Elite Run Defender Signs Contract With New England Patriots

Anfernee Jennings, New England Patriots, Agree to Contract

Edge defender Anfernee Jennings had the best season of his career in the final year of his contract. Starting in 14 games while making 15 appearances, Jennings finished the season with 1.5 sacks, 66 tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss, four quarterback hits, and the fifth-best PFF run defense grade out of 112 eligible players. New England had one of the best run defenses in the league thanks to his efforts, but despite this, the Patriots still finished with one of the worst records in the game.

Anfernee Jennings originally entered the league as a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Selected by the New England Patriots, the Alabama product spent the majority of his rookie season in a reserve role. Appearing in 14 games, the rookie finished his inaugural season with 20 tackles and one quarterback hit. The Patriots themselves faltered to a 7-10 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The Patriots made it back to the postseason in 2021, but Jennings was not part of the success. The edge defender suffered an ankle injury late in August, sidelining him for the season. The Patriots went 11-6 without him and lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.

Anfernee Jennings returned to the field in 2022 and earned a larger role in the defense. While he still wasn’t a full-time starter, the Alabama product finished the season with 1.5 sacks, 27 tackles, one tackle-for-loss, and four quarterback hits. New England went 8-9, narrowly missing the playoffs thanks to a Week 18 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Since signing his rookie contract, Anfernee Jennings has appeared in 45 games while making 21 starts. While on the field, the former third-round pick has recorded three sacks, 113 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, and nine quarterback hits.