PFF stuns with shockingly low evaluation of Patriots running backs

The New England Patriots running back room is an enigma. It has some very good aspects but then again, some not so good. Recently. Athlon Sports cited a Pro Football Focus (PFF) evaluation of the Pats' RB unit this way, " ... the site ranked the Pats at No. 25 in their running back room rankings."

It's no secret that the Pats' running back situation is two-deep and not very wide. The team has a top back in former 1000-yard rusher Rhamondre Stevenson. When he's healthy, he's a top NFL back. In addition, lacking a third-down back, the Pats signed a good one in free agency in Antonio Gibson.

As far as it goes with these two backs, it's not a bad situation at all. After that, the House of Cards could collapse around the Patriots' offense. Let's look at the overall situation, evaluate the PFF grade, and see if it's accurate.

The Patriots running backs have offensive line and depth questions

The top two backs, Stevenson and Gibson, are solid, if not world-class. Regardless, you can win with a tandem as talented as these two, and if you have the complementary pieces in place, they'll need to succeed. First is a quarterback who can get yards through the air. Drake Maye is there.

Athlon suggests that the Patriots' offensive line may be the genesis of the low-grade from PFF for the running backs. It's a solid take. The Patriots' offensive line is full of question marks. One might say, 60 percent of it is questionable.

Athlon had this to say,

"The combination of Gibson and Stevenson could end up being one of the more productive rooms in the league, but the low ranking and low ceiling probably says more about the offensive line than it does about the quality of running backs."

The two stalwarts that comprise the solid 40 percent are a long-time starter and Super Bowl champion, center David Andrews, and recently re-signed tackle/guard Mike Onwenu. They're the iron of the O-line. Unfortunately, after them, it's all question marks. The left tackle is a converted right, Chukwuma Okorafor. That's never a good idea.

The guards are also riddled with youth and question marks. Former first-round pick Cole Strange is out with an injury. The other guards are second-year pros Sidy Sow, Atonio Mafi, and Jake Andrews, a center/guard type. The Pats also expended another fourth-round pick on a guard this season, Layden Robinson. There are lots of questions and few answers.

After Stevenson and Gibson, there is little behind them. Kevin Harris is the first man up. Yet, he only had 16 rushes for 65 yards and a TD in 2023. That doesn't inspire a lot of confidence. After him, there's little else.

So there you have the makings of a running back room that was ranked 25th in the NFL by a solid source, PFF. It would be nice to argue with that source if you had some points to add. Unfortunately, the Patriots don't.

They did little to bolster the room in the offseason, and an injury to either of the top two backs will create massive problems for them in 2024. Add to that not addressing the left tackle position at all, and it appears the 2024 Patriots will be impacted by rookie mistakes by their new personnel team.

Absent the emergence of their top draft pick, Drake Maye (if he plays), things could look bleak for the Patriots running back situation and the entire offense. If they suffer any significant injuries, they're in trouble. Hopefully, Drake Maye's ability will compensate for these gross omissions. Hopefully.

More Patriots coverage: