The Patriots' roster was expected to undergo massive changes this offseason under new head coach Mike Vrabel, and so far, everything has gone according to plan. Besides signing numerous top players in free agency and the draft, a handful of longtime Patriots have been released, further signaling that a new era is upon us in Foxboro.
As a result, those who remain on the team after the draft might not be as secure as they previously thought, especially given the caliber of talent the new regime has brought in. It's become more evident since the start of OTAs, with some rookies already appearing as though they'll steal a roster spot from a veteran this year. The latest of which is UDFA Lan Larison, who puts Antonio Gibson's future in New England in jeopardy.
After the selection of TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the draft last month, the running back room was projected to get a shakeup, given how explosive the former Ohio State Buckeye is said to be. That inevitably led many to think he could be coming for Rhamondre Stevenson's job, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
Instead, it's a UDFA putting Gibson on shaky ground for the rest of the offseason.
Lan Larison's standout offseason continues to prompt a lot of questions for the Patriots' 2025 roster
One of the most hyped UDFA signings in recent memory, RB Lan Larison, has dominated headlines for much of the last few weeks. His impressive college career made him a highly sought-after prospect, and the Patriots were the winning team to not only sign him but also award him a substantial contract.
Besides the initial excitement surrounding his potential, he has already impressed the coaching staff in New England to the point that during OTAs last week, he was working alongside the starting group at practice in place of Stevenson.
Before #Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson attended OTAs, undrafted rookie RB Lan Larison was repping with the top unit.
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) May 26, 2025
“He was on the field with the top unit quite a bit… it kinda seems like he’s pushing Antonio Gibson already. He has some burst.”
(🎥 Catch-22) | @RealAlexBarth pic.twitter.com/953tNM7kGU
This would seemingly put Gibson's spot on the 2025 roster in doubt, as Stevenson is expected to remain the starter, with Henderson projected to receive some heavy reps as a third-down back.
Larison could immediately push the veteran down the depth chart or even off the team with his explosive play style and tremendous skill as a receiver. During his career at UC Davis, he exemplified the kind of player the Patriots love, recording 1,465 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, along with 847 receiving yards and six scores.
Because Gibson has no ties to the new regime, there's a good chance they won't view him as a player who must be on the roster this fall. If Larison continues to demonstrate the characteristics they loved about him enough to sign him to a large UDFA contract, potentially outshining his veteran counterparts, count on Gibson being on a different team in 2025.