The Patriots’ recent string of re-signing their own players to contract extensions continued into the summer.
The Patriots and linebacker Jahlani Tavai agreed to a three-year, $15 million contract extension that’s worth up to $21 million, ESPN reported Tuesday.
Tavai was entering a contract year after signing a two-year, $4.4 million contract extension in November 2022. The 27-year-old linebacker was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Hawaii when former Patriots assistant Matt Patricia was Detroit’s head coach.
Tavai signed to the Patriots practice squad in 2021 before being added to New England’s 53-man roster, where he’s remained since.
The 6-foot-2, 255-pound defender has played 47 games, starting 28, since 2022 with the Patriots. He started 12 of 17 games in 2022 and 16 of 17 games in 2023 and finished second among Patriots defenders with 110 combined tackles last season.
The California native has 309 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, 4.5 sacks, three interceptions, nine pass breakups, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over his five-year career. In 2023, he was one of the Patriots’ most impactful defenders, earning an 86.6 PFF grade with five tackles for loss, one sack, four QB hits, two interceptions, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles.
Tavai was dealing with an injury during the offseason workout program and sat out of OTAs and minicamp. He was still pushing to handle kicking duties under the NFL’s new kickoff rule to new head coach Jerod Mayo.
“He’s knocking on my door every day,” Mayo said last month. “‘I can do it, coach. I can do it.’ It’s like, just get healthy.”
Tavai is joined by Ja’Whaun Bentley, Sione Takitaki, Raekwon McMillan, Christian Elliss, Joe Giles-Harris and rookies Steele Chambers and Jontrey Hunter in the Patriots’ current stand-up linebacker group. Tavai also played 302 snaps last season as an edge defender.
The Patriots have signed running back Rhamondre Stevenson, center David Andrews and defensive tackle Christian Barmore to contract extensions this offseason. They also locked up many in-house free agents, including wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, tight end Hunter Henry, offensive lineman Mike Onwenu, safety Kyle Dugger and outside linebackers Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche as new executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf has emphasized retaining the Patriots’ key players.
Outside linebacker Matthew Judon, defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, cornerback Jonathan Jones and defensive end Deatrich Wise are the Patriots’ top players still entering contract years.
