Source - Patriots, RB Rhamondre Stevenson reach 4-year, $36M deal - ESPN

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Running back Rhamondre Stevenson said earlier this month that he believed a contract extension with the New England Patriots was «pretty close,» and, as he often has done on the field, he has pushed the deal over the goal line.

Stevenson reached agreement with the team on a four-year extension worth $36 million, which includes $17 million fully guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Thursday.

The extension continues an offseason theme for the Patriots under first-year executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf and first-year head coach Jerod Mayo. Wolf said the Patriots want to be known as a «draft and develop» team.

Patriots continue their trend of re-signing and retaining their own talent this offseason.