After what has turned out to be a disastrous draft class during the lone season of Jerod Mayo, the Patriots needed to hit it out of the park this year, and so far, it looks like they have accomplished that. It was crucial to add the kind of talent the team had been lacking, so prioritizing specific positions was a must, especially in the early rounds.
They did that by picking the best left tackle of the class with Will Campbell, and followed that up by taking one of the most explosive running back options in TreVeyon Henderson. Although the position was not considered one of need, the Ohio State alum was an exciting surprise and a great partner for Rhamondre Stevenson to work with.
It was clear from his preseason performances that Henderson would be the future of the backfield, and partnering him with Stevenson would put them among the best backfield duos in the league. But we haven't seen that just yet, as the rookie has had limited opportunities and Stevenson has struggled with ball security.
That has been an issue throughout his career and came to a head (again) last week in the loss to the Steelers when he lost two fumbles in the red zone. It prompted many to call for his benching, and there's a chance that could be inevitable if the issue persists.
Per @pfref, with his two fumbles today, Rhamondre Stevenson now has 9 since the start of the 2024 season. That's the most by any non-QB in the NFL in that span. The next-closest is Breece Hall with six, then a group of players with five.
— Alex Barth (@RealAlexBarth) September 21, 2025
Mike Vrabel might have to make a tough call on Rhamondre Stevenson's future
After a rough start to his NFL career as a rookie, being put in the doghouse by Bill Belichick due to fumbling issues, Stevenson appeared to mostly put the struggles behind him, only for fumbling to become a significant part of his performance over the last two years.
During the 2024 season, he recorded three turnovers in 15 games, and to start this season, he has already lost two fumbles, both of which took place against the Steelers in Week 3. It was a devastating showing after an impressive game against the Dolphins the week before, which had many believing the Stevenson of old was finally back in New England.
It prompted a strong response from New England media and fans, many of whom want to see Henderson receive the starting reps over the veteran moving forward. That might happen if Stevenson continues to struggle with ball security, especially when he is entrusted with plays near the goal line moving forward.
While that doesn't appear to be in the cards right away, based on what Vrabel and Maye have said about Stevenson in the days since this past Sunday's loss, there was a sign of changes to come at Wednesday's practice, as the running back was third in line for reps among running backs.
In this tackling/ball-carrier drill at Wednesday’s practice, rookie TreVeyon Henderson is the first RB to rep, followed by Antonio Gibson, then Rhamondre Stevenson. pic.twitter.com/kGYtIg1rK6
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 24, 2025
It's disappointing to see, considering just how valuable he has been for the Patriots' offense since he was drafted in 2021. When he doesn't turn the ball over, he is a reliable runner who is also a proven weapon in the passing game and has already shown himself to be one of Maye's favorite players to go to.
That won't be the case for long if turnovers continue to happen, and Vrabel will have to decide if keeping him involved is worth the risk. So far, it looks like they're willing to test it out. However, it might be fair to assume Stevenson is on a tight leash until he can earn back some trust.