Rhamondre Stevenson, the running back for the New England Patriots, has secured his future with the team by signing a four-year contract extension worth $36 million. This new deal averages $9 million per year, reflecting the team’s confidence in Stevenson as a key player in their offense.
Stevenson’s extension aligns with his comments at the team’s recent minicamp, where he hinted that negotiations were nearing completion.
Stevenson’s extension is part of a broader strategy by the Patriots to retain key players. This offseason, the team has also extended safety Kyle Dugger and brought back wide receiver Kendrick Bourne. These moves are part of the vision of Eliot Wolf, the newly appointed executive vice president of player personnel.
With Jerod Mayo taking over as head coach from Bill Belichick, Wolf aims to draft and develop players who can be rewarded with long-term deals.
Despite a less impressive 2023 season with 619 rushing yards and four touchdowns, Stevenson is still highly regarded for his power and effectiveness in short-yardage situations. Coach Jerod Mayo has praised Stevenson, calling him one of the better running backs in the league and expressing excitement for his future contributions.
Under the new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, Stevenson is preparing to adapt to new running schemes. Van Pelt, previously with the Cleveland Browns, is known for employing wide-zone runs that require precise timing and explosive play. Stevenson has been studying these schemes, looking at how Browns’ running back Nick Chubb executed them, to better prepare for the upcoming season.
In addition to his running duties, Stevenson, along with newly signed free agent Antonio Gibson, will be expected to contribute in the passing game.
However, Stevenson’s main strength lies in short-yardage and goal-line situations, which have been a staple of the Patriots’ offensive identity. Stevenson’s standout season was in 2022 when he rushed for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns, also catching 69 passes for 421 yards and a touchdown, demonstrating his versatility and value to the team.