A closer look at the four-year, $16 million contract signed by cornerback Kyle Arrington:

Signing bonus: $6.5 million

2013

Base salary: $1 million (fully guaranteed)

Cap charge: $2.62 million

Incentives: $250,000 (Pro Bowl)

2014

Base salary: $2 million ($1 million guaranteed)

Cap charge: $3.62 million

Incentives: $250,000 (Pro Bowl)

2015

Base salary: $3 million

Cap charge: $4.625 million

Incentives: $250,000 (Pro Bowl)

2016

Base salary: $3.5 million

Cap charge: $5.125 million

Incentives: $250,000 (Pro Bowl)

QUICK-HIT THOUGHTS: This deal reflects how highly the Patriots view Arrington, who finished last season as the team's slot cornerback. It is often said that a team's third cornerback is essentially a starter because of how often sub packages are utilized (57 percent of the time in 2012 for the Patriots), and this contract reinforces that thought. This is a nice deal for Arrington, who had never hit a big payday after entering the NFL as a rookie free agent in 2008.