Patriots Eyeing Texas RB Bijan Robinson? ‘Absolutely Intrigued’
FOXBORO -- Might the New England Patriots opt to draft a blue chip running back as early as Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft?
While many consider stable of rushers to be among the strongest positional groupings, one NFL insider has floated the idea as a genuine possibility.
Per a Wednesday report from The Athletic, the Pats may have some interest in bolstering their ground game talent with some early-round draft capital.
"The personnel has turned over, too. They opted for more explosion in the slot with JuJu Smith-Schuster over Jakobi Meyers, and they traded tight end Jonnu Smith before adding Mike Gesicki. They’re building the running game around Rhamondre Stevenson and have quietly shown interest in adding another blue-chip back in the draft."
- Jeff Howe, The Athletic
Despite having several -- and arguably more pressing -- roster needs, running back remains an intriguing position for the Patriots. Following the defection of Damien Harris to the Buffalo Bills, Howe's report points to the fact that New England is keeping its options open.
The only question is: how open?
New England deciding to select a running back with selection No. 14 overall in the first round would be ... interesting, to say the least. With this year's class considered to be a bit thin at the position, the only prospect worthy of such an investment would be Texas' Bijan Robinson.
The former Longhorns standout is largely considered to be the top rusher in the 2023 Draft class. Robinson combines an elusive style of play with impeccable vision at the line of scrimmage. As a result, his speed and athleticism make him a big play threat whenever he touches the football. He finished his final year with the program having rushed for 1,580 yards and 18 touchdowns.
However, Robinson is also a threat in the passing game. During his time at Texas, he became proficient as a backfield receiver; not only running wheel routes, but also catching swing passes and even aligning with the wide receivers.
Still, Robinson is expected to be in high demand come late April; casting doubt on whether he may even be available at 14 when the Patriots are on the clock. Though Howe’s report listed the team as “absolutely intrigued” by his services, adding Robinson to the Foxboro fold may lack sufficient realism.
The Pats next selection is set at No. 46 in the second round. As Robinson will have long since found his new NFL home, the Pats could turn their attention to Alabama back Jahmyr Gibbs. The former transfer from Georgia Tech rushed for 936 yards in 2022 with seven touchdowns. He also led all Alabama players in receptions, with 44 catches, for 444 yards and three touchdowns. At the pro level, Gibbs projects as the prototypical dual threat — coincidentally, the type of back which has been known to thrive in New England. While Gibbs is garnering enough national attention to warrant being chosen prior to the Pats second-round choice, it is hard to imagine the team bypassing his services, if available.
Adding a talent such as Robinson or Gibbs to that of feature back Rhamondre Stevenson, has the potential to give the Pats one of the top rushing attacks in the NFL. Stevenson emerged as the team's top rusher in 2022, gaining 1,040 yards with five touchdowns, while averaging five yards per carry in the lead role. He also caught 69 passes for 421 yards and one touchdown as a backfield receiver. Rookies Pierre Strong and Kevin Harris saw minimal time through the season. Each of them flashed promise in their respective reserve roles, earning one rushing touchdown, respectively.
In March, New England signed talented, yet injury-troubled back James Robinson to a two-year deal, assumedly to compete for the role vacated by Harris. The team also employs veterans Ty Montgomery and J.J. Taylor.
Given their depth, selecting a running back in either the first or second round may not initially sit well with Patriots fan base. Yet, should they be serious in their attempts to build their offense around the ground game, it may be one of the smartest choices they could make.
Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots
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