The Patriots were quite active in Week 1 of free agency, making some big-money signings as well as pulling off three significant trades.
ESPNBoston.com takes a look at some of the highs and lows of the first week of the new league year. One of the major problems with the moves thus far is the status of Malcolm Butler and Mike Reiss tries to makes sense of the entire situation.
The Boston Globe believes the Patriots are sending the wrong message with the manner in which they're dealing with Butler.
Newcomer Rex Burkhead's one-year deal signifies he will be a key cog in the Patriots offense in 2017 despite serving as a third-stringer previously during his four-year career. Another newcomer, Brandin Cooks, knows how to choose his quarterbacks. Cooks believes his situation is a win-win.
Dont'a Hightower's new deal sets him to become one of the Patriots all-time greats. CSNNE.com says the Hightower re-signing is the team's most important move of the offseason.
The Boston Globe offers full details of the Hightower contract.
The Boston Herald says the NFL belongs to Bill Belichick at this point and everyone else is simply along for the ride.
