The New England Patriots are starting to find their rhythm on offense - and it’s not just because of Drake Maye’s emergence under center. While the rookie quarterback has quickly climbed into the upper tier of NFL signal-callers, the supporting cast around him has stepped up in a big way, especially through the air.
Let’s start with the receivers. Stefon Diggs has been everything the Patriots hoped for when they brought him in - and maybe more.
He’s brought a veteran presence, elite route-running, and the kind of reliability Maye needs in a top target. But what’s really changed the dynamic is how others have followed suit.
Kayshon Boutte has developed into a legit deep threat, and Mack Hollins has carved out a versatile role that gives the offense flexibility. Add in Hunter Henry, who’s quietly tracking toward a career year at tight end, and suddenly the Patriots’ passing game looks like a real problem for opposing defenses.
But while the air attack has taken flight, the ground game has been a bit more of a rollercoaster.
TreVeyon Henderson: The spark New England needed
For most of the season, the Patriots’ backfield was a work in progress. But then something clicked - and that something is named TreVeyon Henderson.
Since his breakout performance against the Browns, Henderson has looked like a different player. He’s averaging 6.2 yards per carry over his last seven games, with two performances topping 145 yards.
That’s not just good - that’s game-changing.
Before that Browns game, Henderson had just 153 yards on 43 carries. Since then?
620 yards on 100 carries, with six touchdowns and 18 receptions to boot. That’s a 1,500-yard pace over a full season.
He’s hitting holes with confidence, showing great burst at the second level, and proving he can be a three-down back. The Patriots may have stumbled onto their future lead runner.
Rhamondre Stevenson, meanwhile, had a flash of his own, ripping off 50 yards on just six carries in Sunday’s game - his most efficient outing of the year. But zoom out, and the picture of the Patriots’ backfield isn’t quite as pretty.
The inconsistency still lingers
New England’s run game has been a mixed bag in 2025. When it’s been good, it’s looked explosive. But when it’s been bad, it’s dragged the entire offense down.
In their season opener against the Raiders, the Patriots managed just 45 rushing yards on 13 carries from their backs - a meager 3.5 yards per carry. They scored only 13 points in that game. Two weeks later against the Steelers, it was more of the same: 74 rushing yards on 22 carries (3.4 YPC), and just 14 points on the board.
The trend kept going. In their first matchup with the Bills, the backs combined for 59 yards on 19 carries.
They averaged just 2.0 yards per carry against the Saints, and 3.6 against the Falcons. Every time New England has scored 25 or fewer points this season, their running backs have averaged well under 4.0 yards per carry.
That’s not a coincidence - that’s a pattern.
So while Henderson has emerged as a bright spot, the overall unit still lacks consistency. And with Stevenson’s $7.6 million contract on the books for next season, the Patriots have some decisions to make.
Cutting Stevenson wouldn’t make much financial sense - they’d actually lose money on the move - but a trade or restructure could be on the table. Either way, it’s clear New England could use another reliable option in the backfield.
Could Breece Hall be the missing piece?
If the Patriots want to make a splash in free agency, Breece Hall would be a dream target. He’s not just a solid back - he’s a game-changer when healthy.
Hall has averaged 4.2 yards per carry this season, with 900 rushing yards and 323 more through the air on 32 catches. That’s the kind of dual-threat ability that fits perfectly in today’s NFL.
His bounce-back from a torn ACL and meniscus has been impressive. In his second season, he nearly hit the 1,000-yard mark on the ground and added 76 receptions for 591 yards - the most catches by any running back that year. He’s proven he can be a workhorse, averaging 13.4 carries per game across 54 career appearances.
Now, is he on Saquon Barkley’s level? Not yet.
But the comparison isn’t outlandish. Barkley averaged 15.9 carries per game through his first 60 contests, with a 4.5 YPC average - identical to Hall’s current mark.
Hall may not be a household name like Barkley just yet, but he’s got the tools to get there.
The price tag? Likely in the $10-12 million per year range. For a team like New England - projected to have the ninth-most cap space in 2026 - that’s manageable, especially if they move on from Stevenson’s deal.
But here’s the catch: Hall may not even hit the open market.
The Jets have more cap space than the Patriots and chose not to move Hall at the trade deadline. That suggests they still see him as part of their long-term plans.
With Aaron Glenn now in the mix - a coach who comes from a Detroit system that emphasized the run - keeping Hall makes plenty of sense. The Jets also used a top-10 pick on right tackle Armand Membou, a move that echoes Detroit’s early investment in Penei Sewell.
If Glenn wants to build a Lions-style offense, Hall is the kind of back you build around.
Still, if Hall becomes available…
The Patriots should absolutely be in the mix. With the seventh-highest run play percentage in the league and a head coach in Mike Vrabel who comes from a Tennessee system that leaned heavily on the run, adding a dynamic back like Hall would align perfectly with their offensive identity.
It’s not a guarantee. But if Hall hits the market in March, New England should be ready to pounce. With Maye’s development, an improving receiver corps, and a defense that’s kept them in games, the Patriots are closer to contention than many realize.
A backfield featuring TreVeyon Henderson and Breece Hall? That’s the kind of one-two punch that could push them over the top.