NFL free agency: Patriots re-signing running back James White to two-year deal

White suffered a season-ending hip injury in Week 3

The New England Patriots are re-signing running back James White, according to CBS Sports HQ NFL insider Josina Anderson. The 30-year-old back has reached an agreement on a two-year deal that will pay him a max figure of $7 million over that stretch, per Anderson. If White were to reach the max value of his deal, he would see a slight bump in average annual value from the one-year, $2.5 million contract he inked with the Patriots last offseason. 

White told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that the Raiders and Patriots showed the most interest in his services on the free agent market. White added to Fowler that "(New England) wanted me back, that's all that matters." 

The reported interest by the Raiders doesn't come as too much of a surprise with former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels now serving as the head coach in Las Vegas. McDaniels has worked with White throughout the back's career and has just as much knowledge about his ability on the field and leadership off of it as those on the Patriots staff. 

White, a four-time team captain, is coming off a 2021 season where he suffered a season-ending hip injury in Week 3 against the Saints. In the two full games he played before the injury, White did seem to be building a solid rapport with quarterback Mac Jones as they connected on 12 of their 13 targets for 94 yards to begin the year. He also rushed for 32 yards and a touchdown on nine attempts. 

White has played his entire NFL career with the Patriots following the club drafting him in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Wisconsin. Throughout his tenure, White has proven to be a key piece to New England's passing attack out of the backfield and is currently second on the franchise's receiving yards list for a running back, trailing only Kevin Faulk by roughly 420 yards. He is also eighth in franchise history with 381 receptions. 

White now rejoins a Patriots backfield that is headlined by Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson.