Well, it looks like the Patriots got an absolute bargain when they signed free agent running back Jeremy Hill.
According to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, the deal is for one year worth $1.5 million but here is the real kicker. Other than a $150,000 signing bonus, there are no guarantees in his contract, meaning he will have to earn every penny.
As stated when the deal was reported this is a classic buy-low type of move for the Patriots. Low-risk, high reward.
Hill will be joined in the Patriots backfield with James White, Rex Burkhead, Brandon Bolden, Mike Gillislee, and James Develin.
It is unclear what the team’s intentions are with Mike Gillislee though. The thinking is that with Hill now on the roster that Gillslee might be expendable. Gillslee is on the second year of a two-year deal with the Patriots with the team and has a $2.1 million cap hit for the 2018 season.
Of course, the Patriots could elect to carry all of these backs with the realistic depth chart at running back looking like this with Bolden and Develin not actually going to see legitimate touches.
James White
Rex Burkhead
Jeremey Hill
Mike Gillislee
Brandon Bolden
James Develin
As you can clearly see at this moment in time it isn’t out of the question that Hill would be slotted in the third spot ahead of Gillislee. But of course much can change and with the Patriots still making moves, there is a chance something happens to this running back core before training camp opens this summer.
Update: Per Ben Voilen of the Boston Globe there is some more detail on Hill’s contract.
They money on the deal is correct, $1.5 million with $150k guaranteed as a signing bonus. He will have a $1 million base salary, $50k workout bonus, and a $300k in per-game roster bonuses which breaks down to $18,750 per game that he is active. Overall his salary cap number is $1.33 million.
According to @PatsCap on Twitter, the current Patriots projected cap space is $12,233,238 million. But that number does not include the signings of Clayborn or Tobin, and it does not include the Chung extension.
