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[New England Patriots]

Patriots player profile: Craig Woodson has the makings of a 4-down contributor

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Previewing the Patriots safety heading into his first season in the NFL.

The New England Patriots’ safety position was supposed to be a strength heading into 2024, but instead the unit suffered constant personnel turnover. Heading into 2025, however, there is reason for optimism again — in large part because of the team’s offseason moves meant to bolster the depth behind projected starters Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers.

One big part of those efforts was selecting Cal’s Craig Woodson in the fourth round of the draft.

Hard facts​

Name: Craig Woodson

Position: Safety

Jersey number: 31

Opening day age: 24 (2/20/2001)

Measurements: 6’0 1/8”, 200 lbs, 75 1/4” wingspan, 30 1/2” arm length, 8 3/4” hand size, 4.45s 40-yard dash, 7.06s 3-cone drill, 4.20s short shuttle, 36” vertical jump, 10’7” broad jump, 13 bench press reps, 8.75 Relative Athletic Score

Experience​

NFL: New England Patriots (2020-) | College: California (2019-24)

Initially a wide receiver and running back at South Grand Prairie High School in Grand Prairie, TX, Woodson switched to defense ahead of his junior season and never looked back. He eventually was rated as a three-star recruit and picked up scholarship offers from both FBS and FCS schools. After initially committing to UTSA, he changed directions and enrolled at Cal in July 2019.

Woodson spent six years in Berkeley, with his career one of two halves. He started out as a redshirt, saw his second season disrupted by Covid-19, and missed his third altogether due to a knee injury. When he returned in 2022, he promptly became a starter in the secondary; he started 38 straight games over his last three seasons and was named all-conference each time (honorable mention All-Pac 12 2022 and 2023, third-team All-ACC 2024).

When he left school to join the NFL, he had 46 games with 40 starts on his résumé, as well as five interceptions (including one pick-six), three forced fumbles and a blocked punt. Woodson was picked 106th overall by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2025 draft.

Scouting report​

Strengths: Woodson wore several hats during his time at Cal, playing all over the Golden Bears’ secondary as well as on special teams. His versatility should translate to the NFL too, and allow him to contribute on up to four downs from early on in his pro career — especially because he has already been praised for his work ethic behind the scenes in his short time in New England.

Craig Woodson defending runs/screens pic.twitter.com/AUtMixuesY

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 28, 2025​

Woodson has had good production aligning close to the box, in large part due to his quick processor and natural instincts. He reads plays quickly, and has the fluidity in his movements as well as the spatial awareness to react on the fly. He finds his way to the ball carrier through traffic, and is a technically sound wrap-up tackler.

Craig Woodson in coverage over the middle pic.twitter.com/JUxCFvsOef

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 28, 2025​

In coverage, Woodson has shown good timing attacking the ball in the air and reaching past intended targets to register a pass breakups. He also rarely finds himself out of position or overwhelmed by route combinations, misdirection, etc., and trusts his eyes and understanding of both defense and offense. Frankly, he is a “does everything well”-type of player whose football IQ is making up for some of his limitations.

Weaknesses: Woodson is a serviceable overall athlete, but he lacks standout traits that would give him an edge over his competition. He also has some limitations as far as his length is concerned, with his wingspan and arm length (as well as his hand size) below average. Those, in turn, might hinder him at the pro level when asked to get off blocks in the run game, attack receivers’ chests in press man coverage, and contest receptions at the catch point.

He also is a sound but not necessarily violent tackler when coming downhill, and his ball production does not stand out despite five career interceptions; he seemingly left some plays on the field. In addition, he already turned 24, making him a comparatively old rookie seemingly closer to his developmental ceiling.

2024 review​

Stats: 13 games (13 starts) | 788 defensive snaps, 68 special teams snaps | 70 tackles, 8 missed tackles (10.3%), 2.5 TFLs | 38 targets, 27 catches allowed (71.1%), 243 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs, 9 PBUs | 2 quarterback pressures (1 hit, 1 hurry) | 1 penalty

Season recap: Coming off back-to-back strong seasons, Woodson picked up where he left off and produced another quality campaign to close out his college career. Starting all 13 games as a do-it-all safety who aligned deep or closer to the line of scrimmage, he was one of the Golden Bears’ most consistent defenders throughout the year.

Steady both on and off the field — he represented his team as a game day captain on multiple occasions — Woodson did have several highlight moments, too. He registered interceptions against Oregon State and Wake Forest, with the latter preserving Cal’s first conference win of the season, and ranked first on the team with nine pass breakups. While not a highlight-reel player per se, he made his presence felt on the regular.

