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Mike Reiss, ESPN staff writer
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Running back Ramondre Stephenson said earlier this month that he thought a contract extension with the New England Patriots was “pretty close,” and, as he has often done on the field, he pushed the deal over the goal line.
Stevenson has reached agreement with the team on a four-year, $36 million extension, including $17 million fully guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
The stretch continues to be the theme of the Patriots’ offseason under first-year executive vice president of player personnel Elliot Wolf and first-year head coach Jerrod Mayo. The Patriots want to be known as a “draft and development” team, Wolf said.
The Patriots continue their trend of re-signing and retaining their own talent this offseason.
🏈RB Ramondre Stevenson (4 years, $36 million)
🏈S Kyle Dugger (4 years, $58 million)
🏈OT Mike Onwenu (3 years, $57 million)
🏈TE Hunter Henry (3 years, $27 million)
🏈WR Kendrick Bourne (3 years, $19.5 million)… pic.twitter.com/e3M14pdsRf– Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 20, 2024
Stevenson joined the Patriots as a fourth-round pick in 2021 out of Oklahoma. In 41 NFL games, he totaled 2,265 yards on 499 carries with 14 touchdowns. He was also productive as a pass rusher, with 121 receptions for 782 yards and one touchdown.
He was entering the final year of the four-year rookie contract he signed, which included a base salary of $3.116 million for the 2024 season.
“I think he’s one of the best fullbacks in the league, there’s no doubt about that,” Mayo said at the team’s mandatory mini-camp two weeks ago. “I’m excited to see what he does this season, and look, he’s getting everything he’s getting.”
This marks the third season in which Stephenson is scheduled to be the Patriots’ captain in a row, this time under first-year offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who plans to feature wide-ranging runs that Stephenson said he spent time studying this season. As part of that process, Stephenson relayed that he watched film of Browns running back Nick Chubb, as Van Pelt had spent the previous four seasons on Cleveland’s coaching staff.
“Seeing him running all over defenses, the linemen getting on track, it all looks good together,” he said two weeks ago. “Hopefully we can achieve that this year.”
Stevenson, who stands 6 feet tall and 227 pounds, said he is carrying his weight better this season, a result of a stricter focus on nutrition.
Stevenson, who will be supplemented by the signing of free agent Antonio Gibson on the running back depth chart, told reporters earlier this month that it was a “long process” to negotiate an extension with the Patriots.
