New England Patriots - NESN.com
The New England Patriots surprised folks when they selected running back TreVeyon Henderson with the No. 38 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. While Henderson is undoubtedly a talented player, this seemed like a clear warning shot for Rhamondre Stevenson.
Over the past two seasons, Stevenson has become the Patriots’ featured running back, but he struggled mightily in 2024. Stevenson’s 3.9 yards per carry was the lowest figure of his career, and he also lost seven fumbles in 15 games.
While Stevenson still appears to be New England’s No. 1 running back, he appears set to be the 1A to Henderson’s 1B. The hope is that some competition between the two will help bring out the best in both guys.
On paper, Henderson poses a threat to Stevenson and his starting job, so it was fair to wonder how he’d react to the team’s decision to invest a high draft pick on a guy who plays the same position as him. According to Henderson, though, Stevenson and the rest of the running back room have played a big role in helping him transition to the NFL.
“Yes,” Henderson said defiantly when asked if Stevenson had helped him early on in training camp. “Just the room in general has been a huge help. They’ve welcomed me in here with open arms. They’ve been teaching me the ropes and everything and helping me to learn the system and the offense.”
In order for New England’s offense to take a step forward in 2025, they are going to need both of their running backs to play their best football. Having them be on the same page with one another is crucial, so it’s great to see that Stevenson and company have welcomed Henderson to town with open arms.
In 2024, Henderson helped the Ohio State Buckeyes win a National Championship by rushing for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 144 carries (good for an absurd 7.1 yards per carry). Henderson’s big-play ability makes him a perfect complement for the bruising Stevenson.
Time will tell how this duo fares for New England, but so far, so good, at least from a relationship perspective. Add Antonio Gibson into the mix, and the Patriots could get some solid production from their running backs this upcoming season.