In addition to his defensive efforts, Woodson also saw plenty of special teams snaps. Even though he was not as extensively used in the game’s third phase as in previous seasons, he still saw snaps on three units (kickoff coverage, punt return, field goal/extra point block).

The ever-reliable Woodson was named third-team All-ACC after the season and furthermore received an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

2025 preview​

Position: Multiple safety | Ability: Depth player/Role player | Contract: Signed through 2028

What will be his role? Woodson has shown an ability to play close to the box as a strong safety type, as the centerfielder in single-high coverages, and in split-field looks. While it remains to be seen just how much the Patriots will put on his plate early on, he projects as a package third or fourth option to complement the likes of the aforementioned Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers as well as Jaylinn Hawkins and possibly Marcus Epps. He also is expected to see an uptick in special teams snaps again heading into 2025.

What is his growth potential? As noted above, Woodson is on the older side for a rookie player; he turned 24 in February. Nonetheless, there is room for development from both a physical and a mental perspective. If he can grow in both of those areas, he has the potential to become a starter or key rotational player in the secondary before his rookie contract is up.

Does he have positional versatility? By now, you probably know that Woodson can do a bit of everything on both defense and special teams. Obviously, the Patriots might not ask him to play on all four downs right out of the gate, but he definitely has the makings of an every-down contributor who can help out against the pass and the run as well as in different situations in the kicking game.

What is his salary cap situation? The most recent Patriots draft pick to sign his rookie deal, Woodson is carrying a $1.107 salary cap number into the 2025 season. He has a $840,000 base salary that is accompanied by a fully-guaranteed signing bonus proration worth $266,614. Given that the sum of those numbers is high enough to qualify for Top 51 status, his entire cap hit is counted against New England’s books.

How safe is his roster spot? During his time as Tennessee Titans head coach, all five of Mike Vrabel’s fourth-round draft picks made the initial 53-man roster. While there is no guarantee that Woodson will join them, his outlook is indeed very good. Unless hampered by injury, the expectation is that the youngster will be part of New England’s active roster come September 7.

Summary: Woodson may have been one of the Patriots’ more polarizing draft picks this spring, but there is no denying he is an intriguing player. Will he ever develop into a starter and/or core special teamer? That remains to be seen, but he has shown that he can play at a consistent level regardless of assignment and has the work ethic necessary to will his way into the rotation if need be.

What do you think about Craig Woodson heading into the 2025 season? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/7/4...odson-profile-scouting-report-2025-nfl-season

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots player profile: D.J. James might have some untapped potential

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Previewing the Patriots cornerback heading into his second season in New England.

The New England Patriots’ cornerback group underwent some change this offseason, but a significant portion of the depth chart will look the same as it did in 2024. One part of the group then as now is second-year man D.J. James.

Hard facts​

Name: D.J. James

Position: Cornerback

Jersey number: 30 (b)

Opening day age: 24 (3/5/2001)

Measurements: 5’11 5/8”, 184 lbs, 72 3/8” wingspan, 31” arm length, 8 3/8” hand size, 4.42s 40-yard dash, 7.28s 3-cone drill, 4.41s short shuttle, 38” vertical jump, 10’6” broad jump, 5.82 Relative Athletic Score

Experience​

NFL: Seattle Seahawks (2024), New England Patriots (2024-) | College: Oregon (2019-21), Auburn (2022-23)

Coming out of Spanish For High School in Spanish Fort, AL, James garnered considerable interest as a three-star recruit. He initially committed to Mississippi State over offers from Alabama, Tennessee and Florida, among others, but eventually decided to change course and head to Oregon. He ended up spending three seasons with the Ducks, wearing the No. 0 jersey that later went to future Patriots first-round draft pick Christian Gonzalez. That jersey on James’ shoulders saw action in 32 games and was on the receiving end of two interceptions.

During his third year in Eugene, James decided to enter the transfer portal. He later moved to Auburn, where he spent the final two years of his college career and added 24 more games as well as three interceptions — including one pick-six — to his résumé. He also was named second-team All-SEC during his 2022 redshirt junior campaign.

James ended up getting selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Seahawks.

Scouting report​

Strengths: James is a fluid mover who accelerates quickly out of his stance and complements his explosiveness with good straight-line speed and change of direction. In man coverage, he is competitive throughout the stem of the route; he patiently keeps his hips square and can match patterns in the open field. He also has shown a feel for undercutting routes or taking advantage of sloppy technique by his opponents. He is a competitive at the catch point and a naturally versatile and physical player; James can be a factor against the pass and the run, and both split out wide and in the slot.

