Patriots Rumors: Jahlani Tavai Agrees to 3-Year, $15M Contract Ahead of 2024 Season

On the heels of a breakout 2023 season, Jahlani Tavai has been rewarded with a new contract from the New England Patriots.

Per ESPN's Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter, Tavai has agreed to a three-year extension with a base value of $15 million and could be worth up to $21 million.

Tavai started his career with the Detroit Lions when he was a second-round draft pick out of Hawaii in 2019. He appeared in 31 games over two seasons with the club before being released in August 2021.

The Patriots signed Tavai to their practice squad before the start of the 2021 season. He was promoted to the active roster in October 2021 and appeared in 13 games to finish the season.

After starting the 2022 season as a backup, Tavai was moved into the starting lineup in Week 5. He started 12 of the final 13 games and signed a two-year contract extension midway through the year.

As a full-time starter last season, Tavai turned into one of the best seasons for a linebacker in the NFL. He was the fourth-highest-graded player at the position by Pro Football Focus. The 27-year-old recorded 110 combined tackles, five pass breakups, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in 17 games.

First-year Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has plenty of experience working with Tavai. He was the team's linebackers coach for the past five seasons, including each of Tavai's first three years with the club.

Given the cost of this deal, it's a great move for the Patriots. Tavai gets long-term security with an organization that knows him well. He will get the opportunity to continue evolving his game with a head coach he is comfortable working with.