min.) NATIONAL NEWS NFL Nation (ESPN) AFC East: Can Bills, Jets or Dolphins unseat the Patriots? Video (ESPN) What to watch for in the AFC East ? (1 min. video) Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) Execs, coaches, scouts rank top NFL tight ends for 2026. No Pats. Matt Okada (NFL.com) 2026 NFL season’s most highly anticipated Week 1 debuts: Newly acquired players spice up all 16 games. Patriots included. Justin Melo (NFL Draft on SI) The most overlooked NFL Draft pick at every position group (And why they’ll be steals). TE Eli Rarido included. /Click for commentary . Bobby Kownack (NFL.com) AFC West training camp preview: Top storylines for Broncos, Chargers , Chiefs, Raiders. /Patriots play the AFC West this season
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Chiefs’ Travis Kelce ‘would’ve had 110, 120’ catches a year with Brady
The “New Heights” podcast is wrapping up its fourth season of episodes this summer, with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his brother, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce , interviewing seven-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady in the season finale. Early in the interview, Brady complimented Kelce’s play style and fantasized about what he and Kelce could’ve done together on the football field. “You’ve had a unique athleticism, Trav,” Brady said. “Silky-smooth route runner, incredible feel out there. I think, if I played with you, you would’ve had 110, 120 [catches] a year.” “Not that you don’t have that with Patrick,” Brady clarified. “But I liked your style of play, cause I feel like there was a way you ran routes where you always had an ability to feel the coverage and then turn in, even when they told you to turn [out], but who cares, because you’re open.” The most single-season receptions by a tight end with Brady was 82 by Rob Gronkowski in 2014. The better comparison for Kelce, in regard to the players Brady threw to, was the slot receivers: Wes Welker and Julian Edelman . “Julian did that a little for me; Wes did that a lot for me,” Brady continued. “Some guys don’t really have that feel.” “But I just watch you play, and I’m like, ‘Like that! Just like that,’” Brady exclaimed. The entire discussion with Brady was insightful and interesting, and it was cool to hear him compare Kelce to some of the most reliable targets he ever had in his career
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Patriots links 6/25/26: Pats' WR-TE-RB combo best in AFC East
TEAM TALK Community: Patriots rookies visit local high school for Youth Football Clinic. (1 min. video) Patriots Catch-22: Patriots roster breakdown , around the AFC East (Bills). (2 hours) LOCAL LINKS Mark Morse analyzes the Patriots’ Running Back and Fullback depth. Ethan Hurwitz posts his 2026 DT Preview: Who breaks through in a crowded room? Matt Legros looks at how realistic is a 1,000-yard season for WR Romeo Doubs . Danny Jaillet relays Troy Brown challenging WR Kyle Williams to take things to the next level in Year 2 by improving in the intermediate routes and creating separation more consistently. Ethan Hurwitz explains why the Patriots backup OT competition matters more than anyone thinks. Alex Barth reports Will Campbell has been seen working out with top tackles in NFL. Danny Jaillet highlights Rob Gronkowski calling WR A.J. Brown the ‘X-factor’ for Pats’ Super Bowl return. Phil Perry ranks the 25 most important Patriots for 2026: Nos. 25-21 – Nos. 20-16 – Nos. 15-11 . Ethan Hurwitz mentions the AFC East roster rankings have the Patriots in the driver’s seat, for now. Stephen Sheehan suggests the Patriots should pounce on TE Colby Parkinson if the Rams don’t extend him. Parkinson carries a $9 million cap charge for the 2026 season—the final year of his contract. Patriots Daily podcast: Taylor Kyles and Mike Kadlick discuss which Patriots will make NFL Top 100 players list for 2026, who should but won’t, and more. (25 min.) NATIONAL NEWS Around the NFL (NFL.com) Instant Debate: Best quarterback-pass catcher combo in 2026. Drake Maye-A.J. Brown included. Bill Barnwell (ESPN) Ranking WR, TE, RB groups for 2026: Best and worst NFL teams. Dolphins 32nd, Bills 29th, Jets 12th, Patriots 10th. /Click for commentary . Carter Bahns (CBS Sports) NFL’s top dynamic duos : Rams loaded with elite tandems. No Pats. Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: How Lamar Jackson can use Patrick Mahomes’ contract to name his own price on future Ravens deal Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) NFL offseason power rankings: No. 31 New York Jets try to put Aaron Glenn’s horrific first season behind them. Daire Carragher (PFF) Building the NFL’s all-undrafted team entering the 2026 season. No Pats. Garrett Podell (CBS Sports) Five NFL stars who could force a Giannis-like trade. Jets WR Garrett Wilson included. No Pats. Jack Baer (Yahoo! Sports) WR Brandon Aiyuk continues campaign for 49ers exit, tells team to cut him so he can ‘sign with Commanders tomorrow.’ Bryan DeArdo (CBS Sports) The greatest NFL team of every decade, from the 1920s to today. 