Another member of the Patriots' rookie class is on the books for the 2022 season.
ESPN's Field Yates reported Thursday the team has signed fourth-round running back Pierre Strong to a four-year contract worth $4.37 million with $714,428 guaranteed.
Strong is now the seventh draft pick from the Patriots' 2022 class to sign with the team, leaving just first-round pick Cole Strange, second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, and fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe.
A speedy running back out of South Dakota State, Strong has worked with scout team on offense mainly but has also got chances to return kicks in spring practice, which could be an interesting use of his 4.37 speed.
His signing, along with the team inking fellow fourth-round pick Jack Jones last week and veteran receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey on Wednesday, has taken New England dangerously close to the salary cap with just $142,280 now available for operations, according to Patriots cap expert Miguel Benzan.
That's not enough money to sign its three remaining picks, meaning the Patriots have to find some way to move cash around or clear some money from its books soon.
Trading big contracts like Isaiah Wynn's and Nelson Agholor's would be the easiest way to free up big chunks of money, if it can be done. There's also the possibility of moving some of Matthew Judon's money into the future by converting salary into a signing bonus, which the Patriots have avoided doing so far, or extending productive players like Hunter Henry and/or Kendrick Bourne.
Until then, money's going to be a bit tight in New England.
