Patriots Salary Cap, Depth Chart After Anfernee Jennings' Contract in NFL Free Agency

The New England Patriots reportedly reached a deal to re-sign linebacker Anfernee Jennings ahead of the official start of free agency and the new league year on Wednesday.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Jennings agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract to remain in New England.

With Jennings re-signing, the Patriots current projected defensive depth chart for the 2024 season is as follows (h/t OurLads.com):

• DE: Keion White/Deatrich Wise Jr./Will Bradley-King
• NT: Davon Godchaux/Daniel Ekuale/Jeremiah Pharms Jr.
• DT: Christian Barmore/Sam Roberts/Trysten Hill
• WLB: Matthew Judon/Josh Uche
• MLB: Ja'Whaun Bentley/Sione Takitaki/Raekwon McMillan
• SLB: Anfernee Jennings/Jahlani Tavai/Marte Mapu/Christian Elliss/Joe Giles-Harris
• LCB: Jonathan Jones/Alex Austin/Isaiah Bolden/Azizi Hearn
• SS: Kyle Dugger/Brenden Schooler
• FS: Jabrill Peppers/Joshuah Bledsoe
• RCB: Christian Gonzalez/Shaun Wade/Marco Wilson
• NCB: Marcus Jones

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Regarding the Patriots' salary cap situation, Spotrac lists them as still having a total of $41.6 million in total cap space and just over $50 million in cap space when considering only the top 51 players on the roster prior to the Jennings signing.

Assuming Jennings will count $4 million against the cap given the average annual value of his contract, the Patriots are now projected to have $37.6 million in total cap space and $46 million in space when considering the top 51 players.

Originally selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Alabama, Jennings has spent his entire three-year NFL career with the Patriots thus far.

Jennings primarily served in a backup role in his first two NFL campaigns, finishing with 20 tackles as a rookie in 2020 and with 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 2022.

Last season marked the most extensive playing time of Jennings' career, as he started 14 of the 15 games he appeared in, set a new career high with 66 tackles and also had 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery and 14 tackles for loss.

The Patriots have struggled as a team since the departure of quarterback Tom Brady, reaching the playoffs only once in the past four seasons.

The 2023 campaign was particularly rough, as the Patriots finished with one of the worst records in the NFL at 4-13. That marked head coach Bill Belichick's worst record during his 24 years at the helm in New England, and it led to him and the Pats mutually agreeing to part ways.

Jerod Mayo, who previously served as the Patriots' inside linebackers coach, subsequently took over as head coach.

Given that the Patriots have now gotten both Josh Uche and Jennings to agree to re-sign, it suggests that Pats defensive players are buying into the idea of playing under Mayo.

Making headway in a competitive AFC East division that includes two returning playoff teams in the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins, and a New York Jets team that should be much improved if quarterback Aaron Rodgers stays healthy, could prove difficult, but the Patriots are putting together a talented defense nonetheless.