FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — New England Patriots working again Rhamondre Stevenson, who’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract, mentioned he has been engaged in negotiations with the workforce on an extension that could possibly be nearing their finish.
“Proper now, I am making an attempt to get the deal performed and get it locked in. We’ll see the place that goes. It is fairly shut,” Stevenson mentioned Monday on the primary day of the workforce’s obligatory minicamp.
Stevenson was chosen by the Patriots within the fourth spherical of the 2021 NFL draft and has opened the previous two seasons because the workforce’s prime working again. He has performed in 41 video games and totaled 2,265 dashing yards on 499 carries with 14 touchdowns. He has additionally caught 121 passes for 782 yards and one landing.
Beneath a brand new regime led by govt vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo, the Patriots have made it a precedence to be a “draft and develop” workforce, and increasing Stevenson’s contract would additional replicate that.
Stevenson, who’s scheduled to earn a base wage of $3.116 million this season, mentioned the perimeters have been engaged in talks for an prolonged interval.
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“It isn’t irritating, however it’s only a lengthy course of. That is my first time going by it, however simply listening to from all the opposite guys, that is the way it goes. It is a negotiation course of, and I am respecting the method,” he mentioned, including that some free agent offers on the place might need strengthened his case.
“It is exhausting not to consider it. That is our profession, our life and our future. However simply staying disciplined and popping out right here and dealing each day; so long as you try this, all the things else ought to include it.”
The 6-foot, 227-pound Stevenson had his 2023 season minimize brief by a excessive ankle sprain in Week 13. The Patriots had been eradicated from playoff rivalry on the time, maybe lessening the urgency for Stevenson to return, because the workforce finally completed 4-13.
In spring practices, Stevenson has led a working again room that features free agent signee Antonio Gibson, who inked a three-year, $11.25 million cope with the workforce after spending the primary 4 years of his profession with the Washington Commanders.
“I feel he is one of many higher backs within the league, little question about it,” Mayo mentioned of Stevenson. “I am excited to see what he does this season, and look, he is earned all the things that he will get. He’s our beginning working again and hopefully we do get one thing performed.”
