The Patriots signed the defensive tackle to a four-year contract extension this week.
When Christian Barmore’s contract extension with the New England Patriots was reported earlier this week, the oft-used “up to” dollar amount initially made the rounds. In this case, the number was $92 million: this was the four-year deal’s maximum value.
In order to reach those levels, however, Barmore will have to hit all of the incentives in his new extension. Those incentives are totaling $8 million, meaning that the base value of the deal stands at “only” $84 million.
As for the difference between those numbers, it can be broken down in identical opportunities. The defensive tackle can therefore earn up to $2 million extra each season, with all of the incentives structured in the same fashion (as first reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk):
DT Christian Barmore: Contract incentives
2025: Up to $2 million
$500,000: 55% defensive snaps + 10 sacks
$500,000: 55% defensive snaps + 12 sacks
$500,000: All-Pro selection (first or second team)
$500,000: Pro Bowl selection (first ballot)
2026: Up to $2 million
$500,000: 55% defensive snaps + 10 sacks
$500,000: 55% defensive snaps + 12 sacks
$500,000: All-Pro selection (first or second team)
$500,000: Pro Bowl selection (first ballot)
2027: Up to $2 million
$500,000: 55% defensive snaps + 10 sacks
$500,000: 55% defensive snaps + 12 sacks
$500,000: All-Pro selection (first or second team)
$500,000: Pro Bowl selection (first ballot)
2028: Up to $2 million
$500,000: 55% defensive snaps + 10 sacks
$500,000: 55% defensive snaps + 12 sacks
$500,000: All-Pro selection (first or second team)
$500,000: Pro Bowl selection (first ballot)
Barmore’s contract incentives are pretty straight forward: he can earn $500,000 each for meeting all of those goals, possibly earning up to $2 million each season and $8 million total.
The first batch of incentives is tied to playing time and performance. It all starts with being on the field for at least 55 percent of defensive snaps, something he has managed to accomplish in two out of his first three seasons in the NFL (2021, 2023). That alone will not yet earn him any additional money, though; he also needs to increase his sack number compared to what it was so far.
Barmore gets an extra half a million each for reaching 10 and 12 sacks, respectively. His career high currently stands at 8.5 quarterback takedowns in 2023, but the Patriots and the former second-round draft pick are seemingly both optimistic about a jump in production over the next few years.
The same is true when it comes to recognition. Barmore has steadily developed into a Pro Bowl-caliber player over the course of his three-year career up until this point, but he has yet to earn any individual accolades since arriving in the NFL in 2021. If he gets named a first- or second-team All-Pro, or can make the Pro Bowl on first ballot — or both — he stands to increase his cash intake significantly.
One extra note on the incentives: they only cover the extension years, meaning that, for example, a Pro Bowl nomination in 2024 would not earn Barmore an extra $500,000 just yet.
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