The Patriots’ backfield has gone from a presumed strength to the spot that invites the most second-guessing. What started with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson looking like a sturdy enough tandem has turned into a real problem, with Stevenson’s early fumbling issues and Henderson’s recent struggles putting the offense in a bind.
Henderson’s latest showing did little to calm anything down. Against the Bears on Thursday night, he was on the field for just 13 of 54 offensive snaps, while Corey Kiner, the third-string back, also worked into the mix. Henderson finished with 3 carries for 9 yards and 2 catches for 14 yards, and if that usage is a clue to how Josh McDaniels sees him, his role could shrink even more.
That opens the door to a bigger swing, and Colts running back Jonathan Taylor is the name drawing the loudest buzz. Indianapolis just fired its longtime general manager last week, which has fueled the idea that the front office could be heading toward a sell-off. If that happens, Taylor suddenly becomes a name worth monitoring ahead of the deadline.
The fit makes sense on paper because the Patriots’ ground game has been a mess. The offense has leaned heavily on Drake Maye, and that has created more problems than answers. Henderson hasn’t given them the explosiveness they hoped for, and his issues as a receiver and blocker have only made matters worse, especially with more offensive linemen getting hurt.
Taylor would change the conversation fast. The 27-year-old has been a force since entering the league in 2020, and in 2021 and 2025 he led the league in yards, carries, touchdowns, and first downs. He’s a 3-time Pro Bowler and the kind of dependable dual threat the Patriots have been missing.
Of course, this would not be a simple phone call. Taylor would carry a massive price tag, even with teams already checking in on his availability, and the Patriots are not in an easy spot after already sending a 2028 first-rounder to the Colts for A.J.
Brown this summer. Still, the most recent trade ideas suggest Taylor could potentially be had for a future second-rounder, another mid-round pick, and likely a player, perhaps even a running back.
That’s where Henderson could enter the picture in a deal, along with picks, which would at least spare New England from surrendering another first-rounder. It would still be expensive, and it would mean parting with a second-year player before the team has fully figured out what he is.
But if Taylor really becomes available, the Patriots would have a hard time just standing by. He would give Stevenson a legitimate partner and provide the kind of 1-2 punch this offense has lacked for a long time. He’s under contract through the 2028 season, and even with the running back market what it is, landing a proven star would signal that New England wants to build something serious right now.
At the very least, the Patriots should be asking. With the backfield in this shape and Henderson not making the leap they hoped for, it would be a mistake not to find out what it would take.
In Other News...
Patriots Defensive Problems Just Made One Absence Feel Much Bigger
Carlton Davis IIIs absence has been looming over the Patriots secondary for a few weeks now, and it felt even larger in Sundays Week 7 loss to the Bears. Davis missed his third straight game with the neck injury, leaving New England to lean on a defense that was already trying to adjust on the fly after changing its approach with less blitzing and more zone coverage.
Marcus Jones has been asked to do more on the outside than he usually does, and the results have not been clean. The Patriots have seen that adjustment show up in his coverage grades and in missed tackles, and Chicago made quick use of the softer looks early in the game. With Davis still unavailable, the question around this defense is no longer just about one missing starter, but how long the Patriots can keep patching together the back end without it costing them again. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Have An Expensive Problem Up Front After Frustrating Loss
The Patriots spent big to fortify the middle of their defensive front, so nights like the one against the Bears are going to draw a lot of attention. Milton Williams and Christian Barmore both have the kind of talent that can tilt a game, and there have been plenty of encouraging moments around each of them this season, but Chicago found a way to keep New England from turning that interior pressure into a real edge.
What made the loss sting was how ordinary the run defense looked when the Patriots needed it most. The Bears were able to lean on the ground game, control the tempo and leave New England chasing a 30-24 defeat, with the pricey interior duo failing to make the sort of consistent impact the team was counting on up front. [Read more 🡒]
Vrabels Rookie Approach Is Giving Patriots Fans A Reason To Believe
Mike Vrabels first season at the helm has brought a noticeably different tone to Patriots practice and game management, especially when it comes to younger players. Instead of the tighter, more punitive style fans came to associate with Bill Belichick, Vrabel has been giving rookies room to learn through live reps, even when the mistakes are obvious in real time. That patience showed up in the recent game against the Chicago Bears, where New Englands rookies had their share of growing pains but also found ways to help the team.
Gabe Jacas and Eli Raridon were both part of that mix, which is the kind of development curve Vrabel seems willing to accept if it helps the long-term picture. His communication style and emphasis on player growth have become part of the early identity of this Patriots staff, and it has given the roster a little more freedom to play through errors instead of shrinking from them. For a team trying to build something sturdier than a one-game performance, that approach is starting to feel like an encouraging shift. [Read more 🡒]