Heading into the 2026 season, it looks like the New England Patriots are going to run back their two-headed backfield of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. However, they’re still going to need to round out the roster in terms of the running back position, which is where things get interesting.
As it stands now, the Patriots have 7th-round draft pick Jam Miller, UDFA Myles Montgomery, and then Lan Larison and Terrell Jennings are both second-year players. That’s a lot of players competing for what’s expected to be one roster spot, as Chad Graff of The Athletic recently broke down.
“This draft class was poor at the running back position, which helps explain why the Patriots waited to take one (they selected Jam Miller in the seventh round). But seventh-round picks are far from guaranteed to make the roster. So while Miller may be the front-runner for the third (and likely final) running back spot, it’s not a given,” Graff wrote.
“Terrell Jennings was solid last season and has familiarity with this coaching staff. Lan Larison was an intriguing undrafted option a year ago before he suffered a season-ending broken foot during the preseason. One of those three will likely earn the last spot on the Patriots roster.
The major takeaway, then, is that Miller is the favorite to win the job as of now. However, that’s something you should write in pencil and not pen.
What to Know About New England Patriots Draft Pick Jam Miller
GettyNew England Patriots draft pick Jam Miller
The New England Patriots used the 245th overall pick on Jam Miller. For that slot, it seems like a good value selection.
Miller would spend his entire college career with the Alabama Crimson Tide. That came after he went to Alabama as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2022. That made him a Nick Saban recruit who stayed with the program despite Saban’s retirement following the 2023 season.
2024 proved to be Miller’s most productive college season. In 13 games, he rushed for 668 yards and 7 touchdowns on 4.6 yards per attempt. He also had 16 receptions for 155 yards and a receiving touchdown.
At the NFL Combine, Miller ran a 4.42-second 40-yard dash. He was also praised by analyst Lance Zierlein as a sixth-round pick, and not a seventh-round pick as the Patriots selected him.
“Miller has pro-caliber size but while some runners get what is blocked, Miller didn’t always take what was there for him,” Zierlein wrote. “He’s a segmented runner with adequate power but lacks the vision, burst and decisiveness to rip through creases inside. He’s a hard runner and can get tough yards after contact here and there. He’s not talented enough as a blocker or pass-catcher to play on third downs, so starring on special teams might be required to become an NFL backup.”
Where did the Patriots Stand Running the Ball in 2025?
GettyNew England Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson
The Patriots opened the 2025 season with Rhamondre Stevenson as the team’s primary running back, while TreVeyon Henderson worked his way into a larger and larger role throughout the season. That worked out to be one of the best rushing offenses in the country.
As a team, the Patriots finished with 2,191 rushing yards. That was good for sixth-best in the NFL. On top of that, New England’s 22 rushing touchdowns were tied for fourth in the NFL.
Henderson ended up being the team’s leading rusher, with 911 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 5.1 yards per carry. That was 21st in the NFL in rushing yards and tied for 11th in touchdowns. Meanwhile, Stevenson was 34th in rushing yards, with 603 on the season. He also had 7 touchdowns and 4.6 yards per carry.
It also didn’t hurt that Drake Maye rushed for 450 yards as the quarterback. He added another 4 touchdowns on top of that to keep defenses on their heels.
That amounts to two running backs who had a balanced amount of touches and both managed to be productive on the season. The hope in 2026 is that Henderson continues to improve, but that unit worked well in 2025.
Patriots Insider Breaks Down Battle for the Final RB Spot on Roster