The Drought is Over
Caleb Downs scores Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown since 2014.
Ezekiel Elliott is heading to New England.
The former Ohio State running back agreed to a one-year deal with the New England Patriots on Monday, according to multiple reports. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal includes $3 million in base salary with a $1 million signing bonus and is worth up to $6 million with incentives.
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
Compensation update: Zeke Elliotts 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
Elliott will wear No. 15 – the same number he wore for the Buckeyes – in New England after wearing No. 21 with the Dallas Cowboys.
One Five, all the way live ! @Patriots
— Ezekiel Elliott (@EzekielElliott) August 14, 2023
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, Elliott joins the Patriots after seven years in Dallas, where he rushed for 8,262 yards and 68 touchdowns and added 305 catches for 2,336 yards and 12 touchdowns. Elliott made the Pro Bowl in three of his first four NFL seasons, leading the league in rushing twice, but was released by the Cowboys in March after rushing for only 876 yards on 3.8 yards per carry – both career-lows – in 2022.
Elliott is expected to be the No. 2 running back in New England behind Rhamondre Stevenson, who ran for 1,040 yards and five touchdowns on five yards per carry in 2022.
Elliott wasn’t the only Buckeye to agree to a deal with the Patriots on Monday, as former Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillan also signed a one-year contract extension with the team. While McMillan is out for the 2023 season with an Achilles tear, the extension keeps him under contract with the team for the 2024 season.
The Patriots have signed LB Raekwon McMillan to a 1-year extension through 2024 worth up to $2.245M.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 14, 2023
McMillan is out for the season due to injury, but this keeps him in the fold for 2024. This marks the second time they have extended McMillan for a year after he landed on IR.
