The New England Patriots are trying to find a way out of the wilderness three years after the departure of legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
In those three years, they have made the playoffs just once, losing in the Wild Card round, and after a promising rookie season in which he made the Pro Bowl, quarterback Mac Jones is starting to look like he isn’t all that.
But New England just may have a stud at the running back position — Rhamondre Stevenson.
He had 1,040 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns in 2022, and ESPN analyst Field Yates feels he is just what the team needs.
Rhamondre Stevenson checks all the boxes:
✅ Tons of talent
✅ Proven receiving skillset
✅ Improved offense
✅ Clear-cut starter with a weekly pathway to 20 touches https://t.co/1ABVJfMgbu— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 19, 2023
Stevenson was just a fourth-round draft choice in 2021 and there appeared to be nothing special about him during his two seasons at the University of Oklahoma.
But he showed plenty of improvement in 2022, which was his second season in the NFL.
In addition to being an efficient tailback (he averaged 5.0 yards per carry in 2022), he could be developing into a dual-threat player.
He hauled in 69 passes for 421 yards and a touchdown past season, and in today’s NFL, running backs must have some ability to also masquerade as a receiver in order to present lasting value to their team.
Stevenson will be joined by wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, a productive wide receiver who is fresh off helping the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl in February.
The Patriots may not have any chance at the Vince Lombardi trophy next season, but if Stevenson continues to grow, perhaps they can take a step toward becoming relevant again.
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