When the New England Patriots selected running back TreVeyon Henderson in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, they sent a message, one not lost on veteran starter Rhamondre Stevenson, who admits the rookie running back has already made him change his ways.
Stevenson revealed all about the change to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport at training camp on Thursday, July 31. Specifically, Stevenson revealed why he’s dropped 10-plus pounds of weight this offseason: “I’m trying to unlock breakaway speed. I’m trying to get to that second level and not get caught or anything like that.”
The change has been inspired by the arrival of Henderson, who was a noted speedster at Ohio State. Stevenson conceded one of the reasons was “having TreVeyon (Henderson) coming in here running a 4.3. Let me get my speed up.”
This is exactly the kind of response the Patriots want to see from a player challenged by the arrival of a high-round draft pick. Henderson is likely the team’s future three-down RB1, but Stevenson is already showing he won’t relinquish the job without a fight.
Ideally, the competition should make both backs better and give New England’s offense a one-two punch on the ground NFL defenses will fear.
Rhamondre Stevenson Responding the Right Way for Patriots
Stevenson adding to his repertoire can only be good news for a running game that should be the strength of this offense. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye was drafted to be a franchise signal-caller, but he’s still raw and lacking dynamic, vertical targets, so the Pats will be wise to lean on what they have in the backfield.
Returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels can trust Stevenson, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry on the play-caller’s watch as a rookie in 2021. The problem is Stevenson hasn’t gotten above four yards a rush in either of the last two seasons.
A lack of breakaway gains has been a problem, with Stevenson producing just two runs of over 20 yards last season. Including this 32-yarder against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 13.
Good blocking and a strong initial burst led Stevenson to the second level of the defense, but he lacked the jets to accelerate away from pursuit. Being leaner could add a step or two to his game, but Stevenson has another pressing concern.
Namely, improving shoddy ball security. It’s another reason the 27-year-old had something to prove even before the Pats made Henderson the 38th player drafted this year.
TreVeyon Henderson Changes Patriots Running Game
The dynamic of how the Patriots run the ball will change with Henderson. Stevenson has traditionally been a power runner, somebody able to muscle defenses between the tackles, but his young understudy is more sudden and elusive.
Henderson showed off those traits with this nifty move to wrong-foot safety Kyle Dugger at camp, highlighted by Patriots on CLNS.
This juke came after a smart catch, further evidence Henderson will feature among the new players McDaniels will use to change the pass attack, but the first-year pro can also transform the ground game.
Henderson will add a sudden-strike element to the rush offense that was missing in 2024. A lighter Stevenson might also do the same, but the Patriots would be better served if he stayed the power back as part of a thunder and lightning combination to keep defenses guessing.
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