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The Patriots announced their restricted free-agent tenders today, assigning OG Logan Mankins with the highest tender and PK Stephen Gostkowski with a second-rounder.
That means that any team attempting to sign Mankins would have to relinquish first- and third- round picks to sign him. The Patriots will be on the hook for paying Mankins $3.268 million on a one-year deal this season as they attempt to work out a long-term extension.
Gostkowski will earn $1.759 million as a second-round tender. Giving up a second-round pick might be a little too high for most teams to spend on a kicker, in addition to a multi-year contract, but it’s not inconceivable.
The only mild RFA surprise coming out of New England was the announcement that they issued LB Pierre Woods a low tender, which carries a price tag of $1.176 million. Another team attempting to sign Woods, who was an undrafted free agent coming into the league, could get him without draft-pick compensation, but the Patriots would have the right of first refusal to match any deal.
For the most authoritative NFL draft news and free-agency analysis, visit ProFootballWeekly.com.