His position appears to be in jeopardy, but running back Rhamondre Stevenson can stay relevant for the New England Patriots by leaning into one of his niche talents and becoming one of the NFL’s “top touchdown vultures” in 2025.
It’s a tip from ESPN’s Tristan H. Cockcroft, who believes Stevenson’s chops at the goal-line can hold off rookie TreVeyon Henderson. As Cockcroft put it, “Early fantasy drafters seem to love rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson, but Stevenson’s track record as one of the league’s more reliable goal-line backs could make him one of 2025’s top touchdown vultures. Stevenson is 9-of-17 converting inside the three from 2022-24.”
This view is endorsed by Cockcroft’s colleague Matt Bowen. He warned, “don’t forget about Stevenson here. At 6-foot, 227 pounds, he is built for the goal line: power and pad level to get six.”
Carving out a role as the go-to back for the Pats in short-yardage situations and goal-line packages looks like the best way for Stevenson to be a factor this season. His issues with ball security and lack of versatility, along with the team using a second-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft to select Henderson, mean the pecking order is changing in New England’s backfield.
Change doesn’t need to be bad for Stevenson, though. Not given his familiarity with returning offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Patriots Offense Still Has Room for Rhamondre Stevenson
There’s still room for Stevenson in the Patriots’ offense because of how McDaniels calls his running game. He’s never been afraid to trust a committee approach, rather than a lead workhorse.
It means horses for courses should be the feature of the team’s ground attack this year. Henderson is equipped to adopt the pass-catching role McDaniels used to help the likes of Kevin Faulk, Shane Vereen and James White win Super Bowls.
While Henderson has the breakaway speed and frame to be an every-down back, the 5-foot-10, 202-pounder currently looks best suited to sub-package work. That leaves Stevenson to act as the obvious power back and grinder between the tackles.
Provided he overcomes a career-long failing.
Patriots Still Waiting on Rhamondre Stevenson Fix
Putting the ball on the deck has been an unhappy habit for the player drafted in the fourth round back in 2021. Stevenson has been guilty of 14 fumbles, per Pro Football Reference.
Half of those were committed in 2024, so it’s tough to envisage the Pats trusting Stevenson too often at the business end of the field if he can’t protect the football. Particularly when a tough undrafted free agent could take a roster spot and earn reps on the doorstep to the end zone.
Ideally, Stevenson can still be McDaniels’ clutch back in scoring situations. Stevenson has the low centre of gravity and core strength to get low and power over at the goal-line.
He gave an ample demonstration of those qualities on this short scoring plunge against the New York Jets in Week 8.
A similarly quick cut and low pad level also helped Stevenson submarine to score from a yard out against the Tennessee Titans a week later.
Plays like this are why Stevenson still has value, even after the arrival of Henderson. The latter and veteran Antonio Gibson, a converted wide receiver, will be better friends to second-year quarterback Drake Maye and his development, but Stevenson’s role can be just as important to the growing efficiency of an evolving offense.
