The first Patriots free agent has been re-signed.
A little over a month before the start of NFL free agency, the New England Patriots have locked up their first player. Defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., who was set to be an exclusive-rights free agent, has signed a two-year contract extension with the team.
James Larsen of Pro Football Network was first to report the news, which have also been confirmed by his agency, OSMG.
Pharms Jr., 28, arrived in New England in 2022. Despite getting signed right before training camp, the former undrafted free agent earned a spot on the practice squad in both of his first two seasons with the club. He eventually made the jump to the 53-man roster in November 2023, and since than has appeared in 28 games.
The 2024 campaign was his best to date. Seeing action in 16 games and playing 41 percent of defensive snaps, Pharms Jr. registered his first two career sacks as well as 33 combined tackles.
One of 17 Patriots players originally set to enter free agency in March, Pharms Jr. is the second player from that list to be taken care of within the last 24 hours. Offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent, was released on Monday.
NFL free agency is set to begin at 4 p.m. ET on March 12. The two days leading up to it will again serve as the so-called legal tampering period.