Weaknesses: James has solid speed and a feisty demeanor, but his lack of size, length and play strength is a limiting factor. He has a hard time getting off blocks in the run game, and is hit and miss when it comes to getting into receivers’ chests in press man. His generally aggressive play style also tends to work against him at times, resulting in questionable angles or missed tackles as well as a loss of leverage against subtle fakes from receivers.

2024 review​

Stats: 0 games

Season recap: One of two Auburn cornerbacks drafted by the Seahawks, James entered the NFL as the 192nd overall selection in the sixth round of the 2024 draft. Like his former teammate Nehemiah Pritchett, he too was placed on the non-football injury list ahead of training camp but eventually activated shortly thereafter. Once in camp, he competed for a backup spot in the slot.

The Seahawks gave him plenty of opportunities both in practice and preseason to earn that role. However, James proved himself inconsistent especially during the exhibition schedule: playing 153 snaps, opposing quarterbacks went 8-of-9 for 84 yards with two touchdowns targeting him. He also missed a costly tackle attempt leading to another TD and was penalized twice.

As a consequence of his uneven-at-best performance during the summer, James was waived ahead of the roster cutdown deadline and left Seattle. He eventually joined the Patriots’ practice squad two weeks into the regular season, and spent the rest of his rookie campaign there without seeing any playing time. He was retained by the organization via a reserve/futures contract after the season.

2025 preview​

Position: Multiple CB | Ability: Depth player/Role player | Contract: Signed through 2025

What will be his role? James may not be a starter at this stage in his career, but his ability to line up both inside and outside might help him carve out a role as a backup at multiple positions or a rotational nickel and dime defender. As such, he will compete for a roster or practice squad spot against similarly versatile players such as Alex Austin or Isaiah Bolden.

What is his growth potential? James was projected to come off the board as early as the late third round in last year’s draft, but eventually remained unselected until late in Round 6. While the NFL might not have been as hot on him as media evaluators and forecasters, there is no denying he offers some talent. If he can overcome his size limitations — a big if, to be honest — he could become a starter-level contributor further down the line.

Does he have positional versatility? James spent most of his rookie season in the slot, but has extensive experience on the outside from his time at Oregon and Auburn. He also appeared on five kicking game units during his rookie preseason in Seattle.

What is his salary cap situation? The futures contract James signed with the Patriots in January came with a base salary of $840,000 — a number that simultaneously functions as his cap hit for the 2025 season. With it not large enough for Top 51 status and no guarantees in the pact, James currently has not impact on New England’s books.

How safe is his roster spot? Despite James possibly offering some untapped potential, his spot on the Patriots’ roster is anything but secure. The team, after all, has several players vying for a limited number of roster spots behind the projected top three of Christian Gonzalez, Carlton Davis and Marcus Jones. Given his relatively quiet offseason, he currently appears to be on the outside looking in.

Summary: The Patriots’ cornerback competition projects to be an intense one this offseason, and James should get every opportunity to prove himself worthy of a spot on the team. And despite his uncertain projection at this point, as well as the weaknesses mentioned above, the team’s coaching staff might see something in him worth developing — just like its previous iteration did in 2024.

What do you think about D.J. James heading into the 2025 season? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/7/3...james-profile-scouting-report-2025-nfl-season

 

[New England Patriots]

Sunday Patriots Notes: Improved defense trending toward breakthrough

Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Notes on the Patriots’ defense, interest from the CFL, and more.

The NFL is in its slowest period, but that does not mean there is nothing to talk about when it comes to the league and the New England Patriots. Granted, the exciting days of training camp are still a few weeks away, but the pro football world still does not keep spinning.

So, with that said, let’s clean out the notebook from the week that was. Welcome to the latest edition of our Sunday Patriots Notes.

Defensive breakthrough​

When forecasting what must go right for the New England Patriots to take a step forward as a team this season, much of the focus naturally shifts to the offensive side of the football.

Josh McDaniels is back on the sideline to coordinate the unit. One of the league’s worst offensive lines has been remodeled — highlighted by adding No. 4 overall pick Will Campbell at left tackle. Stefon Diggs headlines a new-look group of pass catchers. Then the most important: Drake Maye ready to take a step forward in Year 2.

But, it’s also important to not overlook the defensive side of the football.

While New England’s defense battled injuries last season, the unit fell off drastically ending the year ranked 30th in DVOA and 22nd in scoring defense (24.5 PPG). A turnaround on that side of the football will also be key toward getting back to the playoffs, and the first steps towards that goal came this offseason in free agency.

Entering free agency with a league-high amount of cap space, New England made key investment to add a quick influx of talent to their defense. That included cornerback Carlton Davis and linebacker Robert Spillane before landing perhaps the biggest fish in all of free agency in Milton Williams — signing the defensive tackle to a four-year, $104 million contract.

