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Mike Reiss, ESPN Workers Author
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who tied for second on the staff in tackles final yr whereas rising as a key cog for one of many NFL’s top-rated defenses, has agreed to a three-year contract extension, league sources instructed ESPN.
The extension has a base worth of $15 million that may be price as much as $21 million, sources mentioned.
Tavai was getting into the ultimate season of the two-year extension he signed in November 2022 price as much as $4.4 million. He was scheduled to earn a base wage of $1.625 million in 2024.
The extension continues an offseason development for the Patriots below first-year govt vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo — first re-signing most of the staff’s high unrestricted free brokers in March, and now transferring on to signal gamers who nonetheless had a yr remaining on their offers — a gaggle together with working again Rhamondre Stevenson, heart David Andrews, defensive deal with Christian Barmore and now Tavai.
The Patriots entered the offseason with about $85 million in wage cap house and nonetheless have roughly $40 million in house.
The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Tavai, who entered the NFL as a second-round draft alternative with the Detroit Lions in 2019, has had a profession breakthrough since becoming a member of the Patriots in 2021, initially coming aboard on the staff’s apply squad.
Tavai has appeared in all 17 regular-season video games every of the previous two seasons, with 28 begins. His 107 tackles in 2023 tied with security Kyle Dugger behind solely linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley (114).
Tavai’s physicality and intelligence, alongside together with his versatility to play inside and outdoors linebacker and on the punt safety unit, has contributed to him carving out an vital area of interest.
Patriots rookies report for coaching camp July 19, whereas veterans report July 23. The staff’s first apply is scheduled for July 24.