The Patriots are in a major transition phase. Mike Vrabel has initiated a massive roster restructuring while making it clear he's out to win now. He's set his sights on toppling the kings of the AFC East, the Buffalo Bills. While that's a tall order for 2025, making the playoffs isn't.
On offense, Vrabel addressed his two most deficient positional units, wide receiver and the offensive line, with numerous additions. He added more than half a dozen O-linemen, all of whom should be as good or better than their 2024 counterparts. The O-line will be far better. So should the wide receiver room.
Vrabel signed Stefon Diggs and added several more wideouts in free agency, the draft, and undrafted free agency. That room will also be improved. At running back, he used his second-round pick on electric Ohio State running back, TreVeyon Henderson, and paid him a guaranteed 4-year contract. That suggests Henderson will play a significant role in Vrabel's plans, and opportunities may arise as a result.
The Patriots can trade or release one or even two veteran running backs
Pro Football Network has listed a shocking cut candidate for each NFL team this offseason. They chose Antonio Gibson for the Patriots. He could factor into an opportunity for the Pats with the intriguing possibility of signing the Houston Texans' possible cut candidate they identified, veteran running back Nick Chubb.
"Injuries have slowed Nick Chubb down over the last two years. After a successful run with the Browns, he now looks to revive his NFL career as the backup running back to Joe Mixon on the Houston Texans. He’s the favorite for their second-string role, but he’s not a lock. Dameon Pierce is still on the team and provides a younger power back option for Houston’s offense. They drafted Woody Marks out of USC in Round 4 this offseason, and players like JJ Taylor, Dare Ogunbowale and Jawhar Jordan all figure to compete for a spot.
If the injuries affect Chubb’s play further, he could be a surprise cut candidate. Releasing Gibson would save New England roughly $2.3 million in cap space this year. They signed Travyeon Williams this offseason, and he’s much more experienced on special teams than Gibson is. If the Patriots keep three running backs and a fullback in Brock Lampe, then Gibson could be the odd man out."
Currently, the Pats are paying two underperforming veteran backs who aren't earning their keep. One is a former 1000-yard rusher, Rhamondre Stevenson. He hit that mark once in 2022 but hasn't since and has also had injury issues. His 2024 production was pedestrian, with 801 yards and a 3.9 yards-per-carry average, and seven touchdowns.
Putting an exclamation point on his decline, he also fumbled seven times in 2024, matching and to some extent offsetting his seven touchdowns. Like several of his teammates, his performance declined after getting rewarded with a big contract extension.
He'd have value on the trade market, and the Pats should consider him a trade candidate. His dead cap hit is more than his cap hit, so a release is unlikely. A trade is the better option. Veteran Antonio Gibson would be a better release candidate, since, as noted by Pro Football Network, it would save the team $2.3M on the cap.
The argument for moving a running back and signing Nick Chubb
Nick Chubb, if healthy, is a better back than either Stevenson or Gibson. In addition, he'd likely be signed on the cheap if Houston cuts him. Signing him if he checks out health-wise would be opportunity knocking for the Pats. They could either trade Stevenson for value or release Gibson and also save on the cap in the process.
The investment of a second-round pick and signing a guaranteed four-year contract with rookie TreVeyon Henderson mandates that he be given a big opportunity to start from the outset. Henderson is a more explosive back than either Stevenson or Gibson, can catch as well as either, and can block better than both, as well.
Chubb could be signed as a low-cost option to back up Henderson, and either Stevenson or Gibson could be sent packing. This is Mike Vrabel's team, and Henderson is Mike Vrabel's back. If the Pats can sign Nick Chubb and offload one or even both of the other two veteran backs, they should. Signing Chubb is an opportunity knocking for the Patriots. They should open the door if they can.