All three players are now projected to make key impacts along all three levels, and are not the only additions as well. It’s part of a makeover that led The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen to naming the Patriots’ defense a unit that could breakout in 2025.

“The Patriots just had one of their worst defensive seasons since at least 1999. The 2024 defense had the worst defensive expected points added per drive for the franchise since 1999, the furthest I can go back for EPA stats,” Nguyen wrote in 5 defenses primed to break out. “That’s bleak, but the Patriots defense could make a major bounce back this season thanks to major free-agent acquisitions, a new defensive coordinator, and more importantly, the return of defensive tackle Christian Barmore.”

Up front, Williams will join forces with a now healthy Barmore which could create one of the more disruptive interior duos in football. They’ll then be anchored by Keion White and fellow free agent additions Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson along the edges.

As the cerebral Spillane will then hold down the second-level behind them, the addition of Davis to pair with All-Pro Christian Gonzalez also gives New England one of the top secondary duos in football.

“Hopefully we can just play cat coverage. Like, ‘You got that cat, I got this cat,’ and we can go to work,” Vrabel said back in March.

Throughout the spring, the new-look defense showed their promise with several disruptive days at all three levels. It’s the start of what Vrabel and defensive coordinator Terrell Williams hope is a complete defensive turnaround — something Nguyen can see on the forecast.

“With two excellent corners, a strong four-man rush, and two playmaking safeties (Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger), the Patriots are well-built on every level. This could be the unit that makes the biggest jump this season,” Nguyen said.

CFL interest​

For the first time in league history, the Canadian Football League required each team to release their Negotiation List; which the league defines as “up to 45 players who are currently either unsigned or are playing in the NFL, in another professional league, or in college. Teams hold exclusive CFL negotiating rights with players on their lists, and those players can be added, traded or removed at any time.”

Two current Patriots were included as wide receiver Efton Chism III and quarterback Ben Wooldridge were named to the BC Lions and Calgary Stampeders lists, respectively.

Chism, who was one of the spring standouts, and Wooldrigde will continue to make a push for a roster/practice squad spot in New England during training camp, with the CFL now a backup possibility.

Always competing​

Several Patriots’ players have not been shy in sharing their work away from the facility over the last few weeks. That has included Christian Gonzalez and several DBs at the ‘Pro Retreat’ in Texas, and Keion White, Milton Williams, and other d-lineman at the ‘Sack Summit.’

Several other players like Kyle Williams, DeMario Douglas, Christian Barmore, Chism, and more have also shared their individual work online. Stefon Diggs even made sure his new Patriot helmet made it to vacation in France.

And while Drake Maye rightfully put the football away on his honeymoon in St. Lucia, the competition did not stop as Maye found a trio on his resort to play tennis with. “The most competitive person I know,” his wife, Ann-Michael Maye, captioned the video.

Episode Two​

The Patriots provided their fans an exclusive behind-the-scenes look of the first stage of their offseason in epsiode one of the team-created “Forged in Foxborough” series. The team then announced this week that epsiode two will be released on July 18th, which is set to focus on New England’s first offseason program under Mike Vrabel.

: Episode 2 coming 7/18

https://t.co/fZzderpzxB + Patriots YouTube@MassGenBrigham | #NEPats pic.twitter.com/Nto7OSoGlR

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) July 1, 2025​

Setting up the week ahead​

Despite the calendar flipping from June to July and training camp being only four weeks away, there is not much going on in the NFL these days. As a natural consequence, our coverage here at Pats Pulpit will also be comparatively toned down.

Of course, the NFL is anything but predictable which means that news can always be right around the corner. So, make sure to tune back in to stay up to date, follow our Patriots player profile series, or join our weekly debates.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/7/6/24462269/sunday-patriots-notes-improved-defense-breakthrough

 

[New England Patriots]

The Top 10 Patriots Moments of 2024: No. 1

Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Our offseason countdown concludes with the Number One Patriots Moment of 2024!

July 4. The greatest day on the American calendar. It represents the day that our tiny nation, just a few scattered colonies on the east coast of this great continent, declared independence from oppression and the right to live their lives they way they wanted, free from tyranny.

And while my independence from this countdown of the Top 10 New England Patriots Moments of 2024 is dwarfed by what would transpire in the years following 1776, I’m quite happy to be free from it. Last season sucked. So, I’m very happy to be kicking off the best long weekend of the year by closing it out in style.

