By Chad Graff, Jeff Howe and Amos Morale
The New England Patriots and working again Rhamondre Stevenson have agreed to a four-year, $36 million extension that features $17 million assured, league sources mentioned Thursday. The contract additionally consists of $3 million per 12 months in upside incentives based mostly on reaching greater than 1,400 scrimmage yards plus All-Professional and Professional Bowl appearances that might carry the deal as much as $48 million, per a league supply.
Final week, Stevenson advised reporters on the Patriots’ minicamp he felt an extension was “fairly shut.”
“Proper now I’m simply attempting to get the deal performed and get it locked in with the extension,” Stevenson mentioned. “So we will see how that goes.”
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson’s 4-year, $36M contract (together with $17M totally assured) additionally consists of one other $3M yearly in upside incentives, per supply. So there’s a possible whole worth of $48M if all the pieces hits.
— Jeff Howe (@jeffphowe) June 20, 2024
Stevenson had a breakout season in 2022 when he totaled 1,461 yards of offense regardless of opening the 12 months as Damien Harris’ backup. He totaled 619 yards speeding in 2023 however that was on a Patriots offense that struggled a lot of the season.
“I believe he’s one of many higher backs within the league, little doubt about it,” Patriots coach Jerod Mayo mentioned. “I believe over the previous couple of years, it’s been sort of robust on him, so far as getting began. So I’m excited to see what he does this season. And look, he’s earned all the pieces that he will get.”
Stevenson turns into the newest Patriot to land an extension this offseason because the franchise inked new offers with Joshua Uche, Hunter Henry, Mike Onwenu, Kyle Dugger, Christian Barmore and Anfernee Jennings, a transparent shift in considering with a brand new entrance workplace that desires to reward profitable gamers — lots of them drafted by the crew — with extensions.
Why a lot religion in Stevenson?
After Alex Van Pelt was employed as Patriots offensive coordinator this offseason, Stevenson mentioned he began pulling up highlights of Nick Chubb on YouTube, finding out how the working again mastered Van Pelt’s scheme. Now, the Patriots suppose Stevenson is on deck for related success.
Accidents final season restricted Stevenson to only 12 video games, however the Pats’ new brass — led by Mayo and Eliot Wolf — suppose he’s an ideal match for this zone-rushing scheme that they’re implementing, partly as a result of they suppose Stevenson is de facto good at making a reduce, altering route, then shortly getting up area. This contract is a present of religion that the brand new scheme will match Stevenson properly. — Chad Graff, Patriots workers author
Why pay a working again?
Amid a debate in regards to the worth of paying for veteran working backs, the Patriots thought this was the proper transfer for just a few causes. The primary is that they know this isn’t a Tremendous Bowl 12 months for them. As an alternative, they really feel they should set the proper tradition as they start this post-Invoice Belichick rebuild. In order that they’re prioritizing re-signing their very own gamers, hopeful that can present youthful gamers that in the event that they purchase into the teaching and tradition, they’ll even have a giant payday coming.
The second is that with $17 million assured, the Pats might simply transfer on in two years if their Tremendous Bowl window immediately opens they usually want the cap house elsewhere. However for now, with a rookie quarterback and few high-priced gamers, the Patriots had cap house to make use of and felt retaining Stevenson does extra good for the tradition and on-field product than unhealthy for the chance of paying working backs. — Graff
Required studying
(Picture: Maddie Meyer / Getty Pictures)