Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Mills won’t be suiting up in midnight green any longer. The unrestricted free agent will now spend his 2021 season with the New England Patriots.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Jalen Mills tentatively agreed to a four-year contract worth $24 million earlier today.
PATRIOTS GAIN EARLY START TO FILL POSITIONS
The new league year hasn’t even started yet, but teams are already getting to work.
Today at noon, the legal tampering period for free agents commenced — a 52-hour window when all unrestricted free agents are allowed to begin preliminary negotiations with other organizations. Contracts can be agreed upon but not signed until the new league year starts on Wednesday, March 17.
This year, the New England Patriots have 20 unrestricted free agents on their roster, all free to seek employment across the league. Rather than wait, the Patriots endured a busy day. New England signed Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Mills to a four-year contract worth $24 million with $9 million in guaranteed money.
Mills will join Baltimore Ravens pass-rusher Matthew Judon, who scored a four-year deal worth $56 million. The Patriots also agreed to terms with free agents Davon Dogchaux from the Miami Dolphins and Jonnu Smith from the Tennessee Titans.
GREEN GOBLIN’S GONE
Jalen Mills has been with the Philadelphia Eagles since 2016. He was selected in the seventh round of the NFL Draft.
After winning Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots, he entered the 2018 season as the Eagles’ starting cornerback. Mills started the first eight games before suffering a foot injury, later to be placed on the injured reserve list.
He signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles in 2020, shifting to safety. The hybrid role filled the void left by Malcolm Jenkins after the Eagles declined to re-sign him.
In Week 3 last season, Mills recorded his first 1.5 sacks, finishing 2020 with a career-high 53 solo and 68 total tackles.
Jalen Mills will likely continue his hybrid role with the Patriots.
The news comes as a surprise to Philadelphia fans, who assumed he would re-sign with the team. Mills, on the other hand, is excited about his next chapter up north.
The Philadelphia Eagles will now look to fill his position as they add options to their secondary. Rodney McLeod, Marcus Epps, K’Von Wallace, and Elijah Riley remain.
Reportedly, the Birds had interest in safety John Johnson; however, as of today, Johnson has agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Browns.
Legal negotiations will continue until 4 PM on Wednesday.
