FOXBORO — The Patriots are paying Alijah Vera-Tucker $42 million to be their new left guard over the next three seasons.
If he’s healthy, that should be a bargain.
A torn triceps sidelined Vera-Tucker for all of the 2025 season and affected his free agency this week, which came to an end when he reached terms with the Patriots late Monday night. It was the second torn triceps of his career and the third season-ending injury Vera-Tucker’s suffered in the NFL. Vera-Tucker has otherwise proven to be one of the NFL’s best young offensive linemen when healthy, after entering the league as the Jets’ first-round pick in 2021.
The good news: he expects to be back to full health soon.
The 26-year-old said Thursday he anticipates being cleared for the Patriots’ voluntary practices during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) next month and intends to attend the start of the offseason program on April 20. The Patriots protected themselves against future injuries by writing in $12.75 million worth of per-game roster bonuses into his contract, insurance Vera-Tucker said he didn’t mind being part of the deal.
“I don’t mind that when all I get to do is come in and play football for a great team,” he said.
The Patriots are planning for Vera-Tucker to start at left guard, according to executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf. There, he will be sandwiched between 2025 draft picks Will Campbell and Jared Wilson, who is moving back to his college position of center. Vera-Tucker also played right guard and right tackle for the Jets.
“I’m a team-first type of player,” Vera-Tucker said Thursday. “I’ve played at left guard before, so I don’t mind going over there. I haven’t had talks yet about where I’m going to play, but I’m excited regardless.”
Vera-Tucker admitted that after five years in New York he never expected to be on the other side of a longtime division rivalry.
“I’ll be real with you: playing for the Jets the last five years, you develop a certain type of hate for (the Patriots), which is real,” he said. “But at the end of the day, this league is a business. I have to do what’s best for myself and my family. And like I said, this place has a great culture of winning and just playing at a high level, always. So, it was a no-brainer.”