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The New England Patriots made a series of moves to bolster their practice squad on Wednesday afternoon. They signed tackle Sebastian Gutierrez and running back Elijah Mitchell to futures contract. This was announced by the team earlier on Tuesday
They both spent time on the Patriots’ practice squad in 2025.
Gutierrez first spent time on the Patriots’ practice squad in 2022. He entered the NFL as a rookie free agent with the Denver Broncos and has also spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts. He played in one game for the Raiders in the 2022 season and one game for the 49ers in 2024.
Mitchell is a name that may ring a bell to patriots and NFL fans alike. He came into the NFL with the 49ers in the 2021 NFL draft. He made his mark in San Francisco, recording 327 carries for 1,523 yards and nine touchdowns over the course of three seasons there.
New England Patriots production from running back room
The Patriots were able to get ample production from the running back room this season. The team had a proverbial two-headed monster at the position with veteran Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyon Henderson. Together, they help stabilize the offense. Stevenson had 130 carries for 603 yards and seven touchdowns. Henderson had 180 carries for 911 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
Both running backs were able to prove their worth in the passing game as well. Stevenson had 32 receptions for 345 yards and two touchdowns, while Henderson had 35 receptions for 221 yards and a touchdown.
The tackle position was growing in real-time for the organization. Will Campbell was the team’s fourth overall pick, and he was able to start immediately. He played and started in 13 games before injury issues put a damper on his season towards the back half of the year.
Morgan Moses was the other starting tackle for the Patriots. He was able to bring veteran experience to a young offensive line and was a free agent signing that was potentially overlooked by many, including Patriots fans. Moses played in 17 games and allowed only one sack on the year. He also had only eight penalties for the season, as the Patriots offense began to find its identity on the line.
The Patriots experienced a lot of growth this season. This occurred especially on the offensive side of the football, as youth was all over the unit at various positions. Veteran depth was important throughout the year. Veteran signings like these could come in handy for team workouts and practices, especially when the Patriots resume workouts over the summer. Bringing in guys like Mitchell and Gutierrez could be valuable for this team, especially as the Patriots begin constructing the roster for the 2026 season. The Patriots will have the sixth-hardest schedule in the NFL come the fall, and veterans with experience and depth may be extremely important to a roster that is still growing and learning in real-time.
Danny Jaillet Danny Jaillet is a sportswriter with more than 15 years experience in the industry. He has been featured on Fox Sports, USA Today, and Yahoo Sports among others. He graduated from Worcester State University with a B.A. in communications and a minor in writing. More about Danny Jaillet
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