Alex Austin loomed as an exclusive-rights free agent.
Alex Austin will be staying in the New England Patriots’ secondary.
The cornerback has signed his one-year, $1.03 million tender with the organization, as first reported Wednesday by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Let’s do it.. #GoPats #Yr3 https://t.co/bHCv35ZElD
— Alex Austin (@kinnggalex) March 5, 2025
Austin, 23, again loomed as an exclusive-rights free agent heading into the start of the 2025 NFL year at 4 p.m. ET on March 12. Based on accrued service time, he is now scheduled to become a restricted free agent next offseason.
Selected in the seventh round of the 2023 draft at No. 252 overall, Austin made stops with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans before signing to the 53-man roster in Foxborough midway through his rookie campaign. The Oregon State product has since appeared in 14 games, registering four starts as well as an interception against past teammate and present NFL MVP Josh Allen.
After outlasting the league’s cutdown deadline in 2024, Austin appeared in nine games for New England on the way to totaling nine tackles and five pass deflections. The 6-foot-1, 191-pound corner, who had a stint on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, started the final three weeks of his sophomore season. He finished with 234 snaps on defense and 78 snaps on special teams.
The Patriots previously retained wide receiver JaQuae Jackson, offensive tackle Demontrey Jacobs, center Ben Brown and signed defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr. to a two-year contract extension. Each of whom also checked in as exclusive-rights free agents.