Pats Pulpit
After selecting only three prospects over the first 170 picks in this year’s NFL Draft, the New England Patriots brought in six players within the next 76 selections. The final of those was an edge defender out of Boston College: Quintayvious Hutchins was selected 247th overall by the team in the late seventh round.
Shortly after his arrival — which effectively came after a 30-minute drive — Hutchins put his signature under a four-year rookie contract. Let’s take a closer look at that deal.
Base value: $4,502,092
Maximum value: TBD
Guarantees: $122,092
Signing bonus: $122,092
2026 (age 23):
Base salary: $885,000
Signing bonus: $30,523
Salary cap hit: $915,523
2027 (age 24):
Base salary: $1,050,000
Signing bonus: $30,523
Salary cap hit: $1,080,523
2028 (age 25):
Base salary: $1,165,000
Signing bonus: $30,523
Salary cap hit: $1,195,523
2029 (age 26):
Base salary: $1,280,000
Signing bonus: $30,523
Salary cap hit: $1,310,523
Hutchins’ contract is nothing out of the ordinary, and in line with the deals signed by the Patriots’ other Day 3 draft picks. It consists of a non-guaranteed base salary that increases each season based on the applicable veteran’s minimum for that year as well as a fully-guaranteed $122,092 signing bonus prorated over the pact’s four-year span.
The nature and structure of the contract means that Hutchins currently has only a marginal impact on the Patriots’ salary cap. With his cap number as a whole not high enough to qualify for Top 51 status in the offseason, only his $30,523 signing bonus proration for 2026 is counted against New England’s books right now. His salary would only be added to the mix if he makes the 53-man roster.
That, of course, is not a given for two reasons. Not only is he a late-round rookie whose lack of any clear standout traits might make it hard to earn a depth spot against the other backup edges on the roster, he also was charged with domestic assault last month. His next court date will be a pre-trial hearing on June 29. Needless to say, the outcome of the case will have an impact on his future with the Patriots and whether or not he will be able to earn any more of his rookie contract beyond the signing bonus.
