When the Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson with the 38th overall pick this spring, it was clear that New England was sending a message that the team needed a playmaker in its backfield.
If minicamp was any indication, Henderson - who has drawn praise from Super Bowl LI hero James White - is picking up the offense rather quickly.
The Ohio State product, known in college for his explosiveness in both the run and passing games, has been used in a rotation throughout minicamp alongside veteran Rhamondre Stevenson. MassLive's Mark Daniels noted that rotation was one of the biggest takeaways from minicamp as the Patriots now break away until training camp next month.
Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been known for incorporating his running backs into prominent roles in his offense over the years, and Henderson appears to be no different. Scouts also raved about Henderson's ability to pick up blitzes, an area Stevenson isn't the best at.
Could Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson be a vaunted 1-2 punch?
If anything, the presence of Henderson should have veteran Antonio Gibson on notice. Brought in last season to be the secondary option to Stevenson, Gibson wasn't taking as many reps with the first team in minicamp, according to Daniels.
While there's still a ways to go before the regular season gets underway, Henderson's strong spring likely vaults him ahead of Gibson on the depth chart. It remains to be seen whether Gibson's roster spot is in jeopardy, but Gibson should certainly be looking over his shoulder.
Stevenson has the slight edge over Henderson on the depth chart for now, and Stevenson has stated that he has worked to rectify the ball-security issues that plagued him last season.
While many experts believe the signing of Stefon Diggs was what was needed to turbocharge an offense that was anemic last season, drafting Henderson could be a 1B to Diggs' 1A in that context. McDaniels will find surefire ways to use Henderson that will make the Patriots' offense successful and dynamic.