New England Patriots Reportedly Revise David Andrews’ Deal To Finish Signing 2022 Draft Class

Three New England Patriots draft picks remained unsigned due to insufficient cap space.

That changed Thursday afternoon, as guard Cole Strange, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton and quarterback Bailey Zappe all had their rookie deals processed on the NFL transaction wire.

A team captain since 2017 played a part in why.

Patriots center David Andrews agreed to a contract restructure that saw $3.15 million of his compensation converted into a signing bonus, according to a report Friday from ESPN’s Field Yates. The movement created $2.1 million in short-term flexibility for the organization.

Andrews, 29, tested unrestricted free agency in 2021 before opting to stay with New England on a four-year, $19 million pact. The former Georgia Bulldog went on to start all 17 games last regular season and led the offense with 98.64% of the snaps played.

In the process, Andrews qualified for the fifth-highest Pro Football Focus grade around the league at the center position. He was penalized on four occasions. His pass protection was held responsible for a single sack, a trio of hits and 13 quarterback hurries.

The two-time Super Bowl champion and franchise All-Decade member has started 96 games, including postseason, dating back to his undrafted arrival in 2015. Andrews now heads toward 2022 with added security yet a reduced cap hit of $4.275 million.

Per the accounting of PatsCap’s Miguel Benzan, New England began the week with just north of $142,000 against the salary cap. The club will end it with just north of $359,000. That is the net result of having the last of a ten-man draft class officially under contract.

Strange, taken in the first round at No. 29 overall, projects as a plug-and-play left guard following the departures of Ted Karras to the Cincinnati Bengals and Shaq Mason to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Chattanooga product started 44 games on the way to the Reese’s Senior Bowl after earning first-team All-SoCon and first-team All-American honors. His four-year rookie deal features $12.255 million fully guaranteed and a fifth-year option.

Thornton, whom New England traded up in the second round to select at No. 50 overall, adds track speed to the outside of a receiver depth chart led by Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor. The Baylor product caught 62 passes for 948 yards and ten touchdowns as a senior en route to the East-West Shrine Bowl. In 4.28 seconds, he then ran the fastest 40-yard dash among wideouts at the NFL Scouting Combine.

And Zappe, called in the fourth round at No. 137 overall, enters the Patriots’ quarterback room as a developmental investment behind starter Mac Jones and veteran backup Brian Hoyer. The Western Kentucky graduate transfer from Houston Baptist went 475-of-686 passing last fall, breaking FBS single-season records with 5,967 yards and 62 touchdowns through the air. He was named Conference USA MVP.

Patriots rookies are scheduled to report back to Gillette Stadium on July 19. Veterans will follow on July 26. The first practice of training camp is set for July 27.