Another free agent running back is off the board. The Patriots are signing James Robinson, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (via Twitter).
Robinson is inking a two-year deal with New England, according to Fowler. The contract has a max value of $8MM.
The former UDFA burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Jaguars, finishing with 1,414 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns en route to PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. With rookie Travis Etienne out with a season-ending injury, Robinson once again led the backfield in 2021, finishing with another 989 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns. A torn Achilles ended that 2021 season early, but the RB managed to return in time for the 2022 campaign.
With Etienne healthy, the Jaguars played around with their RB rotation early during the 2022 campaign. Robinson started the first five games for Jacksonville, but after handing the reigns to Etienne, the Jaguars traded Robinson to New York for a sixth-round pick. The acquisition was expected to fill in for the injured Breece Hall but saw a limited role in New York; in four games, Robinson had 90 yards from scrimmage on 31 touches. The 24-year-old was non-tendered by the Jets after the season.
Robinson will join a Patriots depth chart that’s led by Rhamondre Stevenson, but there should be some snaps to go around considering Damien Harris‘s free agency. The Patriots are also still rostering veteran Ty Montgomery and 2022 fourth-round pick Pierre Strong.
What’s this mean for Stevenson . … interesting. More of a depth addition I guess
Yup. Depth is all it is.
Means nothing for Stevenson, likely means Harris is gone.
Harris is gone and this contract strikes me as a great one for New England. And I say that as a Jets fan.
Stevenson was toast by the end of the season last year. He became a 3 down back. He needed a quality guy in the back field with him and Harris wasn’t it.
Harris’ running style leaves him exposed to too many big hits and thus a higher risk of injury, but at the right price he’s a beast