Report: Patriots Sign RB Rhamondre Stevenson to Four-Year Contract Extension 

As a 2021 fourth-round pick, the 26-year-old was heading into the final year of his rookie contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting Stevenson’s new deal is worth $36 million, with $17 million in guaranteed money and an $8 million signing bonus. Based on average annual value, Stevenson is now the seventh-highest-paid running back in the NFL.

Stevenson hinted the extension was close to complete during the Patriots mandatory minicamp last week, where head coach Jerod Mayo called him “one of the better backs in the league.”

“I’m excited to see what he does this season,” Mayo continued. “He’s earned everything he gets. He is our starting running back.”

The move to extend Stevenson follows a trend for EVP of Player Personnel Eliot Wolf of retaining New England’s best players. This offseason, the team gave Christian Barmore, Mike Onwenu, Kyle Dugger, Hunter Henry, Kendrick Bourne, Anfernee Jennings, David Andrews, and now Stevenson some long-term security.

Over the last two seasons, Stevenson has a team-high 2,318 scrimmage yards, while he ranked ninth among running backs with 1,461 yards from scrimmage in his breakout 2022 campaign. Stevenson’s production took a hit as the Pats offense hit rock bottom in 2023, but most of that was due to the blocking in front of him deteriorating.

If the Patriots offensive line can improve this season, Stevenson has proven to be a highly capable lead-back who can be among the league’s most productive ball carriers. This spring, a trimmed-down Stevenson has looked poised for a big year. He has also watched Browns star running back Nick Chubb’s film to better understand new OC Alex Van Pelt’s system.

In Van Pelt’s offense, New England is expected to transition to more outside zone run-blocking schemes to build play-action passes featuring bootlegs off the stretch runs. To make the scheme work, Stevenson, like Chubb, will be a major part of the offense.

Although the decision to extend a good player is understandable, there’s potential risk here with extending a running back into his late 20s. We’ll need to see how the deal is structured. But history tells us that the wear and tear catches up to running backs more than any other position, which is why it’s difficult for RBs to get second and third contracts in the NFL.