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After Locking Down Christian Barmore, Can The Patriots Make A Playoff Run?

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - OCTOBER 17: Christian Barmore #90 of the New England Patriots reacts after a play in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on October 17, 2021 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

The New England Patriots and defensive tackle Christian Barmore have agreed to terms on a four-year extension valued at up to $92 million, $41.8 million of which is guaranteed. The Patriots selected Barmore in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and in his 44 games, he has a total of 133 tackles and 12.5 sacks. His 2023 campaign was the most successful by far, finishing with 64 tackles and 8.5 sacks in all 17 games, as New England’s defense was seventh in total yards allowed per game.

After earning only about $2 million a year from his rookie contract, Barmore will now have an average annual salary of $21 million over the next four years and receive a $31.8 million signing bonus. He is now one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the NFL and younger than all the players with a higher annual salary.

“Three-years ago, Christian and I sat in the greenroom at the NFL Draft on night 1 and his name was not called. He would eventually slide to round 2, and that became one of the hardest nights of my career,” Barmore’s agent Nicole Lynn said in a post on X. “Fast forward and now he is one of the highest-paid DTs. God is always faithful!”

His contract is the largest deal in the franchise’s history for a player not named Tom Brady. With a new general manager, Elliot Wolf, and head coach, Jerod Mayo, the Patriots seem to be changing some of their old ways, now choosing to show loyalty through contracts like that given to Barmore. The team has also given extensions to other players from the 2020 Draft, spending more in the offseason than they have in recent memory.

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Along with locking in their young and explosive defensive tackle until 2028, New England also signed receiver K.J. Osborn. It gave extensions to receiver Kendrick Bourne and tight end Hunter Henry, along with new quarterback and No. 3 overall selection Drake Maye. The Patriots have only made the playoffs once since Brady left in 2020, but with their moves under new management, they look to start a new era.