Team news: New England Patriots

Running back James White is expected to re-sign with the New England Patriots, per source. It's not done but should be pretty soon. The versatile RB with 25 touchdown catches since 2014 back in the fold for New England.

After three straight seasons of 4.0+ catches per game, White's numbers dipped to 3.5 per game in 2020 with Cam Newton under center. His receiving yards per game dropped from 43.0 in 2019 to 26.8 in 2020. He's no longer a viable every-week flex option. The Patriots' backfield is shaping up to be an enigma yet again in 2021.

The #Texans are signing QB Tyrod Taylor to an incentive-laden contract, similar to what Cam Newton and Jameis Winston agreed to in recent days, per source. It can be worth up to $12.5 million, but the base value is less than half that. Solid backup money, and more if he plays.

And New England strikes again: The Patriots are signing former Chargers' TE Hunter Henry to a three-year, $37.5 million deal, including $25 million guaranteed, per source.

Hunter Henry joins fellow free-agent TE Jonnu Smith in New England on a three-year deal. The former Charger has put up starting TE numbers in three of the past four seasons and finds himself on a team with a whole slew of new weapons. The Patriots were the favorites to sign Henry until they locked up Jonnu Smith. It turns out that they wanted both players, and it appears that the team is trying to recreate the Rob Gronkowski/Aaron Hernandez offense of several years ago. Henry's arrival throws some cold water on Smith's upside since he's another mouth to feed in what was a very run-heavy offense last year. It's clear that the Patriots are planning to throw the ball more, the question is how much. Neither player is a clear and obvious fantasy TE1 at this point.

Related: Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor, Kendrick Bourne

The #Patriots aren’t done. They are signing WR Kendrick Bourne, source said. He gets 3-years for $22.5M.

In four seasons as a 49er, Kendrick Bourne posted 1,769 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns on 137 receptions. He's capable of playing both inside and out and should bolster a Patriots WR corps that's been lackluster in recent years. He joins Nelson Agholor as a free agent add in 2021.

The #Patriots have now agreed to terms with WR Nelson Agholor, source said. A huge day in New England.

It's been a busy day for the Patriots, as they have signed a number of players on both sides of the ball. Agholor revived his career last year in Las Vegas, catching 48 passes for a career-high 896 yards and eight touchdowns (which tied a career-high). His 18.7 yards per catch blew away his previous high of 12.4 from the 2017 season. He only saw 82 targets for the Raiders, which was just a single target more than the 81 that Jakobi Meyers saw as New England's leading receiver in 2020. Agholor will probably start opposite Meyers with Julian Edelman rounding out three-WR sets. The Patriots were run-heavy last season, but today's signings of Agholor and Jonnu Smith indicate that they are planning to throw the ball more in 2021. Agholor will be in the WR4 mix, though he's not necessarily walking into a much larger role in New England.

Former Titans’ TE Jonnu Smith reached agreement with the Patriots on a 4–year, $50 million deals that includes $31.25 million fully guaranteed, @DrewJRosenhaustold ESPN.

Along with Hunter Henry, Smith is one of the premier tight ends available in free agency. He's just hitting his prime (turning 26 in August) and is coming off a 65-target, 41-448-8 season for the Titans. He was underutilized in Tennessee's run-heavy scheme and played third-fiddle to A.J. Brown and Corey Davis in the passing game. The Patriots are in dire need of pass-catchers and that's where Smith can shine since he's something of a mediocre blocker (per PFF). In 2018, Rob Gronkowski saw 72 targets in 13 games (5.5 per game) and 105 targets (7.5 per game) the year before. Smith could certainly see 80-100 targets in 2021, though if the team continues to go run-heavy with Cam Newton at quarterback, that may not happen. (Jakobi Meyers led the team with 81 targets in 2020.)

Both WR Corey Davis and TE Jonnu Smith are aware that the #Titans will not be bringing them back to Nashville. Both will hit the free agent market per sources.

This is no big surprise for either of these players, and both should find themselves with a market during free agency. Corey Davis ended 2020 as WR30 in half-PPR points per game with 11.4, and Jonnu Smith's campaign was enough for TE10, averaging 8.0 half PPR points per contest.

The #Patriots are re-signing QB Cam Newton to a one-year deal, according to a league source.

In February, Cam Newton said he never fully recovered from missing contests after being on the COVID-19 list, after a pretty decent start to the year. The Patriots will most likely draft one of the top QBs in this year's draft, since Newton's deal indicates a bridge situation.

Titans are not tagging TE Jonnu Smith, per source. Smith heads to free agency.

Jonnu Smith should be the second most in-demand TE after Hunter Henry this free agency period. The 25-year old still has plenty of gas in the tank as a fantasy TE.

Chargers informed TE Hunter Henry that he will not be tagged, per source. Henry is headed to free agency.

Hunter Henry has finished as a starting fantasy TE in four of the last five seasons and at only 26-years old, still has plenty in the tank to offer any NFL team. With the fantasy landscape so bare at TE, regardless of landing spot, Henry should still be considered a Top-10 at his position come draft time.