Entering the fourth and final season of his rookie contract, Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson witnessed this offseason as New England financially took care of many of his teammates.
Big-money free gents like Mike Onwenu and Kyle Dugger re-signed. As did Hunter Henry, Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings and others.
Then newly-titled Executive Vice President Eliot Wolf gave foundational defensive lineman Christian Barmore – like Stevenson a 2021 New England draft pick -- a lucrative contract extension to remain a key centerpiece of the front moving forward.
Now, Stevenson, who’s clearly projected to be the centerpiece of the new-look New England offense under first-year coordinator Alex Van Pelt, thinks it’s almost his turn to ink a deal on an extension that the two sides have been working on all offseason.
“It’s pretty close,” Stevenson said hopefully of a new contract, yet another indication of a new world in New England where talking about contracts was essentially forbidden during Bill Belichick’s reign.
While the running back pay scale had been seemingly depressed in recent years, the market rebounded this offseason. Josh Jacobs got four years and $48 million from the Packers, including $12 million guaranteed. Saquon Barkley jumped from the Giants to the Eagles on a three-year deal for $37 million that included an impressive $26 million guaranteed.
Stevenson clearly isn’t in the class of those two Pro Bowlers, but a rising tide lifts all boats. He did lead the New England offense two years ago in both rushing yards (1,040) and receptions (69). Of course he also had a down year last fall, when he got off to a slow start and missed five games to injury.
“I would say I think some contracts helped me out a little bit,” Stevenson said of the running back deals this spring. “But we’ll see where it goes. We’ll see.”
Van Pelt has made it clear that he wants Stevenson to be the key to the offense he’s installing, one based on his experience with the Browns. As such Stevenson has been watching clips of Cleveland stud running back Nick Chubb, who prior to missing most of last season to injury had notched four-straight 1,000-yard seasons, including three with more than 1,250 yards.
“I just turned on Nick Chubb’s highlights, seeing him run through defenses,” Stevenson said of what he optimistically envisions for himself this coming fall. “The linemen are all on the right courses. Everything looks well put together. So I hope we could get that done this year.”
By the time that happens, Stevenson hopes and expects to have a new contract in place. He has no problem admitting that’s just as much a part of his mindset these days as learning the new offense is.
“It’s something you have to think about. But right now I’m just trying to get the deal done right now and get it locked in with an extension. So we’ll see where that goes,” said the big back who’s used a stricter diet to improve his body this offseason. “It’s hard not to think about it, definitely. This is our career and our life, our future. So it’s hard not to think about. But just staying disciplined, just coming out here working every day. And as long as you do that everything else should come with it.
“It’ just a long process. Just how the process goes. First time going through it. But just hearing from the other guys, this is just how it goes. It’s a negotiation process. Things like that. Respecting the process.”
A process that Stevenson hopes and now even expects will lead to a contract extension for him with the Patriots, continuing the trend New England has established this offseason of keeping its homegrown talent.
What that deal will look like for the guy who’ll be carrying a heavy load for the New England offense this fall will reveal itself in time. Stevenson wouldn’t share the comps he might consider worthy in negotiations, but he did light up with a big smile when the Barkley deal was mentioned.
“That looked great,” Stevenson said.