The New England Patriots are in revamp mode, needing talent infusions almost everywhere, from the offensive line to the edge to the wide receiver to the defensive line and more. Free agency is a prime place to upgrade the Pats' current group.
The beauty of all this for new top man Mike Vrabel is that there’s almost no position on either
side of the ball he can either sign or draft that won’t be to a position of need. That is, excepting the quarterback, of course.
One position that needs a boost, is running back. While it gets less attention than the offensive line and wide receiver, it still needs bolstering. We’ll take a look at Pro Football Focus' (PFF's) list of the top four 2025 free agent backs quote from their analysis for each.
The Patriots need to add more depth to their running back room
The Patriots running back room consists of Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson. The unit needs an addition or two, especially if Stevenson is traded. PFF's fourth-rated back is Nick Chubb of Cleveland.
Chubb is 29 years old and has had injuries that have limited his appearances to a mere 10 games the past two seasons. Last season, he ran for a meager 332 yards, a 3.3 yards average per carry, and three TDs. Those aren't eye-opening stats. However, if healthy and Stevenson is traded, he may be a decent, low-cost stop-gap solution.
Here's what PFF says about Chubb,
"The fact that Chubb suited up at all in 2024 after an ugly knee injury sustained in 2023 against the Pittsburgh Steelers speaks to his remarkable resilience, making a similar recovery from a nasty college knee injury to have one of the most efficient starts to a career for any running back to ever play the game. Chubb was not his usual elusive and bruising self in 2024, ceding some work to Jerome Ford after being given a fairly large role upon his return, but it’s entirely possible he just needs another full offseason to get his body right for an NFL game workload."
The third-rated RB by PFF is J.K. Dobbins of the Chargers. The 5'10", 215 lbs. Dobbins is only 26. He had a solid 2024 with 905 rushing yards, a 4.6-yard average, and nine TDs. He'd be an excellent young veteran addition, although he's also had injury issues.
PFF says this about the Ram's stalwart,
"Dobbins’ return to form in 2024 was as remarkable an NFL storyline as any across the league, with an avalanche of lower-body injuries plaguing him over the past few years. The former Baltimore Raven reunited with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who assumed the same role in a reunion of his own with Jim Harbaugh. Dobbins has always been productive and difficult to bring down when healthy; it’s just the staying healthy part that is the real challenge."
The top two Patriots' running back options in free agency
Next on PFF's list is Najee Harris of the Steelers. The 6'1", 242 battering ram enters free agency at a propitious moment. In 2024, Harris logged over 1,000 yards (the fourth time in 4 years in the league), with a 4.0 yard average and six TDs. Harris is a clear upgrade.
PFF says this about their second-rated back,
"Harris is a model of consistency, and there’s value in that even if he isn’t the most explosive or shifty player in the open field. His 1,097 rushing attempts since he entered the league in 2021 rank second to only Derrick Henry over the span, his 4,316 rushing yards rank fifth and his 3,203 yards after first contact place fourth. The best thing going for Harris may not even be his own production, but the fact that nearly every starting running back signed last offseason — Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Henry, to name a few — had outstanding 2024 seasons.
Finally, Aaron Jones of Minnesota is PFF's top running back in free agency in 2025. The 30-year-old, 5'8", 208-pound Jones is an eight-year veteran with lots of wear on the tires. He's gone over the thousand-yard mark in four of his eight seasons.
PFF notes this about the Vikings ace,
"Jones took a one-year deal with the Vikings this offseason and looks set to be one of the top running backs available again in 2025. His 75.8 PFF rushing grade in the regular season ranked 22nd among running backs, and he brings consistent production as the owner of eight straight 75.0-plus PFF overall grades."
Those are the top free-agent running backs in the 2025 class. Najee Harris is the choice here. Couple his signing with a trade of Stevenson, and drafting a speed back like Dylan Sampson of Tennessee, and the Pats' ground game will be off and running.