The New England Patriots have signed standout running back Rhamondre Stevenson to a four-year extension worth $36 million. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted the deal includes $17 million guaranteed, an $8 million signing bonus, and $12 million in incentives.

Stevenson joined the Patriots as a fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Oklahoma. In 41 NFL games, he has totaled 2,265 rushing yards on 499 carries with 14 touchdowns. He’s also been productive as a pass-catcher, with 121 receptions for 782 yards and one touchdown. He was entering the final year of the four-year contract he signed as a rookie, which included a base salary of $3.116 million for the 2024 season.

Per ESPN, the extension continues an offseason theme for the Patriots under first-year executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo. Wolf said the Patriots want to be known as a “draft and develop” team.

In Stevenson’s breakout 2022 season, he put up 1,040 yards rushing and caught 69 passes for 421 yards, totaling six touchdowns.  However in 2023, Stevenson was plagued by injury, recording 857 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns before suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 13 that took him out of play for the remainder of the year.

Editorial credit: Pervaiz Impex / Shutterstock.com