2000s: and 2010s: New England Patriots. /Good times . Nathan Jahnke (PFF) Patriots All-PFF Team: The best players of the past 20 years. Staff (Bleacher Report) Ranking the 99 biggest draft busts of all time. No Pats. Eva Geitheim (SI) Ranking every NFL Mascot: The most funny, scary and controversial sideline characters. No. 25 Pat Patriot. “… his expression is still quite scary-looking.” /Pat deserves higher . EXTRACURRICULAR Eric Woodyard (ESPN) Lions’ CB Terrion Arnold arrested , faces kidnapping, robbery charges. Katherine Rosman and Ken Belson (New York Times Service) Dianna Russini was an NFL ‘Insider.’ Was she also out of bounds? Russini’s approach to reporting raised specific questions, including whether her closeness to a source like Mike Vrabel compromised her role at the Athletic. /Speculation, no smoking gun
WR · NE
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A.J. Brown draws comparison to franchise legend from Josh McDaniels
McDaniels sees some Rob Gronkowski in his new receiver
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How are the Patriots going to use A.J. Brown? ‘X' marks the spot
How are the Patriots going to use A.J. Brown? ‘X' marks the spot originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston FOXBORO — The Patriots know they picked up a rare, game-changing weapon in the form of A.J. Brown this week. How rare? Even offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who has coached a number of “No. 1” receivers in his career, had a hard time comparing him to anyone he’s worked with in the past. “This is a big man,” McDaniels said just ahead of Brown’s first OTA practice with his new team. “Randy [Moss] was tall, certainly, and fast and all the rest of it. I think they’re all a little different. I say ‘they,’ meaning I’ve been fortunate to have the chance to be around some really good ones. “Not sure I’ve been around one just like [ Brown ]. Maybe the closest thing I’ve seen is [ Rob Gronkowski ]. This is a big guy. Does a lot of things well. Looking forward to seeing how we can acclimate him and fit him into our system.” Brown’s physical stature doesn’t exactly align with that of Gronkowski, a behemoth tight end who measured at 6-foot-6, 265 pounds. But the strength with which Brown plays his position, not to mention his ability to violently attack the football when it’s in his area, are reminiscent of some of the most powerful pass catchers in recent NFL history. Brown is listed at 6-foot-1, 226 pounds and played even bigger than that when he was at his most dominant in Philadelphia . And his game is different from those of bigger-bodied wideouts like Davante Adams and Brandon Marshall , with whom McDaniels has worked in the past. Brown racked up four straight 1,000-yard seasons with the Eagles as a man-to-man beater who often played the role of the “X.” That placed him on the line of scrimmage, on the weak side of the formation, allowing him to work out on an island against corners who often couldn’t physically measure up. “Big and physical,” McDaniels said when describing Brown’s skill set. “Aggressive. Explosive. He has really good hands. He’s just a competitive guy, and there’s a force to the way he plays the game. Looking forward to getting used to the things he can do that I don’t know about. I’m sure there’s many of those. “I’ve had an opportunity to have a few different receivers come into our system at times, and you’ve heard about them, you’ve seen them, you’ve watched them play on tape, but then to actually get them on the grass and watch them do different things, it just brings the picture to life.” Where will Brown be aligned, and how will he be used as a featured member of the Patriots offense as the picture starts to come to life in Foxboro? Mike Vrabel provided a hint Tuesday as to how it will go in the early stages of Brown’s onboarding process. “I think all the guys right now are going to learn a lot of the different positions,” Vrabel said. “I think the ones that have been here — that’s how [receivers coach] Todd [Downing]’s tried to install the offense, is to know what each player has on each concept and learn it that way. I would imagine that A.J. would do the same, and give guys the ability to line inside, Kyle [Williams], or align outside and use Romeo [Doubs] inside. “Right now, [Brown] is going to have to learn one position, and I would imagine that’s going to be outside. But as that grows, I know that will be across the board. I think that’s hopefully something that he’s looking forward to do. But you have to learn one before you can learn them all.” Brown played on the outside in the few snaps he was given for the Patriots during competitive 11-on-11 periods in Tuesday’s practice. He caught his first target from quarterback Drake Maye on a hitch while working in 1-on-1 coverage along the sideline. Simple pitch and catch. Those are the easy yards that could be available to the Patriots with Brown working outside the numbers against defensive backs willing to give him ground. But there should be explosive gains to be had with Brown working outside as well. On deep passes last season i [... truncated ...]
