One of the more intriguing questions remaining in this NFL off-season, ahead of the draft, has to do with what the New England Patriots will do at quarterback. Cam Newton is a free agent after his season leading Bill Belichick’s offense. He went 7-8 in the games he started, completing 65.8 percent of his passes. However, the yardage (2,657) and touchdown (8) totals were very low — while his interceptions (10) were on the high side, especially in comparison to TDs and yards. He did run for 592 yards and a dozen scores, though. New England holds the 15th pick in the draft. Would the Pats wait that long for a quarterback, or trade up? Belichick has been voluble in his praise for Newton because of his work ethic in this off-season, but he is concerned about Newton’s arm strength, as the 2015 MVP has had a few operations on his throwing shoulder over the past few years.
As you consider your NFL betting on NFL futures, here are some news tidbits regarding free agents and the draft.
NFL News: The Rumor Mill
Texans, David Johnson rework deal
Tailback David Johnson has restructured his deal with the Texans, which will now pay up to $6 million for 2021, as well as $4.25 million guaranteed when he signs it. The team would have owed him almost $9 million in 2021 ($2.1 million guaranteed) before taking the new deal. Without the change, Houston might have had to cut him to save salary cap space. Johnson came to Houston as part of the March 2020 trade that shipped wideout DeAndre Hopkins west to the Arizona Cardinals. Johnson ran for 691 yards and six scores last year on 147 attempts. He only played in a dozen games, as he was on the reserve/COVID-19 list for one game and was out with a concussion for three. Johnson came to Houston after his poorest season, in terms of production. He had his best season in 2016, with Arizona, when he set career highs in rushing yards (1,239), receptions (80), rushing touchdowns (16), receiving yards (879) and total yards from scrimmage (2,118, best in the NFL).
Saints extend J.T. Gray
Special teams leader and backup safety J.T. Gray has signed a two-year deal with New Orleans. He was second-team All Pro in 2019 and was headed toward restricted free agency. The Saints had originally signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2018 from Mississippi State. Special teams have played a major role in the Saints winning four consecutive NFC South championships. However, many of the players on this unit are unrestricted free agents now, such as Dwayne Washington, Justin Hardee, and Craig Robertson. The Saints are in a precarious position as far as the reduced salary cap goes; the team needs to find between $60 and $70 million in space in the next couple of weeks.
Buffalo looking for help along both lines
Only three starters on the O-line are set to return for the Bills. They will be targeting unrestricted free agent Jon Feliciano for a return, and they also want to keep restricted free agent Ike Boettger, who was the starter in seven games last season. The defensive line presents a different sort of issue, because they have plenty of players under contract — in fact, those contracts are standing in the way of some of the team’s flexibility under the salary cap. Jerry Hughes was the best pass rusher the Bills had a year ago, but they still need at least one more lineman who can get pressure on the quarterback. That will be key to helping the Bills get by the likes of Kansas City in the AFC.
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