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Mike Reiss, ESPN Staff Writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Running back Rhamondre Stevenson said earlier this month that he believed a contract extension with the New England Patriots was “pretty close,” and, as he often has done on the field, he has pushed the deal over the goal line.
Stevenson reached agreement with the team on a four-year extension worth $36 million, which includes $17 million fully guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
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.
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.
“I think he’s one of the better backs in the league, no doubt about it,” Mayo said at the team’s mandatory minicamp two weeks ago. “I’m excited to see what he does this season, and look, he’s earned everything that he gets.”
This marks the third season that Stevenson is slated to be the Patriots’ lead running back, this time under first-year offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who plans to feature wide-zone runs that Stevenson said he has spent time studying this offseason. As part of that process, Stevenson relayed that he has watched film of Browns running back Nick Chubb, as Van Pelt spent the previous four seasons on Cleveland’s coaching staff.
“Seeing him running all throughout defenses with it, the linemen are on the right course, everything looks well put together,” he said two weeks ago. “I hope we can get that done this year.”
Stevenson, who is 6 feet and 227 pounds, also said he’s carrying his weight better this offseason, a result of a stricter focus on nutrition.
Stevenson, who will be complemented by free agent signing Antonio Gibson on the running back depth chart, told reporters earlier this month it had been a “long process” negotiating an extension with the Patriots.