The New York Jets have locked up their potential running back of the future.
The team announced Thursday it has signed rookie running back La’Mical Perine to a four-year contract. According to the Daily News’ Manish Mehta, the deal is worth $4 million. Perine’s 2020 cap charge will be $796,000.
With Perine coming to terms on a deal, the Jets have now signed four of their nine draft picks. The other three rookies signed are Bryce Hall, Cameron Clark and Denzel Mims.
The Jets selected Perine in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of the University of Florida. As a four-year player at Florida, Perine rushed for 2,485 yards, averaged five yards per carry and had 22 rushing touchdowns. Perine also had 72 catches for 674 yards and eight touchdowns.
Perine is going to be fighting for the No. 3 running back spot on the depth chart behind Le’Veon Bell and Frank Gore. Josh Adams, Trenton Cannon and Kenneth Dixon will join Perine in the competition.
Even if Perine doesn’t win the job, he’ll gain plenty of knowledge from Bell and Gore. That should bode well for Perine when he could be in line to nab the starting job down the road.