New England Patriots sign DB Peter Manuma

The Patriots' signing of safety Peter Manuma earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a reflection of the team's cautious approach to depth building during an offseason when they're already positioned as an AFC East contender. At $1.03M AAV on a three-year, $3.1M deal, this is a replacement-level commitment to a depth piece—the kind of low-risk, low-cost addition that doesn't move the needle on either side of the value spectrum. Manuma's signing slots into the Patriots' secondary infrastructure without tying up significant cap resources or long-term commitment, which insulates the franchise from downside risk, but the modest investment also suggests limited upside expectations or confidence in immediate production. The CVI reflects the fundamental neutrality of the deal: it's neither a bargain nor an overpay, and whether it proves valuable depends entirely on Manuma carving out a roster spot in what figures to be a deep competition. For a team sitting at 14-3 with playoff positioning already secured, this is the kind of swing-for-the-fences depth play that organizations make to shore up their reserve corps—defensible on paper, but unlikely to impact the margin of victory either way.