Patriots Free Agent List
Unrestricted Free Agents:LeGarrette Blount, Tarell Brown, Nate Ebner, Brandon Gibson, Akiem Hicks, Steven Jackson, Dekoda Watson, Ryan Wendell, Tavon Wilson
*Free Agents: *Dane Fletcher, Sealver Siliga, Brian Tyms
Exclusive Rights Free Agents:Brandon King
FREE AGENTS SIGNED
LS Christian Yount (Browns) - Press Release
LB Tony Steward (Bills) - Press Release
DL Markus Kuhn (Giants) - **Press Release**
DT Terrance Knighton (Redskins) - Press Release| **Conference Call**
TE Clay Harbor (Jaguars) - Press Release
CB E.J. Biggers (Eagles) - Press Release
WR Nate Washington (Texans) - Press Release|Conference Call
RB Donald Brown (Chargers) - Press Release
DT Frank Kearse (Redskins) - Press Release
WR Chris Hogan (Bills) - Press Release|Conference Call
LB Ramon Humber (Saints) - Press Release
LB Shea McClellin (Chicago) - Press Release|Conference Call
DE Chris Long (Rams) - Press Release| **Conference Call**
PATRIOTS FREE AGENTS SIGNED
LeGarrette Blount - Press Release
Justin Coleman - Press Release
Nate Ebner - Press Release| Conference Call
Brandon King - Press Release
PATRIOTS DEPARTURES
Dane Fletcher - Reported to be retiring.
Akiem Hicks - Signed with Chicago Bears.
Sealver Siliga - Signed with Seattle Seahawks.
Tavon Wilson - Signed with Detroit Lions.
Brandon LaFell - Signed with Cincinnati Bengals.
Brian Tyms - Signed with Indianapolis Colts
FREE AGENCY PRIMER
Unrestricted Free Agent:
A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no draft choice compensation owed to his old club, through July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). At that point, his negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club if by May 10 the old club tendered the player a one-year contract for 110 percent of his prior year's salary. His old club then has until the Tuesday following the 10th week of the regular season (November 15) to sign him. If he does not sign by that date, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by May 10, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.
Restricted Free Agent:
In the 2016 league year, players with three accrued seasons who have received a qualifying offer become restricted free agents when their contracts expire at the conclusion of the 2015 league year. If player has received a "qualifying offer" (a salary tender predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club. He can negotiate with any club through April 22. If the restricted free agent signs an offer sheet with a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because the qualifying offer entitles it to a "right of first refusal" on any offer sheet the player signs. If the old club does not match the offer, it may receive draft choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet is not executed on or before April 22, the player's negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club. In addition, a player who would otherwise be a restricted free agent may be designated by his old club as its franchise player or transition player.
Accrued Season:
Six or more regular-season games on a club's active/inactive, reserved/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists.
