Tight end Aaron Hernandez signed a five-year deal with the Patriots, putting him under contract through 2018, according to NFL.com.
Financial terms weren’t immediately known, but the deal reportedly is salary-cap friendly for New England.
The fourth-round pick out of Florida in 2010 has 124 receptions for 1,473 yards and 13 touchdowns through his first two seasons. Hernandez is also valued for his versatility, and has eight career carries for 92 yards.
Hernandez has two years left on his four-year, $2.785 million rookie contract, and was scheduled to earn $540,000 in base salary this season.
Fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski signed a six-year, $54 million contract extension in June.