New England Patriots sign DB Korie Black Harris

The Patriots' signing of defensive back Korie Black Harris earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a depth-piece acquisition at a reasonable cost but without meaningful upside or immediate roster impact. At $1.04M AAV on a three-year, $3.1M deal, this is a low-commitment, low-ceiling move — the kind of replacement-level depth signing that NFL teams deploy during the offseason to fill out secondary rosters without tying up significant cap resources. Harris occupies a solid backup or special-teams contributor tier, which aligns with the modest annual expenditure and short guaranteed commitment typical of such arrangements. The value equation here is straightforward: the Patriots are paying modestly for a proven secondary body who can compete in camp and provide developmental depth, with minimal risk if the fit doesn't work or the player underperforms. With New England holding the #2 seed in the AFC East and preparation underway for the regular season, this signing reflects the kind of low-risk roster continuity that contending teams employ rather than a bet-the-window acquisition. The C+ grade signals competent, unremarkable roster management — not a bargain, not overpaid, just functional.