Alex Austin will remain with the New England Patriots after he signed his exclusive rights tender on Wednesday, sources told ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
The cornerback played in nine games (three starts) for the Patriots in 2024 and had 18 tackles (15 solo, three assisted) and one tackle for loss. Austin will be among the cornerbacks competing to start alongside Christian Gonzalez in 2025.
Austin joined New England late in the 2023 season as a rookie and immediately showed he belonged in the NFL. The 2024 campaign got off to rough start, though, after Austin suffered an ankle injury that forced him to miss eight games.
In Week 13 against the Indianapolis Colts, the 23-year-old had a strong performance despite the heartbreaking loss with a career-high two pass breakups.
“It adds to my confidence knowing that I belong here,” Austin said. “I belong in the NFL. I can make plays. I can compete with the best of them. I needed my opportunity to put it on tape and it came today.”
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