New England Patriots and punter Jake Bailey agree to four-year, $13.5 million deal, source

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Punter Jake Bailey, a 2020 first-team All-Pro, has agreed to a four-year contract with the New England Patriots worth $13.5 million, a report said. source to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The deal spans the 2025 season and includes $6.5 fully guaranteed, by Schefter.

Bailey was entering the final year of his rookie contract and was carrying a $4.05 million salary cap charge — the second highest of any NFL punter.

The extension is expected to reduce his cap charge by approximately $1.85 million, increasing the Patriots’ overall cap space to approximately $4.75 million.

As the team gains relief, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Bailey — who entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft pick at Stanford — gains some long-term safety.

He threw 49 times last season and averaged 47.3 yards (eighth in the NFL) and 39.6 nets (21st in the NFL). It also handles the kick-off and hold functions.

Bailey’s powerful leg is especially useful to the Patriots when the weather turns colder and windier later in the season in New England. Coach Bill Belichick places particular emphasis on winning the field position battle, and Bailey has often been effective in helping the team do just that.

In 2020, when named a first-team All-Pro, Bailey averaged 48.7 and scored 45.6, with just five touchdowns.