NFL Frenzy 03.19.20: Patriots sign S Adrian Phillips; Joe Thuney signs franchise tender; Nate Ebner departs

Thursday's happenings around the NFL that concern the Patriots:

Patriots signed former Chargers S Adrian Phillips to two-year deal

https://twitter.com/CharlesRobinson/status/1240765769216143361

Mentioned Adrian Phillips here last season when the Patriots faced the Chargers in the playoffs.

PFF stats:



My first thought is he could be a Patrick Chung replacement. Phillips is a little taller, but they play similar positions, usually in the box (at least 50 percent of his snaps have been there) at linebacker. But releasing Chung before or after June 1 really doesn't do much for their cap situation. At least they have a Chung replacement should the safety be hurt all season again.

Phillips is a good football player who came back from a broken arm to continue to play to play some of the best ball of his career.

If the roster stays the same way, I could see Devin McCourty taking Duron Harmon's snaps at deep third safety (a big upgrade for the Patriots), and Phillips taking McCourty's snaps in the box (even or a slight upgrade).

I've always like Phillips as a player. He's known to be a very smart and tough player. Almost like a latter-day Rodney Harrison (Chargers link) but not quite as physical. Phillips also plays special teams.

A big upgrade over Harmon.

Joe Thuney signs franchise tag, which would be first step in a trade

https://twitter.com/MikeMcCartney7/status/1240661491109543939

It's true this is very fast to sign a tender, and that this would be a needed step toward a trade to another team. But no trade is imminent, according to a league source.

There have been ongoing extension discussions, and those are expected to continue, but it's not like Thuney would miss any team activity to play the leverage game, so it's smart just to sign the tender, lock in Thuney's nearly $15-million tender. The Patriots could always rescind the tender, and leave Thuney as a free agent when most of the large cap space is gone. That's the worst-case scenario that signing the tender avoids completely.

Nate Ebner leaves for Giants, Judge

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1240598623135678468

I think this one will hurt Bill Belichick more than Brady. The Patriots are finally shedding a little payroll at special teams.

Tom Brady's $13.5-million dead cap hit isn't just going to pay for itself.

ALSO:

https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1240607559318491136