But first, for the last time, the list so far:

10. Jerod Mayo out, Mike Vrabel in.
9. Drake Maye hits Austin Hooper for a 38-yard TD on 4th-and-15 against the Miami Dolphins.
8. Joey Slye nails a 63-yard field goal to close out the half against the San Francisco 49ers.
7. A free play gets DeMario Douglas into the end zone vs. the Los Angeles Chargers.
6. A nine-sack day helps list the Patriots over the Chicago Bears.
5. A late 70-yard touchdown drive hands the Jets their fifth consecutive loss, and the Patriots their second win.
4. The Patriots stun the Bengals on opening weekend.
3. Drake Maye’s throws his first touchdown pass to Kayshon Boutte against the Texans.
2. Drake Maye hits Rhamondre Stevenson in the end zone with no time left on the clock to tie the game against the Titans.

At Number One, we have what I’m guessing will be the only thing any of us will actually remember about the 2024 Patriots season.

1. The Patriots draft Drake Maye​

For the vast majority of the 21st century, draft day wasn’t much to celebrate around New England. The Patriots were almost always picking at the very tail end of the round, which meant that any of the big names and hot prospects were long gone by the time their turn rolled around. On the off chance that there was still a highly-touted player still on the board, you could count on Bill Belichick to trade out of the first round, acquire more picks, and then draft a DB in the second round instead.

It wasn’t an overly entertaining viewing experience, and as all the fans of the other teams in the NFL celebrated their new quarterback or stud receiver, most Patriots fans were performing a Google search to learn about a kid whose name they didn’t even know prior to the NFL Draft. The tradeoff for an unsexy April was a deep playoff run and six Lombardi Trophies, so nobody complained all that much.

However, all good things must come to an end, and following a disastrous 2023 season which saw the Patriots without a quarterback or a head coach for the first time in forever, New England sat with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. It was their highest pick since 1993, when they took Drew Bledsoe first overall. Paired with that high draft pick was a brand new coaching regime; the Jerod Mayo era in New England had officially begun. How Mayo was going to approach the draft was anybody’s guess, but what was certain was that this team needed talent at almost every level.

The 2024 draft class was loaded with strong players, particularly at the quarterback position — hands down New England’s top priority. The hottest offseason debate was which of the top three QB prospects — Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Caleb Williams — would be going first overall. The Bears and Commanders had picks one and two respectively, and both teams also needed quarterbacks. So most experts had the first three picks in the draft as quarterbacks; it was just a matter of the order.

However, there were a number of other teams also in the market for a QB that weren’t selecting as high as the Bears, Commanders, or Patriots. The Falcons, Vikings, Broncos, Colts, and others all had QB on their list of needs. So a blockbuster draft day trade was definitely on the table.

But there were no trades, at least not into the top three, and all three teams drafted a quarterback with their first pick. Caleb Williams ended up going to Chicago first overall, which most people expected. As for who Washington would pick, that was more of a mystery. Reports had them high on both Daniels and Maye, but they ended up taking Jayden Daniels at No. 2. That left the Patriots sitting at three, to either draft Drake Maye or trade down to acquire more picks with which to round out the roster.

We all know what Belichick would have done. But not Mayo and Eliot Wolf. They stayed where they were and took Maye third overall. The Patriots had the quarterback of the future.

We all know the rest. Jacoby Brissett started the season, but Drake Maye finished it. And while he experienced the usual growing pains that accompany a rookie quarterback thrust into the hardest job in all of sports, there were times when Maye looked transcendent. He showed a level of vision, pocket presence, and football IQ that belied his age or experience level. His 2024 season was far from perfect, but it could have been a whole lot worse. The 2024 Patriots had one of the worst rosters in the NFL, and on multiple occasions Drake Maye made something out of nothing. He was the only element of last season that gave any of us any real hope or excitement, and he’s a big part of the reason why we’re excited for 2025 and beyond. So drafting Maye was an easy choice for the best moment of last year.

Check out some 2024 Drake Maye highlights here.

Maybe this will all backfire on me. This isn’t the first time I have had the Patriots drafting a quarterback this high on my list, and that one didn’t end too well. But I don’t know; Maye just feels a little different. It’s far too soon to see which of these three teams got the best quarterback of the 2024 NFL Draft. All have shown promise, with Daniels leading his team all the way to the NFC Championship Game last year. But I like our chances with Maye. I love what he brings to the table, and I can’t wait to see what he’ll do under Mike Vrabel with a strong O-line and competent receivers at his disposal.

And now, finally, I can put this season to bed. Why I decided to do this, I’ll never know. But when you start something, you finish it, and I’m happy to be finishing my countdown with what I’m hoping will represent the moment this team began their climb back to the top of the league. The good news is that we don’t have much longer to wait to see whether or not we’re trending in the right direction.

Thanks for reading, everyone — even the people who hated reading this series so much that they read every single moment on the countdown and didn’t waste any time telling me that I’m wasting my time by wasting their time. I appreciate all of you as well.

