With Rhamondre Stevenson dealing with a knee injury and TreVeyon Henderson out with an illness, the New England Patriots' backfield is officially in crisis territory. As things stand, Corey Kiner and Lan Larison will handle the bulk of the work.
With so little information on Henderson's condition, the Patriots should stay active in the running back market. They stood pat at the November 10 trade deadline, but options are still available.
Considering that, Bleacher Report analyst Moe Moton suggested the Patriots as an ideal fit for Najee Harris. The 28-year-old has been a free agent for nearly a month, and this team could definitely do a whole lot worse.
The Patriots should be all over Najee Harris right now
"Harris could be an asset to a team that needs a short-yardage tailback. He's a 6'1", 242-pound bruising ball-carrier who can pick up first downs in critical situations and close drives near the goal line," wrote Moton.
Harris drew some interest late in the offseason, but he clearly made the wrong choice. He joined the New York Giants, a team with a stacked running room, so it wasn't much of a surprise to see him stuck behind the pecking order.
Harris never lived up to the hype after his impressive collegiate career, and the bulk of his production came from volume rather than efficiency. That said, he's a proven veteran with extensive experience, and he's a sturdy guy who moves people around between the tackles.
The Patriots shouldn't expect him to be a home run-hitting, explosive back, especially at this point in his career. Then again, he's reliable at keeping the offense ahead of the sticks, gaining difficult yards, and getting the job done in goal-line situations.
This team seems overly content with the guys they have in the building, which is fair to a degree, but talent can only do so much when the injury bug stings. They might not need Harris or other reinforcements in a video game, but depth matters in real life.
Harris has been in the league for a while, and 28 might sound old for a running back, but he should still have something left in the tank. At least three teams were in the running to sign him right before training camp, so he didn't lack options.
The Patriots are playing a dangerous game by sitting tight while everyone else in the league makes moves. They're just one game above .500, and this approach won't help them keep up with the Buffalo Bills in the divisional race.
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