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Should Caleb Williams fear the Madden curse?
For years, the "Madden curse" that plagued some of the video game franchise's early cover stars appeared to be dormant. Over the last couple of years, the curse has started to rear its ugly head again. Should the Madden NFL 27 cover athlete, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams , be worried about his upcoming 2026 season? Former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady appeared to break the curse in 2017. Brady, who was the cover athlete of Madden NFL 18 before the 2017 season, went on to win his third and final NFL MVP award that year. For six years after that, none of the video game franchise's cover athletes dealt with major injuries or notably poor performance. MADDEN NFL 27: Cover features Caleb Williams as Bears QB joins elite list The streak of solid seasons by Madden cover athletes ended two years ago. San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey earned a spot on the cover of Madden NFL 25 then dealt with injuries that kept him out of all but four games in the 2024 season that followed. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley , last year's cover athlete, took a notable step back in production in 2025. Here's a look back at the last 10 Madden NFL covers, as USA TODAY Sports audits whether the Madden curse struck each cover athlete in the last decade: Madden 27 cover athlete Caleb Williams eludes Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary during their football game Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Madden 27 cover athlete Caleb Williams eludes Green Bay Packers defensive end Rashan Gary during their football game Saturday, December 20, 2025, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Looking back at the last decade of Madden cover athletes chronologically, there are a mix of results that make the validity of the Madden curse still uncertain. Here's the list of athletes from the last decade: A year after he was named to his second consecutive All-Pro first team, Gronkowski missed eight games with injuries to his hamstring, lung and back. He missed the last five games of the regular season and the Patriots' entire Super Bowl run after needing surgery to repair a herniated disk in his back. The apparent breaking of the curse came in 2017, when Brady won the third NFL MVP award of his career. At 40 years old, Brady led the NFL in pass attempts (581) and passing yards (4,577). He also threw 32 touchdowns with eight interceptions. Some may argue that Brady didn't break the curse because he and the Patriots lost the Super Bowl to the Eagles at the end of the year. An MVP award still is plenty proof that Brady, as an individual player, was not hindered by a supposed curse. In 2017, Brown led the NFL in receiving yards (1,533). In 2018, the year he was featured on the Madden cover, he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns (15). Brown's 2018 season was also both his last with the Steelers and his last with more than 1,000 receiving yards. For any naysayers who counted Brady's Super Bowl loss as evidence that he was affected by the Madden curse, Mahomes took things one step further two years later. A year after winning his first NFL MVP award, the Chiefs quarterback won the Super Bowl and was named Super Bowl MVP in the season following his appearance on the Madden cover. Jackson won an MVP the year before he appeared on the Madden cover, and his follow-up season wasn't quite as good. Still, he had 33 combined touchdowns in the air and on the ground, rushed for more than 1,000 yards again (his last time doing so to date) and won 11 games. The Ravens also won their wild-card round game. The pair of recent stars gracing their own Madden covers shared the front of the box in 2021 after they clashed in Super Bowl 55. Mahomes had another Pro Bowl season that featured 4,839 passing yards, 37 touchdowns, 12 regular-season wins and another AFC championship game appearance. Brady led the NFL in passing yards (5,316) and passing touchdowns (43) and finished second in NFL MVP vo [... truncated ...]
