Since being drafted in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Christian Barmore has had a bumpy career with the Patriots, on and off the field. While his latest run-in with the law was officially dismissed, it was still a distraction last season and a potential problem for his future in New England.
It had many speculating that Mike Vrabel and Co. might consider trading him this offseason, despite their public praise for his partnership with Milton Williams throughout last season.
But now that his legal troubles appear to be in the past (for now), the team just made a move that presumably shows just how confident they are in Barmore remaining a productive part of their roster.
Considering the impact he made alongside Williams last year, it's not exactly surprising, and his case being dismissed likely makes them feel more comfortable with keeping him around.
Christian Barmore's future in New England looks safer than some were predicting this offseason
Going into the 2026 season, Barmore was only guaranteed $2 million, but because he was still on the roster as of Friday the 13, he is now going to make $12 million instead, seemingly putting to rest any chance that he might be traded in the near future.
That doesn't mean it can't happen or that it won't even this offseason. But it does seem to go against the ongoing conversation about Barmore being moved this offseason, as they would've saved a bit of money had they moved him far sooner.
With a $10 million increase in salary, which is now fully guaranteed, there's no reason to believe that Barmore will be going anywhere anytime soon. And based on the roster holes the Patriots still need to fill, it would be wise to keep him around and not create an even bigger void on the defensive line to address.
If he can continue his upward trajectory and replicate the kind of performance he has shown over the last year and a half, their defense will remain among the best in the league and only get stronger with the new additions they're making through free agency and the draft.
Hopefully, Barmore can maintain his on-field performance while improving his behavior off the field to avoid any further legal issues.