New England Patriots - NESN.com
Running back is far down the list of needs for the New England Patriots this offseason.
They already have two firmly entrenched on the depth chart in Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. But seven fumbles from Stevenson, who signed a four-year, $36 million contract extension with the Patriots last offseason, overshadowed a campaign in which he ran for 801 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns in 15 games.
But perhaps Stevenson’s fumbling woes could push Mike Vrabel and the Patriots to find a new lead back. And if that’s the case, could New England pull the trigger on drafting standout Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty?
It’s a scenario ESPN draft expert Matt Miller actually thinks is plausible, but only if the Patriots trade back within the top 10.
“I love it,” Miller said on a recent episode of NESN’s “Foxboro Rush” podcast. “I think this year proved in the NFL that when you have a good quarterback, a great running back helps. Saquon (Barkley), Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones. All these guys go to places with established quarterbacks and they have career years. I love Ashton Jeanty, but at four, it would be way too rich. You have too many holes on the offensive line.”
Jeanty came up just short of winning the Heisman Trophy this season after putting up behemoth numbers with the Broncos. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound back ran for an eye-popping 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Mock drafts project that Jeanty could go basically anywhere in the first round outside the top 10. Miller believes the Dallas Cowboys, who hold the No. 12 overall pick, are the best landing spot for Jeanty.
It doesn’t feel overly realistic that the Patriots wind up with Jeanty. But if he falls way further than the Cowboys at 12, the Patriots could always try to trade back into the first round and make an enormous splash by scooping up Jeanty.
