When the Patriots drafted TreVeyon Henderson in the second round last spring, Eliot Wolf had visions of explosive plays in the passing and the running game. He fit that mold at Ohio State, and his versatility was a big reason why the Buckeyes won a national championship.
The Patriots are hoping that Henderson can continue to be that dynamic back in the NFL, and if he can - especially as a rookie - second-year quarterback Drake Maye will be one of the biggest benificaries.
One of MassLive's Karen Guregian's bold predictions for the Patriots this season is that Henderson will have a 40-catch, 400-yard receiving season out of the backfield. Henderson is being billed as a better version of Super Bowl hero James White, and if New England gets that version, Maye's development will accelerate faster than many are expecting.
TreVeyon Henderson's rookie year will be one of the best for a Patriots' back in years
Despite a subpar 2024 campaign, Rhamondre Stevenson remains New England's top option out of the backfield, and Antonio Gibson is a viable pass-catching threat out of the backfield.
In addition to big-play ability, the one X-factor Henderson brings to the Patriots is his ability to pick up blitzes, an area in which he's arguably better than Stevenson and Gibson.
Josh McDaniels has never been hesitant to use his running backs in passing packages, dating back to guys like White and Shane Vereen. That's another vital factor in Henderson likely getting a lot of touches. McDaniels will find ways to utilize the rookie, and other teams around the league will likely shake their heads that he fell to the Patriots.
Yes, the Patriots have upgraded their wide receiver core, and that group should be better than it was a year ago. However, having a dynamic back who can run and catch is a must if any team is going to be explosive in today's NFL. Henderson will not only give Maye a passing and running threat who can bust a 60-yard play at any moment, but also be a safety valve when he needs to check the ball down.
Henderson could have the best rookie season by a Patriots' running back in quite some time, and it's realistic to expect 40 catches and 400 yards, or maybe more, before the 2025 season is all said and done.