New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick confirmed the team had moved to extend linebacker Jahlani Tavai to a two-year deal at Tuesday’s press conference.
Per ESPN’s Field Yates, it’s a $4.4 million extension that’ll keep the surging veteran defensive playmaker under contract as the team continues to lean on a young foundation for the future.
Tavai, 26, is well on his way to having a career-season with 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks after 11 games and seven starts. His versatility as a linebacker has been his greatest attribute to the unit. No one loves versatile playmakers as much as Belichick, and it likely factored into his decision to strike up a deal.
Bill Belichick confirms the Jahlani Tavai contract extension. Said Tavai's performance and consistency, and status as a pending free agent, factored into the move pic.twitter.com/iZ95cd7X8B
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandallNESN) November 29, 2022
Locking up Tavai for two additional seasons takes care of one of the Patriots’ pending free agents in 2023. Some tough moves lie ahead at the end of the year, but the decision to jump on the Tavai train at that contract cost was clearly a no-brainer for Belichick and the Patriots.
