The New England Patriots will have at least one big body to plug the middle on defense.
Defensive tackle Alan Branch has re-signed with the Super Bowl champs, his agent, Blake Baratz, announced Saturday night. Branch’s contract is for two years with a max value of $6.6 million, according to ProFootballTalk.
The 6-foot-6, 325-pound nose tackle will be a welcome sight in New England in 2015. He performed capably in a reserve role last season after signing with the club in late October, serving as a run-stuffing presence behind starting defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.
Wilfork, of course, entered free agency this offseason after the Patriots declined to pick up his option and has drawn interest from several teams, including the Houston Texans.
The 30-year-old Branch played in the Patriots’ last eight regular-season games after joining the team mid-season and missed just one regular-season contest in his previous five seasons.
Thumbnail photo via Matt Kartozian/USA TODAY Sports Images
