New England Patriots Extend Offensive Tackle

The New England Patriots must have liked what they saw from their mid-season addition at offensive tackle. According to ESPN's Field Yates, the team has extended Conor McDermott with a two-year, $3.6 million deal.

Patriots OT Conor McDermott signed a 2-year, $3.6M extension that includes $750K in playing-time incentives each year to bring the max value to $5.1M. He started the team’s final six games at right tackle in 2022.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) February 22, 2023

McDermott played his first game with the Patriots in December of 2022, a 24-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He started the season's last six games at right tackle, earning a passable 65.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.

McDermott entered the league as the Patriots' 211th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was waived following his first training camp and landed with the Bills. He served largely as a backup from 2017 to 2021 with the Bills and New York Jets, appearing in 36 games and making six starts.

McDermott's extension isn't likely to guarantee him a starting job with the Patriots, but it does give the team an option if they lose Isaiah Wynn in free agency. McDermott's money is more in line with a premier backup or swing tackle, so the Patriots probably expect to look around for another starter in either the draft or free agency.