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Let’s run it back.
After a horrendous hip injury ended James White’s 2021 campaign, the 30-year-old running back and the New England Patriots have agreed on a two-year, $5 million deal with $500,000 guaranteed, according to a March 15 tweet from NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
White, who appeared in three games in 2021 before getting injured, has played his entire eight-year career with the Patriots since his selection in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. Though he is a running back, many of White’s best moments in a Patriots uniform have come as a receiver out of the backfield.
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He is seventh on the Patriots’ all-time receptions list with 381, and he has the most career receptions of any active member of the team. Beyond the stats, White has been a locker room leader whose value is difficult to quantify.
“James gives us great leadership both on and off the field,” head coach Bill Belichick said in an NBC Sports story published in 2021. “He’s a player that if he doesn’t say anything, you just watch what he does.”
While injured in 2021, White mentored young Patriots running backs Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris.
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With White returning, the Patriots will have in place most of the backfield they started the 2021 season with, and they have J.J. Taylor, 24, under contract until 2023.
What Does White’s Return Mean For Brandon Bolden?
The Patriots’ other beloved veteran running back is Brandon Bolden. With White coming back, there is some question as to whether the Patriots would re-sign Bolden, a 32-year-old free agent who had one of the best seasons of his career in 2021.
After injuries took their toll on the Patriots’ backfield, Bolden logged 226 rushing yards and career highs in receptions (41) and receiving yards (405). Bolden didn’t look like a player on the decline, but the performance drop-off can be sudden for running backs over 30.
Who’s Leaving & Who’s Staying?
Elsewhere in free agency, the Patriots allowed cornerback J.C. Jackson, 26, to walk. He was quickly snatched up by the free-spending Los Angeles Chargers, who signed him to a five-year deal worth $82.5 million, $40 million of which (a $25 million signing bonus and his 2022 and 2023 salaries) is fully guaranteed. The Patriots haven’t acquired a cornerback to take Jackson’s place.
New England also watched Ted Karras, 29, sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. While it is impossible to deny the positive impact Karras had on the Patriots’ offense (he was ranked the 15th best guard by Pro Football Focus in 2021), the presence of second-year pro Michael Onwenu (whom PFF ranked third among guards) makes the exit easier to handle.
New England released Kyle Van Noy, traded Chase Winovich to the Cleveland Browns for Mack Wilson and are seemingly saying goodbye to Dont’a Hightower. That said, the team is bringing back safety Devin McCourty, wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, quarterback Brian Hoyer, kicker Nick Folk and backup offensive lineman James Ferentz.
One question still to be answered is: Will the Patriots target an elite wide receiver for rising quarterback Mac Jones? We are beginning to see what the 2022 Patriots will look like — at least at the start of training camp.
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