The New England Patriots kicked off Day 1 of their rookie minicamp on Friday. With all due respect to Caleb Lomu, Gabe Jacas, and Eli Raridon, they aren’t the draft picks fans should be paying the most attention to at this stage of the offseason program.
The Patriots made five draft picks after the start of the sixth round. Mike Vrabel and company could soon face some tough roster decisions with returning veterans, late-round draft picks, and undrafted rookies all set to compete for spots around the edges of the 53-man roster.
One of the team’s fiercest position battles could come at No. 3 running back. The Patriots used a seventh-round pick, No. 245 overall, on Alabama’s Jam Miller, and as expected, hype and fanfare quickly followed. On paper, he projects as an ideal candidate to help solve some of the team's short-yardage and goal-line struggles with his bowling-ball-like style of play.
But as Chad Graff of The Athletic mentioned this week, players selected in Miller’s range of the draft are never locks to make the team. Miller can’t afford many training-camp missteps with some capable returning players vying for the same job.
“While Miller may be the front-runner for the third (and likely final) running back spot, it’s not a given,” Graff wrote. “Terrell Jennings was solid last season and has familiarity with this coaching staff. Lan Larison was an intriguing undrafted option a year ago before he suffered a season-ending broken foot during the preseason. One of those three will likely earn the last spot on the Patriots roster.”
Given their kick return woes last season, special teams could ultimately be the deciding factor on whether Miller makes the initial 53, or if the Patriots attempt to stash him on the practice squad. Through that lens, Larison could be Miller’s biggest threat as New England’s offseason picks up steam.
Lan Larison could be bad news for rookie RB Jam Miller this summer
The Patriots put on a show in their preseason home opener in 2025, and Larison was among their most impressive young players. In a 48-18 rout of the Washington Commanders, Larison rushed for a 16-yard touchdown, caught two passes, and piled up close to 70 all-purpose yards.
His versatility could end up being a major factor in the team’s running back competition, assuming he’s fully recovered from last summer’s season-ending foot injury. The 2025 Patriots wound up leaving a ton of yards on the field in the kick return game, and if Larison can win that role over Efton Chism and Kyle Williams in camp, he could have the inside track to the No. 3 running back job.
#Patriots RB Lan Larison on what he wants to prove next season:
— Carlos A. Lopez (@LosTalksPats) April 2, 2026
“One thing that I would like to expand on going forward is proving myself out of the backfield. Whether it’s my route craft or just knowing that I’m a viable option to catch the ball… I dropped a ball in our little… pic.twitter.com/v1wVc7a9Zv
According to Pro Football Focus, Miller didn’t log a single special teams snap at Alabama during the 2024 or 2025 seasons. His ability to make up ground in that area will be critical, as Larison has spent much of the past year preparing to make an impact in multiple phases this summer, especially as a receiver and kick returner.
Taking late-round flyers on running backs is typically a sound strategy in the NFL Draft. When that player comes from a prominent talent producer like Alabama, fans are obviously going to react accordingly.
Miller has multiple players currently blocking his path to a roster spot, though, and Larison could end up being enemy No. 1 when the pads come on for real in July.
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