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Josh McDaniels: There's a force to how A.J. Brown plays, maybe closest I've seen is Gronk
Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has likely been thinking about ways to deploy wide receiver A.J. Brown for some time, but he had to wait to discuss the wideout until Monday’s trade officially brought Brown to New England. It’s no surprise to learn that McDaniels is excited about what Brown brings to the table. Brown has crossed the 1,000-yard mark in six of his seven NFL seasons and McDaniels said that the receiver’s power on the field reminds him of one of the most prolific players in franchise history. “There’s a force to the way he plays the game . . . Maybe the closest thing I’ve seen is Gronk. This is a big guy,” McDaniels said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN.com. Brown is likely looking forward to playing for McDaniels as well. ESPN pointed out that wideouts have a history of great success in their first seasons playing for the coordinator. That includes Wes Welker and Randy Moss in New England in 2007, Brandon Marshall in Denver in 2009, and Davante Adams in Las Vegas in 2022. Unmentioned was Stefon Diggs with the Patriots last year and the Patriots might be aiming for more than Diggs’ 85 catches for 1,013 yards once they turn Brown loose this fall
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A.J. Browns joins Patriots, says 'no bad blood' with Eagles' Jalen Hurts: Live updates
FOXBOROUGH, MA – A.J. Brown grew up rooting for the New England Patriots , and on Tuesday he lived out the childhood dream of playing professional football for his favorite team. Brown suited up in a Patriots jersey at voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) Tuesday, June 2, a day after his long-speculated trade from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Patriots became official . Vrabel didn't appear concerned with the details of the divorce between Brown and the Eagles , who received a 2028 first-round draft pick and 2027 fifth-rounder in exchange for Brown. "I think what's the most important (thing) is that those things don't carry over into the locker room," Vrabel said. "I’m not trying to figure out what happened in Philadelphia," Vrabel added. "I’m focused on what’s going to happen here and try to get him acclimated to what we do and how we do it." Vrabel said the initial conversations stalled before Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf told him shortly after 4 p.m. ET June 1 that the deal was done. Adding Brown the player is one thing, Vrabel said, but he is "somebody we also feel strongly about as a person and a competitor and teammate." Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said that Brown's size – he plays with the physicality of somebody with greater measurements than 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds – reminds him a bit of ex-Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski . "Maybe the closest thing I’ve seen is Gronk," McDaniels said. "This is a big guy." A longtime Vrabel lieutenant, wide receivers coach Todd Downing has known Brown since the Titans drafted him in the second round (51st overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. Downing, as the tight ends coach for Brown's first two NFL seasons, watched him improve before becoming his playcaller as offensive coordinator in 2021. That prior experience allowed Downing to know Brown's heart, football mind and competitiveness. "I think that helps in navigating (being) demanding and crossing a line," Downing said. "I’m just fortunate to know the person and to be able to work with a player who wants to continue to get better." Downing tries to teach players all of the receiver positions to move them around the formation and retain versatility, and Brown will undergo the same education as everybody else. Brown going to augment the talent and camaraderie that already exists in the room, Downing said. Conceptual awareness of where he fit into the bigger picture of the offense really mattered to Brown, Downing recalled. Understanding the why is important to him. “Explaining what he has to do is one thing. Why he has to do it is another," Downing said. "I think sometimes players with that type of football IQ can kind of go rouge at times, if they don’t understand why they’re supposed to do what they’re supposed to do.” Brown isn’t bashful about asking those questions, so Downing knows he must come armed with answers to get the most out of him. After Brown spent four seasons in Philadelphia, Downing said he thinks Brown has improved both physically – the way he sets up releases off the line of scrimmage, for example – and mentally. “It’s cool to see him continue to grow," Downing said. "Just in the couple of conversations I’ve had with him today, I anticipate him staying hungry to keep improving.” Brown said he and quarterback Jalen Hurts are “not as close as we once were." "I believe that’s fine. There’s no bad blood," Brown told Maria Taylor in a video interview posted June 2. "There’s actually still a lot of love. I still love him to death.” Brown told Taylor he didn’t understand why their friendship came under the spotlight of the public eye. “Looking back on it, we haven’t been as close as were (for) a couple years now, but that didn’t stop anything," he said. "We still competed. We still led the team. “Nothing happened. Nothing happened. People just grew apart.” OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans) CB Trent McDuffie: T [... truncated ...]
