Patriots reportedly signal LB Ja’Whaun Bentley to 2-year contract extension

Patriots

Bentley has emerged as a stout presence in the course of New England’s protection over the previous few seasons.

Bentley has served as a defensive captain for the final two years. John Tlumacki/Globe Employees

Only a day after the Patriots reportedly handed out a brand new deal to huge receiver DeVante Parker, New England is reportedly signing defensive captain Ja’Whaun Bentley to a two-year contract extension. 

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was the first to report the news of Bentley’s extension, which can hold him in Foxborough by means of the 2025 season.

The 26-year-old linebacker can earn a most of $18.75 million along with his new deal, together with $9 million that’s absolutely assured. He was already underneath contract in 2023 and was set to earn as much as $4.25 million between base wage, bonuses and incentives.

A fifth-round decide in 2018 out of Perdue, Bentley has emerged as a stout presence in the course of New England’s protection over the previous few seasons.

Professional Soccer Focus ranked Bentley because the eighth-best linebacker within the NFL in 2022, with the hard-hitting veteran setting career-highs with 125 tackles and three sacks. He additionally tied his earlier greatest marks with 5 tackles for loss, two move breakups and one interception.

“You noticed the season that he put collectively final 12 months,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo mentioned of Bentley in April, as famous by Mike Reiss. “He’s very sensible, is aware of the whole protection. He’s quick, large, sturdy on the level of assault. He’s only a nice participant. … With the lack of Devin, it’s going to take a number of folks, however what I’ll say is that Bentley will probably be an enormous cornerstone to that rebuild.”

Fellow veteran Adrian Phillips expressed his approval over Bentley’s reported new deal on Thursday afternoon.

Regardless of reportedly doling out two new contracts over the past two days, each Parker and Bentley’s offers will assist clear some extra cap house for the Patriots. New England stays within the chase to try to signal free-agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Originally posted 2023-06-29 22:44:31.