(USA Today Network)
Going to start the running file now since we might see an uptick in activity — minor and major — before the tampering period starts at Noon on Monday, and continue to update with news as we go.
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The Tonga Truck has left the One Patriot Place warehouse.
Khyiris Tonga, who dramatically outperformed his on-field reputation and absolutely lived up to his off-field status as an all-time good dude, is leaving the Patriots for Kansas City. The Chiefs are inking the big man to a 3-year deal worth up to $21 million, $14 million of which is guaranteed.
This is a blow for the Pats, who thought they had a deal done with Tonga late this past season. However, those talks hit a surprising impasse, and now the 330-pounder will ply his trade next to Chris Jones. Tonga played 17 of 20 games this past season and, in addition to being a mostly immovable object at the point of attack in the run game, registered 17 QB pressures.
BSJ ANALYSIS:
Tonga was one of the mid-to-lower-level free agent signings the Pats made a year ago that hit and, based on how he played for the first 2.5 months, hit big. He dealt with some injuries late in the year that cost him a few games, and when he returned, he wasn’t the same level of player. But don’t think the Pats thought that was who Tonga was, based on their efforts to re-up him. The team will also miss his leadership. In particular, the way he dealt with younger players like Joshua Farmer and Cory Durden is to be commended.
The Pats aren’t barren at the position. Between the aforementioned duo of Farmer and Durden, as well as Leonard Taylor and, of course, Milton Williams and Christian Barmore, they could line up tomorrow and be damn good. Barmore’s legal issues still hang over the proceedings, and having someone of Tonga’s ilk would have made it easier to move on.
Also, Jalen Nailor signed with the Raiders. I profiled him on preview/review as a wide receiver the Pats should have interest in. As I reported on X, they did. However, not enough to convince Nailor that Foxborough was a better landing spot than Las Vegas.
- The Patriots must have been reading the chat. Their second signing in this free agency period is the fullback that so many of you desired. Reggie Gilliam gets $6 million guaranteed and could make up to $12 million over three years, to leave AFC East rival Buffalo to come to Foxborough.
Gilliam isn’t in the mold of, say, Patrick Ricard, a 300-pound bowling ball. He’s more athletic and even had a role in the passing game for the Bills (16 catches last season). However, Gilliam’s primary responsibility was as a lead blocker for a team that led the league in rushing last year, recording 189 snaps (85% of his playing time) in that role.
This marks the second straight offseason the Pats have plucked an important contributor off that Bills team (Mack Hollins being the other).
BSJ ANALYSIS:
Jack Westover was miscast in his role as a fullback, but the Pats either couldn’t find one they thought suitable to fill the role, or liked some of Westover’s positional versatility. In Gilliam, the Pats fill a clear-cut need with a substantial upgrade. The 28-year-old isn’t a stationary player, either. He can be used in motion and occasionally as an off-line tight end. Gilliam is also a core special teamer.
- A career-high 7 sacks. 24 QB Hits. 51 total QB pressures. That's where the Patriots strike first in free agency, agreeing to a 3-year, $39 million deal with Dre'Mont Jones (remember, contracts can't be signed until Wednesday, so there's the occasional leaving at the altar scenario). Jones split the year between Tennessee and Baltimore, getting shipped to Charm City at the trade deadline. The Pats were interested, but, as I reported here, the Titans weren't all that keen to do business with Mike Vrabel and company, given past history.
Jones is 6'3", 281 pounds, and came out of THE Ohio State University. He was a third-round pick of the Denver Broncos and is now on his fifth NFL team at 29. His best work as a pass rusher has come from the interior, although he played a ton as a stand-up linebacker/edge last season. Jones is big enough to handle the edge physically, though he's had some issues with it.
BSJ ANALYSIS:
When I did review/preview at the edge position, I included Jones but noted he didn't fit the mold of what they had on the roster. This is more of a Denico Autry-like player (he did his best work under Vrabel in Tennessee) who would kick inside on obvious passing downs. Curious how that would work with Milton Williams entrenched and Christian Barmore under contract. I still don't rule out a change of scenery for Barmore.
Meanwhile, Alec Pierce got the bag from the Colts: 4 years, $116 million. This was what I thought was the likely scenario all along. Pierce is an up-and-comer (25 years old) and is close with Daniel Jones (who will remain in Indy). He attended college in the Midwest (Cincinnati), and his brother, a collegiate basketball player, transferred from Princeton to Purdue. The Pats did inquire about Pierce, but indicated they had a financial breaking point. Bottom line: the Eagles' negotiating position regarding a trade of AJ Brown to New England just got stronger.
New at 11 AM on Monday
- The Patriots have released linebacker Jahlani Tavai. If the cut is designated pre-June 1st (and I don't know why it wouldn't be), the team saves about $1.7 million against the cap. Only $600K of his 2026 salary is guaranteed. At the combine in Indianapolis, Eliot Wolf indicated the team would like to get younger at the position, and this move is the first step in that direction.
- They have also tendered exclusive rights free agent FB/TE Jack Westover.
News items:
• Patriots trade center Garrett Bradbury to Bears for 2027 5th-round pick
• Patriots signed QB Tommy DeVito on a two-year, $7.4-million deal with $2 million guaranteed.
• Patriots will not tender restricted free agents OT Yasir Durant, CB Alex Austin and DT Isaiah Iton. Still waiting on LB Jack Gibbens and DT Jaquelin Roy.
BSJ ANALYSIS
• On the Bradbury trade ... figured something might come at the center spot because the Patriots basically had three: veteran Garrett Bradbury, Ben Brown (extended during the season) and Jared Wilson. And you saw veterans Drew Dalman (Bears) and Brian Kelly (Vikings) retire recently, and some teams were going to be looking at lower-cost options than Tyler Linderbaum, who figures to break the bank in free agency.
Enter the Patriots (we discussed the possibility on the podcast on Tuesday).
The team got good value on Bradbury, and the move frees up an additional
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