With less than three weeks until the 2025 NFL Draft, the New England Patriots are in the process of putting the finishing touches on their board.

What that board will look like is, of course, a closely-guarded secret. However, it would not be a surprise to find some running backs on it even with the team having recently made some investments in the group.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at some of the prospects that might make sense for New England at the position.

Patriots’ current running back situation

The Patriots’ running back depth chart saw no movement since the start of free agency last month, and Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson remain atop the depth chart. There are questions about both of them —Stevenson struggled with ball security in 2024, while Gibson appeared to have been underutilized by the previous coaching staff — but they are still a formidable (and well-compensated) one-two punch.

The only other back in the room at the moment is second-year man Terrell Jennings. Needless to say, the Patriots are expected to add to the position in this year’s draft.

Patriots NFL Draft fits at running back

Ashton Jeanty (Boise State): OK, hear us out. Yes, Jeanty projects as a top-10 pick.

Yes, the Patriots have no obvious need to spend a premium resource on a running back. And yes, at the end of the day drafting Jeanty seems like an unlikely course of action for the team.

However, when we’re looking at fits, he definitely needs to be in the conversation due to his translatable skills and the do-it-all nature of his game. He is arguably the No. 2 offensive skill position player in this year’s draft behind CB/WR hybrid Travis Hunter, so… who knows? | Consensus big board: No. 6

TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State): Henderson’s combination of straight-line speed and explosiveness makes him an exciting prospect to watch, and somebody who is a big play waiting to happen. His vision and cut-back ability make him a dangerous runner, while his advanced route tree and pass protection skills mean that he also should be able to help in the passing game.

While he is not as powerful a back as others on this list, Henderson is a definitive three-down prospect. | Consensus big board: No. 42

Cam Skattebo (Arizona State): “Multiplicity” has been a popular word in New England after the hiring of Mike Vrabel, and something Skattebo offers in spades.

He may not be a blue-chip athlete, but he has the experience as a runner and receiver to carve out a role straight away. He offers the size, contact balance and vision needed to succeed as a power back with passing game upside the NFL level. | Consensus big board: No. 72

Dylan Sampson (Texas): Sampson is an explosive player who is a threat to hit pay dirt every time he touches the ball. At 5-foot-8, 200 pounds, he does not have the build to project as a true three-down back at the next level but could have value as a change-of-pace option capable of making positive contributions as both a runner and a receiver. | Consensus big board: No. 92

Damien Martinez (Miami): Averaging 3.9 yards after contact between his stints at Oregon State and Miami, Martinez has shown the ability to break tackles and fight for extra yardage. Even though he offers little in the passing game at the moment, he is a power runner with good vision and some sneaky quickness to his game. | Consensus big board: No. 118

Bhayshul Tuten (Virginia Tech): Tuten might not be the most nimble running back in this year’s class, but his long speed and ability to gain yards after contact are special.

He projects as a true three-down back at the next level and could also help out on special teams from early on in his career. | Consensus big board: No. 121

R.J. Harvey Jr. (UCF): Harvey started his career as a backup quarterback at Virginia, and ended it as a productive all-around back at UCF.

He is a developmental option, but one who offers upside as a pass catcher and potential to be used in a James White-like runner/receiver/surprise thrower role. | Consensus big board: No. 127

Jaydon Blue (Texas): A slightly undersized back at 5-foot-9, 196 pounds, Blue is a versatile back capable of contributing as a runner and a receiver.

He needs to improve his ball security, but his 4.38-second speed is special and he has serious big-play ability with the ball in his hands. | Consensus big board: No. 154

Brashard Smith (SMU): A former wide receiver, the 5-foot-10, 194-pound Smith is a bit on the smaller side as well. What he lacks in bulk, however, he makes up for with an explosive skillset.

Pass protection will be a question mark, but he has all the tools to contribute as a receiving back in the NFL. | Consensus big board: No. 167

Donovan Edwards (Michigan): A team captain in 2024, Edwards has the ability to serve as a change-of-pace back at the next level. His athleticism is nothing special and his receiving production was limited, but there is something to work with in terms of his vision and pass protection skills. | Consensus big board: No. 251

This year’s running back group features plenty of other players New England might be interested in beyond the snapshot-10 listed above.

Omarion Hampton, a former teammate of Drake Maye’s at North Carolina, could be an option as a fringe first-rounder, as are lower-level prospects such as Marcus Yarns (Delaware), Ruben Hyppolite II (Maryland) or ShunDerrick Powell (Central Arkansas) — all players the team has shown some interest in during the pre-draft process.