New England Patriots and pitcher Jake Bailey agree to four-year, $13.5 million contract, sources
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Punter Jake BaileyAll-Pro first team 2020, agreed to a four-year contract with New England Patriots worth $13.5 million, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The deal runs through the end of the 2025 season and includes a fully guaranteed $6.50, according to Schefter.
Bailey is entering the final year of his rookie contract and has a capped salary of $4.05 million — the second-highest of any player in the NFL.
The extension is expected to reduce his cap fee by about $1.85 million, increasing the Patriots’ overall cap space to about $4.75 million.
While the team is off-limits, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Bailey — who joined the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick outside of Stanford — earns some lasting security.
He conceded 49 times last season and averaged 47.3 yards (eighth in the NFL) and 39.6 nets (21st in the NFL). He also handles start and hold quests.
Bailey’s strong legs were especially useful for the Patriots as weather conditions turned colder and windier towards the end of the New England season. Coach Bill Belichick places an emphasis on winning the battle for position on the field, and Bailey is often very effective in helping the team do that.
In 2020, when he was named a first-team All-Pro, Bailey averaged 48.7 and 45.6 nets, with just five touchdowns.