Time for a few weeks off, then it’s face-first into training camp and preseason. Opening Day is going to be here before we know it, so I hope you all get a nice chance to relax before the madness starts.

Go Patriots.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/7/3/24459626/the-top-10-patriots-moments-of-2024-no-1

 

[New England Patriots]

New England Patriots links 7/07/25 - PFF not sold on renovated receiver room

WRs | Photo by Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Daily news and links for Monday

TEAM TALK

• Patriots Unfiltered: 2025 Expectations, Offseason topics; Benchmarks for Drake Maye, the offense/defense, coaches and season records. Plus, topics like all-time sports brawls, offensive coordinators and more! (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Mike Reiss shares some quick-hit weekend thoughts: Why the Patriots drafted long-snapper Julian Ashby; Steelers matchup given ‘elite’ pricing; Jonnu Smith post Patriots; Playoff odds; More.
• Steve Balestrieri’s Sunday Patriots News: McDaniels the most intriguing in 2025.
• Ian Logue’s Patriots News: Undrafted WR Efton Chism III has options, Interesting note on McDaniels. “Belichick has told people the only people he has been around that can coach every position is [Nick] Saban and McDaniels.”
• Ian Logue’s Patriots News: Insider talks potential surprise WR trades, Undrafted RB Lan Larson making the roster?
• Brian Hines’ Sunday Patriots Notes: Improved defensive unit trending toward breakthrough.
• Alex Barth explores the situations to determine if any current NFL holdouts might become available for the Pats.
• Matthew Schmidt was perplexed why Drake Maye was snubbed from a “25 players under 25” list — not even as an honorable mention, which featured 22 other names.
• Matthew Schmidt relays Ted Johnson voicing some serious concerns about QB Drake Maye. “If you look at all the interceptions, and only one win last year, I understand the trepidation. I think he’s a special player. I think he has special traits. But I do wonder if he has the mental aptitude, or the mental skill set to match what his natural talents are.” /In related news, I have some concerns about Ted Johnson.
• Danny Jaillet notes the Patriots’ renovated WR room gets destroyed in PFF rankings.
• Danny Jaillet relays Mike Reiss naming WR Efton Chism III as the Patriots’ surprise player in the offseason.
• Michael DeVito explains how early signs indicate Keion White could be the Patriots’ 2025 game-wrecker.
• Michael DeVito highlights ESPN’s Matt Bowen with an interesting free-agent offensive guard option still available for the Patriots: Will Hernandez. “A knee injury cut Hernandez’s 2024 season short after just five games. The veteran guard had a pass block win rate over 94% in each of the past three seasons, and he’s a physical run blocker. His footwork on contact and his power pop on tape. At age 30, he could still be a starter.”
• Sara Marshall discusses a proposed trade offer involving T.J. Watt that instantly turns the Pats into AFC sleeper.
• Pat Lane and Matt St. Jean continue their series: 21 Wins, 21 Years Later: An iconic snow game and a snowy blowout. /This series is excellent.
• Meadow Barrow highlights Cam Newton defending Arch Manning’s decision to remain at Texas as a backup QB.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Moe Moton (Bleacher Report) Every team’s most promising building block entering 2025. Patriots: ... wait for it ... QB Drake Maye. “In 2025, Maye should be able to put his arm talent and improvisational skills on full display.”; More.
• Joseph Zucker (Bleacher Report) ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says Drake Maye ‘Looks like an NFL QB now’ and latest on Stefon Diggs.
• Moe Moton (Bleacher Report) 1 X-Factor that can significantly impact each NFL Division race in 2025. AFC East: Josh McDaniels’ play-calling impact on Patriots QB Drake Maye.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Stephon Gilmore reflects on moment Bill Belichick almost made him cry.
• Charean Williams (ProFootballTalk) Stephon Gilmore wants to play in 2025, but it has to be the “right situation”
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Which teams are legitimately in Super Bowl window for 2025? “Since 2017, it’s been the Eagles three times, the 49ers twice, the Rams twice, and the Bucs once. For the AFC, it’s been only the Patriots, Chiefs, and Bengals. That’s it. Over eight seasons, seven total franchises have taken the 16 total Super Bowl berths.”
• Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report) The NFL’s most overpaid player at every position. Running Back: Rhamondre Stevenson. “It’s not easy to make big bucks in the backfield in today’s NFL. There are only seven running backs in the league with an average annual salary of $10 million or more—and those backs all have resumes with multiple seasons of high-end production. Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots isn’t quite making $10 million a season. But he still got a four-year, $36 million extension last year. The question is why.”
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Which quarterbacks are on the hot seat in 2025? No Pats.
• Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) Execs, coaches, scouts rank NFL’s top 10 running backs for 2025. No Pats.
• Gilberto Manzano (SI) 32 Teams in 32 Days: Time for Chargers, Justin Herbert to take the next step.
• Bobby Kownack (NFL.com) Top 100 Players of 2025, Nos. 100-91. No Pats.
• Staff (ESPN) Who fell out of the NFL top 10 best player rankings in 2025?
• Staff (ESPN) Wimbledon 2025: Andrew Garfield, John Cena in attendance in London. Drake Maye included.
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Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/7/7...07-25-pff-not-sold-on-renovated-receiver-room

