Report: Patriots Restructure RB Rex Burkhead’s Contract

The 30-year-old veteran will now have a cap hit just shy of $3 million for 2020.

Running back Rex Burkhead has agreed to rework the final year of his contract with the New England Patriots, which freed up just shy of $1 million in cap space for the team, ESPN’s Field Yates reported Tuesday.

Source: the Patriots and RB Rex Burkhead have agreed to a reworked final year of his contract. Burkhead gets $550K to sign and drops his base salary from $2.5M to $1.05M, with $400K available in roster bonuses (down from $500K). The move creates $981,250 in cap space.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 7, 2020

Burkhead, who was scheduled to make a base salary of $2.5 million with $500K in roster bonuses, will now have a base salary of $1.05 million with $400K in roster bonuses. The restructuring does guarantee him $550K at signing and gives the Patriots $981,250 to work with in cap space.

New England still projects to be under the cap heading into 2020, with this move providing much-needed breathing room following the Cam Newton signing June 28.

Burkhead signed a three-year, $9.75 million contract with the Patriots during the 2018 offseason after racking up 518 yards and eight touchdowns from scrimmage in Foxboro on a one-year deal in 2017. In 31 games and eight starts since arriving in New England, Burkhead has accumulated 1,416 yards and 12 touchdowns from scrimmage while making just over $9.5 million.

The dynamic running back’s new cap hit of $2.925 million still ranks second in the Patriots’ backfield behind James White and just $300K ahead of Sony Michel.