It’s been a difficult offseason for free-agent running backs, with Dalvin Cook, Kareem Hunt, and Leonard Fournette all struggling to find the right fit, but one big name is off the board.
Ezekiel Elliott agreed to a deal with the Patriots on Monday, landing in New England two weeks after leaving a visit to Foxborough without a deal.
The former All-Pro spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cowboys, bursting onto the scene as one of the NFL’s most dynamic running backs. The mileage on his legs seemed to take its toll in recent seasons, culminating in a career-low 3.8 yards per carry out of the Cowboys’ backfield in 2022.
Dallas moved on, opting to build its backfield around the more efficient Tony Pollard, and Elliott became one of many prominent running backs without a home as the spring turned to summer. Now, Elliott will look to carve out a role in Bill O’Brien’s Patriots offense.
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Here’s what you need to know about Elliott’s new contract with New England.
Ezekiel Elliott contract details
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Patriots gave Elliott a one-year contract worth up to $6 million.
The #Patriots are expected to sign former #Cowboys star RB Ezekiel Elliott to a 1-year deal worth up to $6M after his successful FA visit earlier in camp, per me and @TomPelissero. Some backfield help for NE and a new home for Zeke… who plans to rock his No. 15 from college. pic.twitter.com/LrdbpHp17h
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 14, 2023
ESPN’s Adam Schefter provided the details, reporting that Elliott is receiving a base salary of $3 million along with a $1 million signing bonus. The deal can be worth an additional $2 million if incentives are hit.
Compensation update: Zeke Elliott’s one-year deal with the Patriots includes a $3 million base salary, a $1 million signing bonus and can be worth up to $6 million with incentives.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 14, 2023
Only 13 running backs make $6 million or more annually, so Elliott might end up doing well for himself in a depressed market at the position. If the incentives are largely stat-based, however, it might be an uphill battle for Elliott to put up gaudy numbers.
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The Patriots tend to deploy a running back-by-committee approach, and Rapoport reiterated that New England “loves” starter Rhamondre Stevenson and is adding Elliott as a “running back to bang it between the tackles.” That means Elliott will have a role in O’Brien’s offense, but it likely won’t be the prominent role he had in Dallas as long as Stevenson is healthy.
Despite being only 28, Elliott is second among all active running backs with 8,262 career rushing yards, trailing Derrick Henry by just 73 yards.
Patriots RB depth chart
1. Rhamondre Stevenson
The Patriots cycle through running backs quickly, as evidenced by how rapidly Stevenson overtook Damien Harris, but the Oklahoma product still seems to be entrenched as the team’s lead back entering 2023.
Stevenson rushed for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns in 2022, averaging an efficient 5.0 yards per carry while adding 421 yards and a touchdown through the air.
2. Ezekiel Elliott
Elliott is unofficially the change-of-pace back in New England after Harris left in free agency. The former All-Pro is used to handling a heavy workload, but he was forced to split more time with Pollard late in his tenure with the Cowboys and could benefit from a lighter load as the Patriots try to keep his legs fresh.
3. Ty Montgomery
A hybrid between a running back and wide receiver, Montgomery made his name with the Packers but has struggled to earn consistent offensive snaps elsewhere. He was hoping to take over the James White role in New England last season but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1.
Montgomery’s path to playing time just got more complicated with the addition of Elliott, but his pass-catching ability still leaves the door open for him to make an impact.
4. Pierre Strong Jr.
Strong was a fourth-round pick out of South Dakota State in 2022 but saw limited touches as a rookie. He did show flashes, rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown on only 10 carries, but Elliott’s arrival likely impacts him the most as he slides further down the depth chart.
Strong’s best hopes for increased touches in 2023 figure to be injuries affecting the Patriots’ backfield.