FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 18: James Develin #46 of the New England Patriots celebrates his first quarter touchdown with teammates against the Indianapolis Colts of the 2015 AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 18, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The New England Patriots got a head start on free agency on Thursday by signing back to the team fullback James Develin to a two-year deal.
The contract is reportedly worth $2.8 million.
Develin, who signed undrafted out of Brown with the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football League (AFL) and appeared in one game. The 28-year-old then played for the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League (UFL), and then was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad before finally landing with the Patriots in 2012.
Develin suffered a broken leg in 2015 training camp that caused him to miss the entire season. However, he returned to play in every game in 2016.
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During the Patriots’ on-field celebration following their Super Bowl LI victory, coach Bill Belichick told Develin he brings toughness to the team.
He has primarily served as a lead blocker and on special teams. His playtime on offense increased after New England lost tight end Rob Gronkowski to a back injury in late November.
The Patriots now have 51 players under contract for 2017, with a maximum allowed of 90. Free agency officially begins Thursday (March 9) at 4 p.m., although teams are permitted to sign their own free agents before then.
In other NFL news, the Washington Redskins signed coach Jay Gruden to a multi-year contract extension. Gruden was entering the fourth year of his five-year deal. The team announced the extension after Gruden and other officials returned from the NFL Combine.
The San Francisco 49ers, meanwhile, released wide receiver Torrey Smith after two disappointing seasons. Smith originally signed a lucrative five-year deal with the Niners.
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