The New England Patriots are already drafting the 2025 NFL Draft. As we mentioned before, they turned the running back position into a focal point. ESPN draft analyst Field Yates among others touted the impressive depth of this year’s running back class. He’s graded just 29/250 overall draftable players as running backs. Looking ahead, New England has a very promising pool of talent to draw from. In fact, they might make that pick a running back with one of their nine selections.
Head coach Mike Vrabel definitely understands the win-now mentality as the Titans need immediate help along the offensive and defensive lines. Personally, I’m glad to see him recognize the wisdom of adding a talented young running back to the roster. “I think so. Having a good, young runner is potentially something we would like to do,” Vrabel stated, emphasizing the potential impact such a player could have on the team‘s performance.
The Patriots’ backfield is now led by Rhamondre Stevenson. He had a rough go of it last year, finishing 2024 with an NFL-high seven fumbles lost. Trusted tight ends and tailbacks have consistently prioritized ball security, becoming a key point of discipline for coach Mike Vrabel’s attempts to bolster the team offensive efficiency.
New England Patriots running backs coach Tony Dews is looking forward to getting hands on with the team’s returning stable of backs. He deeply believes in improving their craft and addressing any previous concerns. Yates underscored that players such as Syracuse’s LeQuint Allen and SMU’s Brashard Smith fit the mold of the current roster just right. Their skills and qualities would make the team so much better. Of the players projected, both are seventh-round picks in ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller’s mock draft.
Looking towards the draft, New England is still working to get their QB position squared away. Quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant recently described his dual-QB setup with the high-upside Maye and Do-It-All Dobbs. Grant was impressed with Maye’s preparation and football IQ, suggesting that his contributions will be second-to-none on the field. From a talent standpoint, he’s capable of doing everything that you’d want from the quarterback position. “We’ve had a few conversations just getting to know each other, and he’s an extremely intelligent kid,” Grant said.
Illustrating the point, Patriots passing-game coordinator Thomas Brown talked about his experiences a few years ago. He pointed to his difficult experience as interim head coach with the Chicago Bears. I think I’m the first NFL head coach to hold three different jobs in the span of one year. You know, any time you have an interim head coach and interim OC, it’s not a good scenario, and it’s because something went horribly wrong,” Brown said. He reminded attendees that it is those experiences that have only sharpened his desire to thrive in the role he does now.
This group of football talent judges Patriots’ Hall of Fame excellence each draft season. A surprise appearance by owner Robert Kraft and Vrabel capped a memorable day of meetings. The franchise welcomed longtime running backs coach Ivan Fears as a first-time member of the committee, honoring all of his contributions to the franchise.
As the Patriots look ahead to the draft, they must balance their immediate needs with their long-term vision for building a competitive team. With a deep running back class on the horizon and valuable insights from their coaching staff, the Patriots are positioned to make strategic decisions that could shape their roster for years to come.
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