The Patriots have reached an agreement on a contract extension for starting guard Josh Kline, reports Field Yates of ESPN.com (via Twitter). According to Yates, the two-year deal has a base value of $3.3MM, and can max out at $4.9MM.
Kline, 25, joined the Patriots in 2013 as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State. After getting four starts in his first two seasons, Kline has become a full-time starter in his third year with the Pats, appearing in more offensive snaps than any lineman on the team besides David Andrews in 2015.
Having settled in at right guard for the time being, as the Patriots deal with a handful of injuries along their offensive line, Kline has graded as the league’s 20th-best this year, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). PFF considers Kline a slightly better pass blocker than a run blocker, but he has been solid in both areas.
Under his previous contract, Kline would’ve been eligible for restricted free agency after this season. The new deal will keep him locked up through the 2017 campaign, at which point he’ll be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Assuming he remains in the starting lineup and continues to be effective, Kline will likely earn the majority of his bonuses and/or incentives, but even if he maxes out his deal, the Pats would only be paying him about $2.5MM annually, an excellent price for a starting offensive lineman.
With little exaggeration, Brady could play behind a Jr. High O line, he releases the ball so fast. Nobody on ANY D can get to him enough to impact any game. The ballet lessons he took in the off season are paying off! Brady has never been so elusive, making not having an elite O line, a non-factor.