New England Patriots sign QB Behren Morton

Behren Morton's four-year, $4.5M signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI) — a middle-of-the-road deal that reflects appropriate caution for a developmental prospect getting an early NFL opportunity. At $1.1M AAV, the contract is depth-piece money, which is the right price point for a quarterback without established production at this level; the Patriots are essentially paying peanuts for a low-risk audition during the offseason and preseason. The four-year structure suggests the organization sees enough trajectory to warrant a patient evaluation window, but the modest AAV and total commitment ($4.5M) make clear this is not a substantive allocation of resources — it's organizational optionality on a young arm. The CVI remains steady because there's no real inefficiency here: Morton gets a legitimate shot in a professional environment, and the Patriots preserve cap flexibility and roster spots for moves that matter more. For a team sitting at the #2 seed in the AFC East heading into the regular season, this is the kind of under-the-radar ink that works — low cost, no cap strain, and the benefit of evaluating talent without betting the organization on unproven production.