Ezekiel Elliott has agreed to terms with the New England Patriots on a one-year contract worth up to $6 million.
The move was first reported by Ian Rapoport, and it was then confirmed by Elliott on Twitter.
Elliott’s remuneration, according to Adam Schefter, will include a $3 million basic salary, a $1 million signing bonus, and the ability to earn up to $6 million in incentives.
The 28-year-old is resurrecting his old number, No. 15, from his days as a star at Ohio State.
On Monday evening, he tweeted, ‘One Five, all the way live! @Patriots.’
During his seven seasons with America’s Team, Elliott wore the number 21.
The Patriots met with the two-time NFL running champion late last month, and he provides valuable depth behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson.
Elliott was released by the Dallas Cowboys in March as part of a salary-cutting move.
A knee ailment hampered the Ohio State product in the second half of the season, and he won’t be entirely recovered in 2021. In 2022, he carried for 876 yards and 3.9 yards per carry, while backup Tony Pollard became a 1,000-yard runner and big-play threat.
Elliott led the NFL in rushing in both 2016 and 2018, and he has four 1,000-yard seasons with the Cowboys. The Cowboys’ fourth-round pick in 2016 ranks third in rushing yards (8,262) and rushing touchdowns (68), after only Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett. In 103 games (102 starts), he has 305 catches for 2,336 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Ty Montgomery is out with an unidentified injury, and the Patriots dismissed running back James Robinson in June. Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris, both second-year running backs, are also on the depth chart.