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What trading for A.J. Brown means for the Patriots
The New England Patriots have officially agreed to acquire wide receiver A.J. Brown in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots will send Philadelphia a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick in exchange for Brown. Let’s break down what the moves mean for the team from a big-picture perspective. The Patriots have been searching for a true No. 1 pass catcher to anchor their offense since the days of Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski . Stefon Diggs filled that role admirably last season, but his release earlier this offseason put New England right back in the market. Enter A.J. Brown. Even with some decline in his game, the soon-to-be 29-year-old remains one of the NFL’s most productive and dominant wide receivers. Brown has posted four straight 1,000-yard seasons while earning three second-team All-Pro selections during that span. New England needed to continue supporting Drake Maye this offseason, and this move accomplishes exactly that by giving the young quarterback a proven top-tier target. “If he ends up being on our team, great. What a great player,” Maye said about Brown last week. Brown’s strengths as a receiver pair well with Maye’s skillset, while his ability with the ball in his hands would provide a big boost to an offense that ranked 27th in yards gained after missed tackles last season. All in all, adding A.J. Brown to the mix — along with New England’s other offseason additions — gives the Patriots offense a chance to be one of the best units in football. Brown’s arrival in Foxboro will have a ripple effect throughout the Patriots’ current wide receiver room. No player may be impacted more than Kayshon Boutte, who has not participated in the team’s voluntary offseason program this spring as he enters a contract year. Brown’s role in New England will largely overlap with the one Boutte currently fills on the outside, creating even more questions about the 24-year-old’s future with the team. A trade would seem likely — something Boutte himself may welcome in an effort to pursue a larger role elsewhere ahead of a potential payday. As for the rest of the Patriots’ receiver room, the depth chart slots in nicely behind Brown. Free-agent addition Romeo Doubs will takeover the No. 2 role, while Mack Hollins and Kyle Williams are the leading candidates for WR3 duties in 11 personnel groupings. Depending on how many receivers New England ultimately keeps on its 53-man roster, DeMario Douglas , Efton Chism III , and the team’s four undrafted rookie receivers would then compete for the remaining spot(s). In what is widely considered to be an extremely strong 2027 draft class, the Patriots keeping their first-round pick that year is a win. New England also previously held two fifth-round picks from the Garrett Bradbury trade earlier this offseason, and will now send one of those to Philadelphia. While losing a first-round pick in any year is difficult to swallow, parting with their 2028 first-rounder gives Mike Vrabel, Eliot Wolf, and Co. an entire third offseason to continue building the roster. New England would also have time to recoup some 2028 draft capital — whether during next year’s draft or through a potential player trade involving someone like Kayshon Boutte. Acquiring A.J. Brown also means the Patriots are acquiring the remaining four years on the wide receiver’s contract. Brown’s cap hit for the 2026 season is currently $6.79 million, with those cap numbers rising to $10.996 million in 2027, $17.883 million in 2028, and $23.591 million in 2029. The contract also carries a massive $53.52 million dead-cap charge in 2030 because of the Philadelphia Eagles’ unique contract structures, which often include multiple void years to spread option bonuses across additional seasons for salary-cap purposes. Given that structure, the Patriots may feel that restructuring Brown’s contract upon arrival is the best path forward, which would alter his cap figures moving forward. From the coaching [... truncated ...]
