When it comes to player acquisitions this offseason, the New England Patriots have been very active. In addition to handling a number of players from their own class of free agents, they also gave several key players extensions: David Andrews, Christian Barmore, and Rhamondre Stevenson all inked new contracts in recent weeks.
Jahlani Tavai and the team came to an agreement on a three-year, $15 million deal on Tuesday, adding another name to that list. With a potential worth of $21 million, the agreement will keep the linebacker in New England until the 2027 campaign.
It’s possible that the Patriots are not done even with Tavai and company having inked new contracts. They still have a ton of money at their disposal (Miguel Benzan gives the team $45.3 million under the salary cap right now), and they have a couple more players that should be retained in the long run.
Peppers is a top target for an extension from the Patriots since he is one of many prominent players who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency in the upcoming offseason. Signing the 28-year-old to a new deal makes sense for the company for reasons more than just his contractual condition.
Over the last two seasons, the former first-round draft pick—who signed with the team as a free agency in 2022—has grown into a vital component of the secondary. Peppers had a serious knee injury the season before, so he needed some time to come up to speed during his first season with the squad. However, in 2024, he proved his worth to the Patriots’ defense.
Setting the standard both on and off the field, he assumed a starting position in a defense that had to replace veteran Devin McCourty, who had retired. In doing so, Peppers actively contributed, and he and Kyle Dugger made it possible for New England to have one of the best safety groupings in football.
All the evidence point to Judon and the Patriots finally coming to terms on a new contract that will keep him with the team into 2024; his current one expires in February of next year but is officially good through 2025. It is more likely now to be a “when” than a “if” that he will be extended.
Judon, for instance, is over three years older than Peppers and will turn 32 in August, yet he is still an important member of New England’s defense. There has been little question about that during his first three seasons with the organization, which included a 2023 season cut short by injury. He is a disruptive player on the edge who can contribute well as a run defender and pass rusher when fit.
To top it off, Judon has emerged as a leader in the locker room, which makes for the ideal combination for an extension. The Patriots should lock him up as soon as possible; it makes sense to do so.
The Patriots’ kicking game operation lost its longtime leader and one of the most reliable special teams players in history when Matthew Slater ended his Hall of Fame-caliber career earlier this summer. It is very difficult to replace a player of that caliber, and it is unclear how that process will go.
It is anticipated that he will continue to play a significant role in the future. The Patriots may then decide to hold onto him past the last year of his rookie deal as a result of this.
Having said that, the aforementioned extensions demonstrate that Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf, the region’s new leadership, appear to place a strong priority on stability. Therefore, it would make sense for Godchaux to be included to that group given the experience he has accumulated in the three years since his arrival and his abilities as Christian Barmore’s complementing player.
The Patriots may want to make sure that Godchaux stays contracted rather than taking a chance on losing him to the free market if they are pleased with his outlook as he approaches his 30th birthday.