 

[New England Patriots]

Patriots player profile: TreVeyon Henderson is a big play waiting to happen

Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

Previewing the Patriots running back heading into his first NFL season.

The New England Patriots went all-offense on the first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft. Among the four players they brought aboard between Rounds 1 and 3 was one of the most exciting running back prospects in the class.

With the 38th overall pick in the second round of the draft, the Patriots selected TreVeyon Henderson out of Ohio State.

Hard facts​

Name: TreVeyon Henderson

Position: Running back

Jersey number: 32

Opening day age: 22 (10/22/2002)

Measurements: 5’10 1/8”, 202 lbs, 76 1/8” wingspan, 30 3/4” arm length, 9 1/2” hand size, 4.43s 40-yard dash, 38 1/2” vertical jump, 10’8” broad jump, 8.87 Relative Athletic Score

Experience​

NFL: New England Patriots (2025-) | College: Ohio State (2021-24)

A multi-sport athlete and two-way player on the gridiron, Henderson was a superstar at Hopewell High School in Hopewell, VA. Originally a wide receiver and defensive back, he took over as the Blue Devils’ starting running back as a junior in 2019 and promptly was named Virginia’s high school player of the year. Even though he did not play in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was a highly sought-after recruit.

The five-star picked up almost three dozen scholarship offers, including from most of the biggest programs in the nation. His final choice came down to Ohio State or Oklahoma, and he decided to pick the Buckeyes as one of their top recruits in 2021. Henderson went on to spend his entire four-year college career in Columbus.

In total, he saw action in 47 games with 38 starts, registering a combined 4,614 scrimmage yards and scoring 48 touchdowns. He carried the ball 590 times for 3,761 yards and 42 scores while also adding 77 catches for 853 yards and six more TDs. Henderson was named All-Big Ten in all four of his seasons at Ohio State: he was a first-team selection in 2023, a second-team pick in 2021 and a honorable mention in both 2022 and 2024.

The Patriots picked Henderson up in the second round of this year’s draft. He was the fourth running back off the board, getting drafted two picks after his Ohio State teammate Quinshon Judkins.

Scouting report​

Strengths: One of the most productive players in Ohio State history, Henderson has a proven and impressive track record going back to his days as a high school player. He has been able to put up standout numbers due to his explosive skillset: he accelerates quickly and is able to maintain his top speed well, making it difficult for opposing defenders to chase him down. He combines his speed with contact balance and lower-body flexibility; he is quick enough to step away from tackle attempts or juke opponents 1-on-1 in the open field.

RB TreVeyon Henderson on power schemes vs:
- Penn State
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/mlzofhAn3a

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 25, 2025​

Henderson’s compact build and natural athletic ability make him a fit for both zone and power schemes, and also allow him to be used in a variety of ways. Besides being a productive runner, he also has stood out as a receiver on multiple occasions. He tracks the ball well in the air even on downfield throws and has the concentration and body control to haul in over-the-shoulder passes without losing much of his stride.

RB TreVeyon Henderson targets vs:
- Penn State
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/Ov5Ehi2743

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 26, 2025​

One of Henderson’s best traits is his blocking, especially compared to other running backs entering the NFL: he was the best blocking back in the entire 2025 draft, with nobody really coming close to his pro-readiness in that area. He uses his leverage well and violently engages with defenders, oftentimes putting them on their backs due to his firm base and stout upper body. He reads and reacts well to what the defense is throwing at him in pass pro.

RB TreVeyon Henderson blocking vs:
- Penn State
- Oregon
- Tennessee
- Notre Dame pic.twitter.com/2CFpCxWZlB

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) April 25, 2025​

Henderson also has been praised for his leadership and ability to stay focused despite a change in role in 2024. He also entered the NFL with only two fumbles on his college résumé — both of which recovered by Ohio State — and none over the course of his 2023 and 2024 campaigns.

Weaknesses: While still only 22, Henderson has plenty of wear on his tires as well as an injury history that includes eight combined missed games over the 2022-2023 stretch of his college career. Not necessarily a physically imposing running back, he might be better suited for a rotational role rather than one as a full-time bell cow.

