Patriots and safety Adrian Phillips agree to contract extension
The Patriots have a handful of key defensive players set to be free agents at the end of the season. However, that number shrunk by one on Saturday.
As first reported by #Patriots and S Adrian Phillips have agreed to terms on a 3-year extension worth $12.75 million and a max value of $14.25M with $7.25 million guaranteed, source said.
Phillips’ new deal is worth $12.75 million, with a maximum value of $14.25 million. There is $7.25 million guaranteed in the contract.
Signed as a free agent before the 2020 season, Phillips has filled a critical role in the Patriots’ defense over the last two years as a box safety. He played 73 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season, and in 2021 that number has increased to 81 percent – the fifth-highest usage rate on the team. In 31 games in New England, Phillips has totaled 76 tackles, eight pass breakups, four interceptions and a forced fumble.
Beyond being productive, Phillips is also a highly-versatile player. Over the course of the 2021 season alone, Adrian Phillips’ snaps by alignment for the Patriots this year, per @NextGenStats:
Safety: 173
Slot CB: 145
OLB: 118
ILB: 102
Edge: 106
Perimeter CB: 85
Interior DL (hovering over IDL): 21
A Swiss Army knife for a defense predicated upon versatility.
With Phillips now under contract long term, the Patriots checked off one big box early. Other pending free agent defensive starters that the team will need to make decisions on include Devin McCourty, Dont’a Hightower, J.C. Jackson, and Ja’Whaun Bentley.
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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.
