Patriots: Best Value Players

4. Patrick Chung – three-years, $8.2 million (three years remaining)

Chung has been around with the Patriots for a long time. Drafted by the Patriots in the second-round of the 2009 NFL Draft, Chung didn’t prove enough in his first stint with the Patriots to earn a long-term extension. Chung’s time away from the team was short, including being released from the Philadelphia Eagles after one short season, and he was back for another trial run with the Patriots. Most fans baffled at bringing Chung back and automatically threw away the possibility of Chung making an impact on the team. They could not have been any more wrong.

Here are all 61 colleges represented on Patriots roster

Since being picked up, Chung has started 29 out of 32 regular season games and has majorly revitalized his career. Chung, one of the most underrated defenders in the league, has found his niche with the Patriots in his second stint with the team as a hard-hitting, run-stuffing, tight-end blanketing strong safety. In an NFL that is constantly looking for versatile, athletic defensive backs, Chung is a valuable example that can play strong safety or even walk down into the box as a linebacker.

Musket Fire Thursday Roundtable 5/26  

The Patriots rewarded Chung’s excellent play with a contract extension this offseason. Chung’s new contract adds $5.7 million in new money to his existing contract and reduces his cap hit this season by $100,000, but increases his 2017 cap hit to $4.5 million. Chung is undoubtedly worthy of the raise as the Patriots have locked up their vastly underrated starting safeties.

Next: 3. Two Emerging Cornerbacks