He also is not the most creative runner behind the line of scrimmage and is seemingly at his best within structure and the offensive line setting him up both in zone and man blocking. Additionally, his downfield receiving production and route tree beyond the line has been limited in college; he is, to a degree, a work in progress as a receiving back despite the physical skill to become a solid player in that area.

2024 review​

Stats: 16 games (9 starts) | 490 offensive snaps, 11 special teams snaps | 144 carries, 1,016 yards (7.1 yards/carry), 10 TDs | 30 targets, 27 catches (90%), 284 yards, 1 TD | 3 pressures surrendered (3 hurries) | 8 kickoff returns, 67 yards (8.4 yards/return) | 1 penalty

Season recap: Having started 29 straight games coming into his 2024 senior season, Henderson saw his role within the Buckeyes’ offense change. With the aforementioned Quinshon Judkins joining the team as a transfer from Ole Miss, the team opted to use more of a rotational approach — one that resulted in Henderson starting only nine of his 16 games, including just two over the second half of the season.

Despite being put in a somewhat unfamiliar situation as far as his starting role was concerned, Henderson still played his most offensive snaps since his freshman campaign. He also had his best statistical season since his first year as a Buckeye in 2021.

Averaging just under 31 snaps, he touched the ball 10.7 times per game and finished with exactly 1,300 yards as well as 11 touchdowns. While not as productive as Judkins in terms of touches, rushing yards or touchdowns, Henderson was Ohio State’s most productive back in both volume and efficiency: he led the team in scrimmage yards while averaging 7.6 yards per touch — the highest such number of his career.

In general, Henderson was a big play just waiting to happen. He gained at least 10 yards on almost one fourth of his touches (22.1%) and scored four touchdowns of 30-plus yards (he would have had a fifth had he not slid down near the goal line to bleed some more clock against Indiana).

He also did not put the football on the ground even once while continuing to produce at a high level as a pass protector. Add the fact that he did not miss time due to injury for the first time in three years, and was voted a captain by his teammates, and you get a player who left college on a high note — and that is before mentioning that he played a pivotal role in Ohio State winning the National Championship for the first time in a decade.

In the team’s four playoff games, including a win over Notre Dame in the title game, Henderson contributed 265 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries. He also gained 149 receiving yards and scored a touchdown on eight catches.

2025 preview​

Position: All-purpose RB | Ability: Fringe starter/Role player | Contract: Unsigned draft pick

What will be his role? With Rhamondre Stevenson as the No. 1 running back and primary early-down option, Henderson projects as a rotational player in the New England backfield as a rookie. As such, he will serve as the next man up as well as a player who can contribute on passing downs. Based on the open offseason workouts this spring, Henderson looks as if he will be the Patriots’ RB2 even ahead of change-of-pace option Antonio Gibson.

What is his growth potential? Despite being a rookie, Henderson was already fairly advanced as a prospect. There is natural room for growth relative to NFL competition, but he has the upside to become what he was in college: a big play threat and potential starter capable of filling a sizable role on all three offensive downs.

Does he have positional versatility? Within the context of the running back position, Henderson is indeed a fairly versatile player; he can produce independently of scheme and situation. This versatility also extends beyond the offensive side of the ball, at least to a degree: he returned nine kickoffs during his time at Ohio State, averaging 9.6 yards per runback.

What is his salary cap situation? As of Monday, July 7, Henderson does not count against the Patriots’ salary cap for one simple reason: he has yet to sign his rookie contract, making him the last of New England’s draft picks to do so. The holdup, which is still likely to be resolved before training camp, is tied to the guarantees (as is the case with a vast majority of second-round picks): there is uncertainty about how much of his eventual four-year, $11.14 million deal will be fully guaranteed upon signing.

Henderson ultimately putting his signature under a contact will, however, not change the structure of the deal as per the collectively-bargained rookie wage scale. The 2025 portion of it, for example, will come with a cap hit of $2.026 million that consists of an $840,000 base salary (including a guaranteed sum as of yet to be determined) as well as a $1.19 million signing bonus proration.

How safe is his roster spot? Once his contract is signed, Henderson will not just officially join the Patriots but also their ranks of roster locks. His draft status — let alone his abilities as a running back — guarantees that he will be on the 53-man team come September barring any incident or accident.

Summary: Given his speed, ball security and pass protection skills, the Patriots placing a high value on Henderson in the draft did not come as a surprise. And while it remains to be seen how well he will adapt to life in the NFL, his potential is enticing while his presence could have a transformative effect on the team’s offense.

What do you think about TreVeyon Henderson heading into the 2025 season? Please head down to the comment section to share your thoughts.

Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2025/7/7...erson-profile-scouting-report-2025-nfl-season