Through three seasons with the New England Patriots, running back Rhamondre Stevenson has totaled ... [+]
Three selections from the 2021 New England Patriots draft remain on the roster.
Rhamondre Stevenson finds himself among the few. The running back by way of Cerritos College and the University of Oklahoma hopes that continues beyond his rookie contract in Foxborough.
“Yeah, I would say I love Boston. I love the Patriots. I love the organization,” the running back told reporters during his Tuesday press conference at Gillette Stadium. “And yeah, I would love to be here for countless amount of years.”
Stevenson, who turned 26 in February, is scheduled to earn a base salary of $3.116 million in the final year of his deal with New England, per OverTheCap.com.
The extension candidate has started 21 of his 41 games since arriving in the fourth round at pick No. 120 overall. His run has spanned 499 rushes for 2,265 yards, 121 receptions for 782 yards and 15 combined touchdowns.
As an NFL sophomore, Stevenson tied for the team lead with six visits to the end zone. He led the way in carries and catches that season while his 1,461 scrimmage yards finished behind only Corey Dillon, Wes Welker and Randy Moss during former head coach Bill Belichick’s Patriots tenure.
But last year’s 4-13 campaign started slow and came to a close on injured reserve. A high ankle sprain limited Stevenson to a dozen appearances. He posted 857 yards and four scores through 194 offensive touches. Veteran complement Ezekiel Elliott, who has since reunited with the Dallas Cowboys on a one-year deal, stepped in as the starter as the calendar turned to December.
The Patriots’ backfield depth chart moves forward with all-purpose signing Antonio Gibson, plus Kevin Harris, JaMycal Hasty, Ke’Shawn Vaughn and undrafted rookie DeShaun Fenwick. Time will tell whether it moves forward with new terms in place.
“Draft just ended, so I think those talks may or may not ramp up after the draft,” Stevenson said of potential negotiations.
New England reached a four-year, $84 million extension with defensive tackle Christian Barmore on Monday. The Alabama product, who turns 25 in July, got the call in the second round at pick No. 38 overall back in 2021. His new pact follows a season in which he led the defense with 8.5 sacks and also set career highs with 64 tackles, six pass deflections and one forced fumble. It includes a reported $41.8 million in guarantees and is worth up to a maximum value of $92 million.
“It’s huge. Glad he got that,” Stevenson said. “Excited for him and I know he’s going to put that work in on the field.”
Stevenson, Barmore and sixth-round safety Joshuah Bledsoe are the names left from a 2021 draft class that began with quarterback Mac Jones going No. 15 overall. But drafting, developing and ultimately retaining have been the focus for new head coach Jerod Mayo and director of scouting Eliot Wolf this offseason.
Prior to Barmore’s extension through 2028, the Patriots signed right tackle Mike Onwenu to a three-year, $57 million contract and turned the transition tag into a four-year, $58 million contract with safety Kyle Dugger. Outside linebackers Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings, additional members of the club’s 2020 draft, were also re-signed as free agency got underway.
