Tag: exclusive-rights free agent

Jaguars bring back 4 exclusive-rights free agents

The Jaguars’ decision to bring back four exclusive-rights free agents, including Riley Patterson, was made official Wednesday.

With the start of the new league year, the NFL released a list of restricted and exclusive-rights free agents who didn’t receive a qualifying offer from their team and, thus, became unrestricted free agents at 4 p.m. ET.

The only Jacksonville Jaguars player on the list was cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, who quickly reached a one-year deal with the Jaguars anyway.

That means that the Jaguars’ four exclusive-rights free agents — kicker Riley Patterson, wide receiver Tim Jones, and offensive linemen Cole Van Lanen and Blake Hance — were all tendered by the team and are set to return in 2023.

Jaguars Wire previously reported the team’s unsurprising decision to bring back Patterson, but the additional returns of Jones, Van Lance, and Hance aren’t particularly shocking either. It only costs Jacksonville a minimum-wage offer to bring back each player.

Patterson played the most significant role of the four, recording the third most points in a single season in franchise history, including a couple clutch kicks as time expired.

Jones contributed on offense and special teams, but recorded just three receptions on the year for 30 yards. Van Lanen took 18 offensive snaps and 63 on special teams. Hance was on the field for 27 offensive snaps and 44 special teams snaps.

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Jaguars tender kicker Riley Patterson as ERFA

The Jaguars are keeping kicker Riley Patterson in Jacksonville.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are keeping kicker Riley Patterson after he accounted for the third most points ever in a season for the franchise. A source told Jaguars Wire that the team has tendered Patterson as an exclusive-rights free agent.

As a player with only two seasons in the NFL under his belt, the Jaguars only needed to extend a qualifying offer (the league minimum) to keep Patterson in Jacksonville.

Patterson, 23, spent his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, and Detroit Lions. In August, Patterson was waived by the Lions at the end of training camp and was claimed by the Jaguars, who struggled to find a consistent kicker in preseason.

In his first season with the Jaguars, Patterson made 30 of his 35 field goals and all but one of his 37 extra point tries. He hit a 48-yard field goal as time expired to force overtime against the Dallas Cowboys, and he made a 36-yard game-winner against the Los Angeles Chargers in the playoffs.

Former kicker Mike Hollis is the only Jaguars player to ever score more points than the 126 Patterson recorded during the 2022 regular season.

Patterson is one of four exclusive-rights free agents for the Jaguars this offseason, along with wide receiver Tim Jones, and offensive linemen Cole Van Lanen and Blake Hance.

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Chiefs tender exclusive rights free agent TE Jody Fortson

The #Chiefs have tendered exclusive rights free agent TE Jody Fortson, per report.

Fan-favorite tight end Jody Fortson is back with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year tender.

NFL Network’s James Palmer reported that the team has officially tendered Fortson. He was one of three players who were slated to be an exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) in Kansas City this year. The team is required to extend a qualifying offer before free agency otherwise Fortson would become an unrestricted free agent at the opening of the upcoming free agency period. Based on his years accrued this tender amount should come in at just under $1 million for Fortson in 2023.

An undrafted free agent out of Valdosta State University, the 6-6 and 240-pound tight end is coming off a 2022 NFL season where he had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns after appearing in 13 games and starting in one. Fortson dislocated his elbow in Week 15 and spent some time on injured reserve before he was activated for the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVII.

This reinforces the tight end position even more for the Chiefs in 2023 with Travis Kelce, Noah Gray, Kendall Blanton and Matt Bushman currently under contract as well.

Kansas City still has two ERFA’s left to handle with QB Shane Buechele and OT Prince Tega Wanogho. Expect those to come ahead of the 4:00 p.m. ET deadline on Wednesday.

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