NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Veteran TE Watson returns for second stint

FOXBOROUGH, Mass.

The New England Patriots have signed veteran tight end Ben Watson and seven of their 10 draft choices.

New England announced the signings Friday. The Patriots inked deals with second-round defensive back JoeJuan Williams, offensive linemen Yodny Cajuste and Hjalte Froholdt, quarterback Jarrett Stidham, defensive linemen Byron Cowart, punter Jake Bailey and defensive back Ken Webster.

Watson is returned to the team he spent six years with after being drafted in the first round out of Georgia in 2004. He also spent time with the Browns, Saints and Ravens during his 15 NFL seasons.

Watson has played in 195 regular-season games with 135 starts and has 530 receptions for 5,885 yards with 44 touchdowns. He has appeared in 12 postseason games with nine starts and totaled 22 receptions for 234 yards and three touchdowns.

NEW YORK JETS

C.J. Mosley’s brother among free agents

FLORHAM PARK, N.J.

The Jets have signed 16 undrafted free agents, including former Alabama linebacker Jamey Mosley, who joins older brother C.J. Mosley on New York’s defense.

The younger Mosley had two sacks and 21 tackles in 31 games for the Crimson Tide. C.J. Mosley was signed by the Jets as a free agent in March after five seasons with Baltimore.

Former Florida State defensive lineman Fred Jones, the nephew of former Jets star linebacker Marvin Jones, was also signed. The younger Jones had 67 tackles and 21/2 sacks in 35 games for the Seminoles.

The other undrafted free agents participating in the Jets’ rookie orientation weekend are: running back Jalin Moore (Appalachian State); wide receivers Greg Dortch (Wake Forest) and Jeff Smith (Boston College); offensive linemen Tyler Jones (N.C. State), Toa Lobendahn (USC) and Wyatt Miller (Central Florida); defensive linemen Justin Alexandre (Incarnate Word), Kyle Phillips (Tennessee), Trevon Sanders (Troy) and MyQuon Stout (Appalachian State); linebacker Jeff Allison (Fresno State); cornerback Kyron Brown (Akron); and safeties John Battle (LSU) and Santos Ramirez (Arkansas).

HOUSTON TEXANS

First-round pick, five other selections signed

HOUSTON

The Houston Texans have signed first-round pick Tytus Howard and five other picks.

Howard, an offensive lineman from Alabama State, was taken 23rd overall as Houston addressed its need to better protect Deshaun Watson after he was sacked an NFL-leading 62 times last season.

The Texans also signed second-round picks offensive tackle Max Scharping and cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr., fifth-round pick Charles Omenihu, who is a defensive end, cornerback Xavier Crawford, a sixth-round pick and seventh-round pick running back Cullen Gillaspia.

Terms of the contracts weren’t released.

Associated Press