Looking at the Patriots' roster, it would be fair to say that their backfield is not a group that needs a lot of improvement, as TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson are still expected to lead the running backs in 2026. Although they cut Antonio Gibson, who also served as a returner for special teams, the duo remains a strong option to go with for the upcoming season.
The main aspect that needed to be upgraded to improve their chances of improved performance this fall was the offensive line. That was already expected to be a priority, mainly for Drake Maye's sake, but the running backs inevitably benefit, too.
From what the Patriots have done so far, they have already added their next starting left guard by signing Alijah Vera-Tucker, moving last year's starter, Jared Wilson, to center. That now gives them a solid group to go with, along with a blocking tight end and an impressive fullback to improve it further.
The suggestion that Maye is the biggest beneficiary of this offseason's signings wouldn't be entirely wrong, but Henderson and Stevenson could easily be considered the bigger winners, as their jobs just improved, too.
The Patriots have improved their running back room without even signing one
Besides the issue of keeping Maye upright, since he was sacked 47 times in 2025, and that being a reason for an improved offensive line, the inconsistent production from the running backs was also something that needed to be addressed, and based on who they've signed so far, we should see that this fall.
There's no reason for a group as talented as Henderson and Stevenson to struggle as much as they did last year, and we should've seen an explosive introduction to the NFL from the rookie far sooner than we did.
Both certainly broke out at the right time, especially Stevenson near the end of the year, but that kind of production was needed all season long, and the offensive line's struggles were preventing that from happening.
With the extra help of fullback Reggie Gilliam, known for being an under-the-radar superstar with the Bills, and tight end Julian Hill, there are more options to put on the offensive line to help ensure things go much smoother than they did last season. That will be helpful in several ways, including creating space for running backs.
All of this will inevitably make the offense even better than it was on its path to the Super Bowl, while also helping make Maye's job a lot easier. That's what they need after watching the group fall flat against the Seahawks, and it looks like they're well on their way to making it an even better group well before the draft.