The New England Patriots agreed to a four-year extension with defensive tackle Christian Barmore worth up to $92 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterChristian Barmore's new deal in New England is the largest non-Tom-Brady contract in Patriots franchise history. <a href="">
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported Barmore will get $41.8 million guaranteed.
Barmore is in the final year of his rookie contract and counts for just $2.7 million against the salary cap for the 2024 NFL season. The Patriot still have $54.1 million in available cap space so they may have reworked his current payout to ease the long-term hit. They also have ample space ($144 million in 2025), so his raise won't limit their flexibility too much.
The move comes amid a wider trend in the market. The going rate for upper-tier interior defenders across the board has become $20-plus million, with the Kansas City Chiefs' Chris Jones in a class of his own thanks to a $31.8 million average salary.
The Patriots are making a big bet on Barmore, who has never started in more than six games across a season. His production in 2023, however, meant he was heading toward a sizable payday one way or the other, and New England may have saved some money by preempting his free agency.
The 24-year-old set career highs in tackles (64), sacks (8.5) and tackles for loss (13) last year. He ranked 11th among defensive tackles in ESPN's pass rush win rate (13 percent).
With the franchise looking toward the future in a post-Bill Belichick era, director of scouting Eliot Wolf described the Patriots as "a draft and develop team." Giving Barmore a long-term contract aligns with that broad strategy.
