Pats sign six, release ex-Falcon Clayborn

The Patriots have released veteran defensive end Adrian Clayborn and signed six players to offset free agency losses on both sides of the ball.

The 30-year-old Clayborn was released Friday after one season in New England and just a day after the Patriots traded for another veteran edge rusher in Michael Bennett. In addition, the Patriots also re-signed defensive end John Simon and added lineman Mike Pennel, who together with Bennett will try to make up for the production lost after Trey Flowers signed with the Detroit Lions.

Simon was originally signed by the Patriots last September and appeared in 11 games with two starts, totaling 17 tackles and two sacks. He also played in all three playoff games last season and had a half-sack in the AFC Championship game.

Defensive back Terrence Brooks was signed to add depth to a secondary that won’t have Eric Rowe back.

On offense, New England added a pair of receivers, signing Bruce Ellington and Maurice Harris. They will compete for a role in a receiver group that won’t have Cordarrelle Patterson back after he signed with Chicago.

The Patriots also signed tight end Matt LaCosse as they await Rob Gronkowski’s decision on whether he will return for his 10th season.

Jaguars: Gave new quarterback Nick Foles some help by signing former University of Georgia receiver Chris Conley and right tackle Cedric Ogbuehi.

Conley started 34 of 53 games in four seasons with Kansas City, totaling 104 receptions for 1,238 yards and six touchdowns. He also played with Foles in 2016.

Conley started 13 games last year, finishing with 32 catches for 334 yards and five scores. He missed 11 games in 2017 because of an Achilles tendon injury.

The 6-foot-5, 308-pound Ogbuehi started 25 of 35 games in four seasons with Cincinnati. He was the 21st overall pick in the 2015 draft.

Broncos: Former Bears cornerback Bryce Callahan agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the Broncos, reuniting with Denver coach Vic Fangio, who was his defensive coordinator in Chicago.

Callahan is the second unrestricted free-agent defensive back Denver has signed in free agency, joining former Houston Texans hard-hitter Kareem Jackson in the “No Fly Zone” Version 2.0.

Callahan joined the Bears as a college free agent out of Rice University in 2015 and has 122 tackles, four sacks, four interceptions, 20 pass breakups and a forced fumble in four NFL seasons.

He started 10 games and appeared in three more with the Bears last season when he posted a careerbest 45 tackles to go with two sacks, two interceptions and six pass breakups. He allowed just one touchdown.

The Broncos also re-signed tight end Jeff Heuerman, one of their unrestricted free agents, to a two-year, $9 million contract Friday.

Jets: Solved their kicking question with a familiar foot. Chandler Catanzaro was signed to a one-year deal by New York, marking the kicker’s second stint with the team after it allowed Pro Bowl selection Jason Myers to leave as a free agent.

Catanzaro spent the 2017 season with New York and set the franchise record with a 57-yard field goal against Cleveland. He signed a three-year contract with Tampa Bay as a free agent last offseason but struggled as he missed four of his 15 field-goal attempts and four of his extra points.

He rebounded after signing with Carolina late in the season to replace the injured Graham Gano, making all five of his field-goal tries and going 7 of 8 on extra points.

PATRICK SMITH / GETTY IMAGES Former Falcon Adrian Clayborn, tackling Patrick Mahomes of the Chiefs in last season’s AFC Championship game, has been released by the Patriots.

AJC 2015 Former Georgia wide receiver Chris Conley was signed by the Jaguars after four seasons with Kansas City, where last season he had 32 catches for 334 yards.