Patriots, Patrick Chung reportedly strike two-year contract extension

The Patriots and safety Patrick Chung agreed to a two-year contract extension Wednesday, a league source confirmed to the Herald.

Chung will receive $3 million upon signing and can earn up to $12.8 million over the life of the deal, per ESPN. The restructure frees up vital cap space for the Pats, who needed additional room before working to sign top draft pick Kyle Dugger or execute future roster moves.

It is unclear if Chung’s additional years are void years — which would exist solely to spread out his money over the team’s future books — or actual seasons he is expected to play. If the two new years are void years, Chung’s contract would run through 2021, as previously designed. The veteran safety will turn 33 this summer.

Chung also received a one-year extension last spring and agreed to a restructure in 2018. During an injury-riddled 2019 regular season, he posted 51 tackles and three pass breakups. Chung then recorded a single tackle during the team’s Wild Card playoff loss to the Titans, a game he was forced to leave due to a hurt ankle.

Pats defensive captain Devin McCourty spoke to Chung’s

By Andrew Callahan

value post-game, as one of the most versatile and respected players in the locker room.

“Pat’s always an integral part of our defensive plan. We lose him and guys just have to rotate and fill the different roles he has,” McCourty said before later adding: “Pat’s a great player, and whenever you don’t have good players out there, it’s always tougher.”

Despite being listed as a safety, Chung took the majority of his defensive snaps in the box last year at linebacker. At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, he battled offensive linemen on running plays and tailed running backs and tight ends in pass coverage. His contributions helped found the Patriots’ top-ranked pass defense, which led the league in all major categories.

Without Chung’s physicality and versatility, the Pats would have been unable to deploy as many as six and seven defensive backs so frequently and successfully.