Now that Drake Maye is officially the center of the Patriots' universe, Mike Vrabel and Co. want to ensure they build a proper offense around him to elevate his performance and move along his development in year two. It's the primary reason the new regime focused on the group during the draft, as defense was the priority in free agency, and that inevitably puts a lot of pressure on the rookies to perform at a high level this fall.
Among the most notable of names is running back TreVeyon Henderson, who was a surprise pick by the Patriots, as they didn't appear to need another backfield weapon. Rhamondre Stevenson has been a mainstay for the offense, and Antonio Gibson is still on the roster, so adding another player into the mix was totally unexpected.
However, seeing how incredible he has been at training camp and during his NFL debut against the Commanders in the preseason already proves exactly why Vrabel and Eliot Wolf couldn't pass on him, the talent he will bring, and the value he will add to the game day roster.
Henderson has been so encapsulating that he is already looking like the biggest winner of training camp and earning the most hype going into the regular season. The Patriots are thrilled with what he's doing, and he continues to demonstrate why the hype is real.
TreVeyon Henderson could be the Patriots' rookie of the year by season's end
Much of the conversation this offseason in New England has centered on the development of Maye and the new coaching staff. The quarterback looks well on his way to a second-year jump, and some of that will be due to the presence of Henderson in various roles.
His explosiveness will become invaluable to Josh McDaniels' game plans, as he can be utilized out of the backfield and in the passing game. Henderson has looked so good at training camp so far that even his teammates are gushing about what he can do in 2025, which is also being echoed by his coaches.
There's a lot of excitement within #Patriots' circles about rookie RB TreVeyon Henderson. Everyone knew about his home-run speed and explosiveness, but multiple team sources have also emphasized his elite pass-catching and pass-protection abilities. Words like "special" and… pic.twitter.com/C1qC6qpH7k
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) August 4, 2025
The potential he has is hard to weigh, but it seems endless with Maye under center and Stevenson waiting in the wings. The running back room might be one of the team's biggest strengths, which hasn't been the case since it was made up of LeGarrette Blount and James White. This makes it all the more exciting to consider what the future could look like.
Having a reliable and productive backfield will inevitably help Maye's growth in the league and provide him with a security blanket when a guy like Henderson is on the field.
It's possible that we could see the rookie put up over 1,000 yards on the ground alone, something that hasn't been done since Stevenson in 2022 and not since Blount in 2016 before that. That was made even more apparent with his performance against the Commanders last Friday night, as he opened the game with a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown.
So if the Patriots manage to have have two top-tier running backs capable of becoming explosive parts of their offensive identity, the sky is the limit for what this team can accomplish.
For that reason alone, Henderson was a great gamble for the Patriots to take despite not needing another running back. He's already looking far above a second-round draft pick, and it'll be intriguing to see what he can accomplish in year one.