With the NFL trade deadline close to pass, here, it will be interesting to see whether the New England Patriots make a move or not. Still leading the AFC East at 7-2, the Pats are rolling as they've won six in a row.
Some fans might argue for one position of need over another, but the latest NFL trade deadline buzz actually suggests that New England could look at a running back. In a few words, that's bad news for rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
ESPN's Dan Graziano wrote the following on New England's back field in reference to the trade deadline:
"New England is without starter Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) for Week 9, and though that could mean more work for rookieTreVeyon Henderson, the Pats haven't yet shown they trust Henderson with between-the-tackles work and are looking for a veteran to add depth even if Stevenson's absence is short term. (If it's long term, expect the Patriots to get aggressive in trying to add a running back.)"
The Patriots might continue to prolong TreVeyon Henderson's eventual breakout by trading for a running back
The Patriots are in an intriguing spot. Obviously, Antonio Gibson has already been lost. But now, Rhamondre Stevenson is in question thanks to a toe injury. That leaves the rookie, Henderson, as an obvious candidate to shoulder the load.
Except, it still appears as though the Pats aren't ready to let him.
Henderson got 14 carries in Week 9, but Terrell Jennings received 11, and even scored a touchdown. Henderson did see six targets through the air, which was refereshing in this matchup. So, he had a total of 20 opportunities to Jennings' 12 (one target).
Now, if the Patriots go after a running back at the deadline, Henderson's workload is almost guaranteed to go back down. It's a curious situation because, outside of maybe New England's coaching staff, the general consensus seems to be that Henderson needs to see more snaps, period.
You don't draft a running back in the second round only to sit him on the shelf.
To be fair, his usage has gone up in recent weeks, and it should continue to do so. However, a trade would make fans re-think everything. Should New England pursue a veteran back who is good enough to share the load, at the very least, that puts Stevenson further back.
Think about when Stevenson returns, as well. This could be some grim news for the rookie, who certainly deserves to be featured more.
But hey, we're just fans -- not coaches. What do we know?