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Bill Belichick says Tom Brady was right to leave Patriots in 2020
Let's go back in our time machines and revisit the 2020 NFL offseason. The league agreed to a new collective bargaining agreement, paving the way for a 17-game regular season. A global pandemic forced Roger Goodell to host the NFL Draft from his basement. However, the real headline from that offseason was Tom Brady leaving the New England Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . After nine AFC Championships, six Super Bowl victories, 14 Pro Bowls, and 20 years building a dynasty, the greatest quarterback and coach in NFL history parted ways. It was a hotly debated topic: who was most responsible for the Patriots' success, Brady or Bill Belichick? Fast forward six years, and it's no longer a tough question to answer. Belichick recently appeared on Fox News Media's "Hang Out with Sean Hannity," and revealed that his quarterback leaving New England in 2020 was the correct decision. Why? Because the Patriots were on a downward slope overall. "Tom leaving was absolutely the right thing for him to do," Belichick said, via Boston.com . "We didn't have a good team in 2020. We just didn't have a good football team. We had all those guys that left — [Rob] Gronkowski and [Julian] Edelman. Most of our team was gone. [Devin] McCourty and a few others were still there, but they were about to go too. We were just at the end. "And honestly, I was happy for him that things worked out well for him in Tampa, because he was with a team … and then he went on and won. That made me happy for him, because Tom — it wouldn't have gone well in 2020 in New England. On this, I can guarantee that." Belichick said the Patriots put "everything we had" into the 2019 season, which ended prematurely in the wild-card round. With Brady gone, the Patriots signed former MVP quarterback Cam Newton to replace him. While Newton did punch in 12 touchdowns as a runner in 2020, he averaged just 177.1 passing yards per game as the Patriots took an expected step backward at 7-9. New England bounced back in 2021 thanks to rookie quarterback Mac Jones , who led the Patriots to a 10-7 record and playoff berth, but that would be the final winning season of the Belichick era. New England finished 8-9 in 2022, followed by a disastrous 4-13 campaign in 2023. That's when Belichick and the Patriots "mutually agreed to part ways." Brady, on the other hand, easily won the divorce. Despite being 43 years old and playing for his first team other than the Patriots in a season complicated by COVID-19, Brady took Tampa Bay to 11-5 while throwing for 4,633 yards, 40 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. The Bucs then won three straight playoff games on the road, including against the rival New Orleans Saints and Aaron Rodgers ' Green Bay Packers , before defeating Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV -- which was played in the Bucs' home stadium. In his first year away from New England, Brady won a Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP. Brady went 32-18 as the starter in Tampa over three seasons, and 5-2 in the playoffs, with his seventh career Super Bowl victory, before hanging up the cleats for good. "I learned so much from Tom. I never played quarterback," Belichick said. "Tom saw the game through a quarterback's eyes. I saw the games through a coach's eyes. Together, I think we both learned a lot from each other. Tom, how defensive coaches looked at him or looked at offense. Me, on what a quarterback can do and what he can't do, what's hard, what's easy, what I can see, what I can't see, and how you see the game. Despite what some football fans may believe, there appears to be no bad blood between Brady and Belichick. Maybe the quarterback was more important in sustaining the kind of historic winning the Patriots did in the 2000s, but there's no doubt the quarterback and the coach will reside in Canton one day
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Bill Belichick says Tom Brady made right decision leaving the Patriots
Bill Belichick spent his NFL career always focused on the next play or the next game. With those days now behind him, it's about reflecting on the past. The former New England Patriots coach joined Fox News' Sean Hannity on the latest episode of the "Hang Out" podcast , where he spoke about a variety of topics from his Hall of Fame snub to Tom Brady's decision to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and everything in between. The coach's NFL days are long gone at this point. He departed the Patriots organization after the 2023 season, officially leaving the post in Jan. 2024 in what was framed as a mutual decision with team owner Robert Kraft. MORE: Tom Brady talks failure, comebacks, Bill Belichick in commencement speech It has been an up-and-down journey for Belichick in the years since. The current North Carolina Tar Heels football head coach has been in the news for his move to the college ranks and his personal relationships. Belichick was back on the NFL radar this offseason after news surfaced that he wouldn't be part of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class – something that left many in disbelief . The coach had always been known for keeping things close to the vest, or hoodie in this case. Now he's peeling back the curtain and speaking his mind. Here's a look at some of the highlights from Belichick's discussion with Hannity. Brady's 20th season with the Patriots was capped off with a pick-six to the Tennessee Titans ' Logan Ryan in the wild-card round. Rather than sign up for another year, the then-six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback opted for a new challenge. He signed with the