Patriots Rumors: Three players reportedly moving on in free agency

Recent New England Patriots rumors won’t make fans happy, as they are reportedly losing three key players in free agency.

New England Patriots rumors are hitting a fever pitch. With the free agent market opening at 4 pm ET today, we already know where a number of players will be going. For the Patriots, it means some losses in free agency.

Nothing is official yet, so these are all filed under Patriots rumors still. However, they are still not overly positive for Patriots fans. Already, it looks like the Patriots will be losing three key players in free agency.

The first blow came at wide receiver. According to Dan Hellie of NFL Network, wide receiver Danny Amendola will be signing with the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots’ AFC East rivals give them a little dose of their own medicine, as the Patriots are the ones usually poaching players away from their division foes.

Peter Schrager of Fox Sports shared the specifics of Amendola’s contract. He will reportedly receive a two-year, $12 million deal with $8.25 million guaranteed.

Amendola will be joining a crowded wide receiver room in Miami. While Jarvis Landry was traded away last week, the Dolphins have DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Jakeem Grant and the recently signed Albert Wilson also in the fold.

While it is a little surprising to see Amendola leave, there wasn’t much space for him in New England either. The Patriots will be getting Julian Edelman back, in addition to having Brandin Cooks and Chris Hogan. Kenny Britt had his option picked up recently, and Phillip Dorsett is also supposed to be safe.

Amendola wasn’t the only offensive player the Patriots lost. Running back Dion Lewis will also be on the move.

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There were reports that Lewis was probably moving on from New England, and it looks like those reports will come to fruition.

Lewis is expected to sign a four-year, $23 million deal with $11.5 guaranteed with the Tennessee Titans. He will help fill the void left by DeMarco Murray, who was released this offseason. Lewis is a good match alongside with Derrick Henry in the Titans’ backfield.

Lewis is not the only Patriots free agent heading to Tennessee. He will reportedly also be joined by cornerback Malcolm Butler. Butler and the Titans reportedly agreed to a five-year, $61 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.

Of the three, the Butler departure is least surprising. After being benched for Super Bowl 52 against the Philadelphia Eagles, a reunion with Butler seemed unlikely.

There are Patriots roots in Tennessee, so that isn’t a shocking landing spot for Lewis and Butler. Head coach Mike Vrabel and general manager Jon Robinson both have ties to New England. Former Patriots cornerback Logan Ryan signed with Tennessee last offseason as well.

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This is a tough start to free agency for New England. Things could get worse if they are unable to convince left tackle Nate Solder to stay around. That will not be easy, as Solder is reportedly garnering a ton of interest in free agency.