Patriots Make Massive Signing Right After NFL Draft

The New England Patriots decided to keep their powder dry this offseason, not signing any free agents to massive contracts, and largely maintaining their cap space. They continue to have the most cap space available in the NFL and don't seem to be in a rush to use it soon.

This is likely a smart strategy as the Patriots are in the very early stages of a long rebuild. They are a young team that needs to see what they have in their prospects before deciding to break the bank on a specific position.

They continued on their path in the 2024 NFL Draft, using their two biggest assets to find their next franchise quarterback and his primary target. The hope is that Drake Maye and Ja'Lynn Polk will form a formidable duo for years to come.

Now that the draft is officially over, the Patriots turned their attention to their current roster. One of the most important things a young, rebuilding team needs to do is to make sure they keep their home-grown talent. And that is what New England just did by giving out a four-year contract extension worth $92 million for their star defensive tackle Christian Barmore.

Patriots News: New England Signs DT Christian Barmore to 4-Year Extension

Barmore has been a very productive member of the Patriots defensive unit ever since he was drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He had his breakout campaign last year as he played in every game and recorded 8.5 sacks, 64 tackles, and 16 QB hits. Not only was he one of the best players on the Patriots, but he was also one of the best defensive tackles in the league, grading as the eighth-best interior defensive lineman on PFF.

According to Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, $41.8 million of Barmore's massive extension is guaranteed. For the 24-year-old Alabama standout, that seems like a team-friendly deal. Considering that he now has a chance to become one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the league, this is a win-win situation for both sides.

Barmore will continue to start alongside veteran Davon Godchaux to provide a solid defensive line next season, as they did in 2023.

Despite the solid defensive units the Patriots can put out there, they will still start the season as significant underdogs in the AFC East. On FanDuel Sportsbook, their odds of winning the division are at +2200. If you want to take advantage of this and the sign-up offer of $150 in bonus bets after your first $5 wager, head over to FanDuel now.

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