Buccaneers ahead of the 2020 season, a decision that Belichick said was the right one. "Tom leaving was absolutely the right thing for him to do," Belichick told Hannity. "We didn’t have a good team in 2020. We just didn’t have a good football team. We had all those guys that left –[Rob] Gronkowski and [Julian] Edelman. Most of our team was gone. [Devin] McCourty and a few others were still there, but they were about to go too. We were just at the end." Belichick added that he was happy things worked out for Brady, saying they would've gone much differently if he had stayed in New England . "It wouldn’t have gone well in 2020 in New England," he said. "On this, I can guarantee that. We put everything we had into the '19 season, including paying him a lot of money at the end of the year without anything for it. There was no first right of refusal, there was no franchise tag, nothing. "And so we all understood that there was a good chance he would leave. And I think he made a great career decision, obviously. I wish we could have done more, but we went as far as we could. And look, he proved it – he played longer than anybody, played at a higher level than anybody. And again, tremendous credit to him. Nobody else did that – that was him." Longevity and continuity aren't easy in the constantly evolving world of sports. Despite those challenges, Brady and Belichick spent 20 seasons together, winning six Super Bowls. Many have debated for years whether Brady or Belichick deserved more credit for New England's success, but the coach revealed that it was a true partnership. "I learned so much from Tom," Belichick said. "I never played quarterback. Tom saw the game through a quarterback’s eyes. I saw the game through a coach’s eyes. Together, I think we both learned a lot from each other – Tom on how defensive coaches looked at him or looked at offense, and me on what a quarterback can do and what he can’t do, what’s hard, what’s easy, what I can see, what I can't see, and how you see the game." The coach later added that once Brady took over as the starter, everything was tailored to what Brady did best – both in play-calling and in how they built the roster. Still, Brady always wanted to make sure he was treated as one of the guys. "People say, well, I was hard on Tom and I yelled at Tom," Belichick said. "Yeah, I mean, at times [... truncated ...]
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Hell of a vet' Hunter Henry leaving first-year Patriots teammate impressed
Throughout their history, the New England Patriots have rostered some top-tier tight ends. Newly-voted Patriots Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski , arguably the best tight ends in NFL history, tops a list that also includes the likes of Ben Coates and Russ Francis. Hunter Henry might not have reached those same echelons yet, but he is very well on his way. Entering his sixth season as a Patriot, he very much has cemented his spot among the franchise’s top ever players at the position. That is true both for his on-field contributions and his leadership off the field, something one of the Patriots’ 2026 offseason additions can attest to. “I’ve got a hell of a vet in that room. Hunter Henry is a hell of a guy,” said free agency signing Julian Hill about his new teammate. “I’ve been working with him. He’s been helping me so much in the pass game.” One of three additions to the Patriots’ tight end room this spring alongside rookies Eli Raridon and Tanner Arkin, Hill arrived on a three-year contract in March. The details of that deal show that he very much is locked into a roster spot this year, presumably to serve as a blocking-first option at the position. The former Miami Dolphins UDFA does bring the experience of 46 NFL games to New England . But even though he is heading into his fourth season in the league, he knows that job security is not a given in his profession. That is exactly what makes Henry’s career — he entered the league as a second-round draft choice in 2016 — so impressive in Hill’s eyes. “He’s going on Year 11? I mean, how many guys can say that and produce as he’s produced?” Hill asked. “How he moves at his age, his mindset of the game, his approach to the game, you can’t make that up. I have a lot of respect for guys who have been in the business for a long time, because as y’all know, this is a short-lived business. That’s what makes him a hell of a vet.”
analyst
Timing Becoming Key to Acquiring A.J. Brown in Dynasty
Current Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has become one of the most intriguing dynasty evaluations in the league, particularly in ongoing startup drafts. Brown's trade out of Philadelphia on or after June 1st is practically viewed as a foregone conclusion, and even his assumed landing spot with the New England Patriots is already baked into his current price. Brown is coming off two down years with the Eagles, and on the verge of turning 29, his knee issues were reportedly concerning enough to take several teams out of the market for his services. In New England, however, he will be tied to a 23-year-old MVP runner-up in Drake Maye and a Josh McDaniels-led offense that has been in search of a true pass-catching mismatch since the initial retirement of Rob Gronkowski. At RotoBaller's dynasty WR20, Brown still offers immense short-term upside, and for rebuilding managers looking to optimize value, the next strong selling window will likely come shortly after the trade becomes official. Even with the parties and landing spot essentially known, the compensation acquired by Philadelphia could provide an additional boost to Brown's dynasty value, particularly if it involves a first-round pick, as has been heavily rumored
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