Brandon King clearly proved his worth to the New England Patriots last season.
King, who would have become a restricted free agent March 14, signed a two-year contract with the Patriots worth $2.6 million, King’s agent, Sean Stellato, confirmed Thursday. ESPN’s Field Yates was the first to report the deal.
The 24-year-old Auburn product, officially listed as a linebacker, was a classic “special teams ace” for New England last season. Despite not playing a single offensive or defensive snap, King made his presence felt elsewhere, most notably by tackling Los Angeles Chargers punt returner Travis Benjamin in the end zone for a Week 8 safety.
Head coach Bill Belichick lauded King’s athleticism back in November and apparently thought highly enough of the three-year veteran to bring him back for two more seasons. The Patriots signed King as an undrafted free agent in 2015, and he’s appeared in all but six of the team’s games since then.
