The New England Patriots have started making moves in preparation for free agency, including signing their first external player. Outside linebacker Jesse Luketa joined the team on a one-year contract earlier this week.
While no money associated with the pact was initially reported, we have since learned that its value is $1.145 million. Digging a bit deeper, we can see that it is structured exactly as one would expect for a veteran’s minimum deal.
ED Jesse Luketa: Contract details
2026 (age 27):
Base salary: $1,145,000
Salary cap hit: $1,145,000
This is as straight-forward a contract as there is in the NFL.
The Patriots gave Luketa the minimum salary for a player with his experience — three accrued seasons of at least six games on full-pay status (i.e. on either an active roster or a reserve list like IR or PUP) — and did not add any signing or roster bonuses nor any incentives to the pact. There also are no guarantees; if the team decides to part ways with him at any point, such a move would come with no hidden or extra cost.
While Luketa’s is a minimum deal, its value is still high enough to impact the Patriots’ salary cap. Adding him to the pay roll, after all, pushes a lower-salaried player from the Top 51 list used to calculate cap space during the offseason. The signing therefore results in a net cap space loss of $140,000.
It goes without saying that this deal reflects Luketa’s market after not being signed to a futures contract following his stint with the Los Angeles Rams practice squad to close out the 2025 season. It also shows that New England is effectively taking a flyer on a player who has had some success in the past, especially as a kicking game contributor.