The Patriots and defensive tackle Kyle Love have agreed to a one-year contract extension through 2013, his agent Sean Stellato confirms.

An exclusive-rights free agent this year, Love’s new deal has a maximum value of $3.1 million, with a $500,000 signing bonus. He will still play this season for $540,000, the amount of the ERFA tender he signed earlier this year.

“We appreciate the Patriots stepping up to make commitment to Kyle at a time when they didn’t have to. We’re very pleased with that and hopefully it will lead to him being here long term. Kyle’s deserving. A very hard working kid who worked his way up from being undrafted,” Stellato told colleague Greg A. Bedard.


Love was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2010, and showed great improvement last year alongside Vince Wilfork at tackle. Playing in all 16 games, Love started 13 and was credited with 33 tackles and three sacks.