The Patriots have multiple players with expiring contracts in 2024, including veteran defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who joined New England in 2021. Recent reports indicate that Godchaux sat out of last week’s mandatory minicamp, seeking a new contract.

Godchaux initially signed a two-year, $15MM deal with the Patriots in free agency after his rookie contract with the Dolphins ended. The following year, the Patriots extended his contract for another two years, worth $20.8MM.

In the final year of his current deal, Godchaux is set to earn a base salary of $7.15MM, with potential additional earnings through bonuses. However, his $11.8MM cap hit in 2024 is among the team’s highest.

If the Patriots aim to retain Godchaux beyond the current season, they may need to renegotiate his contract to reduce his cap impact. However, his performance in 2023 was subpar, ranking him 102nd out of 130 graded interior defenders.

New head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned that several players, including Godchaux, are looking to renegotiate their contracts. Other players in contract years include Matt Judon, Deatrich Wise, Jonathan Jones, Jabrill Peppers, Jahlani Tavai, Rhamondre Stevenson, Daniel Ekuale, and Raekwon McMillan.

Additional rumors from New England include:

• Reports suggest the Patriots plan to narrow down their quarterback competition to three players by the end of spring. With Drake Maye and Jacoby Brissett likely securing spots, Bailey Zappe and rookie sixth-round pick Joe Milton have more time to vie for the third-string role.
• Cornerback Christian Gonzalez, the Patriots’ first-round pick last year, returned to the field after recovering from shoulder surgery. Gonzalez says he feels good following a long recovery period.