The Patriots have taken care of business early with one of their pending free agents. The team has reached agreement on a two-year, $4.4MM extension with linebacker Jahlani Tavai (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). The deal includes an $850K signing bonus, Yates’ colleague Mike Reiss tweets. 
A second-round pick of the Lions in 2019, Tavai started 16 of 31 games in Detroit to begin his career. Over that two-year span, he totaled 168 tackles and 3.5 sacks, but failed to live up to his draft stock. The Lions attempted to trade him in the lead-in to the 2021 campaign, but were unable to find a willing suitor. They made him one of their final roster cuts, marking another disappointing end to a recent high draft pick for the team.
The Hawaii product immediately found himself on New England’s practice squad, giving him a change of scenery which has allowed him to take a step forward in his career. Tavai played primarily on special teams in 2021, something which has continued this year He has taken on a significant defensive role as well, however, with seven starts and a 52% snap share on defense. The 26-year-old has racked up 38 stops and 1.5 sacks in his hybrid role, earning a career-best PFF grade of 71.8 in the process.
That made him a logical extension candidate with his rookie contract set to expire at the end of the season. This deal will keep him on the books through 2024, allowing him to continue to play a notable part at the second level of the Patriots’ defense. That unit has seen plenty of turnover recently, of course, so some stability will be welcomed on both sides.
New England ranks in the top 10 in several major categories defensively this season, helping lead the team to a 6-5 record and putting them in playoff contention. Tavai will no doubt be a contributor down the stretch for not only the rest of this season, but the short-term future afterwards as he continues to prosper in his second NFL home.
Tavai may earn as much money as he wants, so I am happy for him. But he absolutely was bad with the Lions – under Patricia by the way, who is with New England now as well.
Gruß,
BSHH
So Matty-Patty could not coach him effectively in Detroit, but he can in New England? What gives?
This pick also proved what a poor judge of talent Bob Quinn is as there is no way he should have been drafted in the 2nd round. But Quinn is of the opinion he is smarter than everyone else when actually he’ll go down as one of the worst GMs in the history of the league. Remember Teez Tebor as he was also a busted 2nd rounder.
No wonder the Lions continue to suck as we’ve hired knuckleheads like Quinn. OMG!!!
1) Patricia isn’t even coaching the defense. 2) This wouldn’t be the first time Belichick has gotten good production out of a Lions draft bust. 3) This also wouldn’t be the first time in recent years a linebacker has shaped into a solid contributor after a rough first couple of years–and he’s certainly been better this year than before. 4) He’s also playing more special teams with the Patriots than he ever did with the Lions. 5) This deal is for peanuts.
Get out of here with your logic!!
The player is slower than slow and cannot cover anyone with speed. A waste of money and space.
Maybe he can help assist Trish with the running backs.
It doesn’t matter, the Patriots aren’t going anywhere. The coaching staff sucks and BB only drive is to pass Shula.