Report: Patriots, Patrick Chung Agree On Contract Extension

The New England Patriots have agreed to sign a contract extension with veteran safety Patrick Chung. Both sides agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension. The information was confirmed by several sources, including ESPN’s Field Yates.

Chung has two years remaining  on his previous contract. The new deal with the Patriots will give him $12.8 million in the next four years. This includes a $3 million signing bonus as confirmed by Yates.

This also frees up the necessary salary cap space to sign second-round draft pick Kyle Dugger. Many view him as a replacement for Chung. The latter was set to carry a cap hit of $5.9 million in 2020. When it comes to 2021, he was set to carry a salary cap hit of $3.7 million.

Patriots Patrick Chung is a key player

Chung is a talented safety, and the Patriots used him really well. He turns 33 in August. In the past few seasons, he struggled with several injuries. He was plagued with injuries, including chest, heel, and ankle ailments. These injuries have kept him on the sidelines for three games and parts of two others last year. Chung also had shoulder and forearm surgery after the 2018 campaign.

This contract extension doesn’t mean that he will stay with the Patriots through the 2023 season. Chung will be 36 at that point. According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Chung’s “added years are mostly there to provide the team cap relief.”

New England has a nice depth at safety. They have Devin McCourty, Chung, Adrian Phillips, Dugger, Terrence Brooks, Cody Davis, Malik Gant and Adarius Pickett. Phillips, Dugger and Davis are newly-acquired players. McCourty signed his contract extension with the Patriots and he is ready for the upcoming season. Although he won’t be playing alongside Tom Brady, McCourty will have a lot of fun playing with Jarrett Stidham.

McCourty is one of the many Patriots players who expressed confidence for the 2020 season. He likes Stidham and he is really confident about his leading role. Let’s see how will things go in the upcoming season. One thing stands for sure. The Patriots are ready to win more games.