Big Mike got a big payday.

Patriots right guard/tackle Mike Onwenu is re-signing on a 3-year deal, a source confirmed to the Herald. Onwenu’s deal is for $57 million total, including $38 million guaranteed and a $22.5 million signing bonus, per the NFL Network. He is now the team’s highest-paid player.

Onwenu was arguably the Pats’ most important free agent, after he stabilized a bad offensive line last year upon moving from right guard to right tackle. He has 24 career starts at each position. The Patriots’ coaching staff believes the 26-year-old can play right tackle full-time, per source.

Representing himself, Onwenu waited out a record-setting market that exceeded expectations for offensive guards on Day 1 of free agency. After Monday’s reported deals, there are now four players averaging $20 million or more per year at a position that used to rank among the lowest-paid in the league. At $19 million per year, Onwenu will still rank among the highest-paid players at either guard or tackle.

Patriots de facto GM/director of scouting Eliot Wolf told reporters last month at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team prioritized Onwenu, who had fired his agents days earlier.

“Mike’s a core player for us, and it’s no secret we want to try to keep Mike. It’ll just be a little bit of a wrinkle (negotiating) with him,” Wolf said. “Mike’s really smart and he’s introspective and he’s thoughtful. And he understands — he knows what he wants, which is always good when you’re dealing with a player. And he’s certainly someone that we view as a cornerstone for us.”

Asked about the Patriots’ new roster-building philosophy under his leadership, Wolf emphasized retaining “core performers,” like Onwenu.

“Draft and develop. Extend your core performers from within,” he said. “It’s about honesty, respect, and treating people the right way.”

Onwenu entered the league as a sixth-round pick out of Michigan in 2020. A career college guard, he moved to right tackle as a rookie, then played both guard spots for most of the next two seasons. His midseason switch to right tackle last year patched a position the Patriots had been struggling to fill dating back to the start of the 2022 season.

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Last year, among offensive tackles with at least 600 snaps played, Onwenu rated as the 24th-best player at his position, per Pro Football Focus grades. Over his first two seasons, Onwenu graded as a top-10 tackle and guard.

His return follows the re-signings of tight end Hunter Henry and wide receiver Kendrick Bourne in recent days. The Patriots also retained safety Kyle Dugger by applying the transition tag at a cost of $13.8 million for one year.