The New England Patriots took Alabama running back Jam Miller in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL draft. It was part of the draft in which the Patriots addressed several depth needs, following a Super Bowl appearance. Miller certainly can fill a need, and he was named the ‘most interesting pick’ for the Patriots in a recent article from CBSSports. Josh Edwards broke down why Miller was interesting.
The Patriots addressed several needs on both sides of the football, in what was a top-heavy draft class. Miller could be viewed as important running back depth, as the Patriots needed a third one on the roster. Edwards stated his case for why he believes Miller was most interesting.
“Miller may have gone earlier if he had not dealt with injuries this season. New England adds quality depth to a room that welcomed TreVeyon Henderson last season.”
Patriots Rookie Had Productive 2025 Season
The Alabama product had a productive 2025 season. He tallied 130 carries for 504 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 3.9 yards per carry.
Miller came into the season with a lot of hype, being named to the preseason Doak Walker and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List. His 2025 campaign was brought down by injuries. The running back missed the first three games of the season due to a dislocated collarbone suffered in fall camp. It also battled an injury in the Iron Bowl against Auburn that caused him to miss the SEC Championship Game.
Despite the injuries, there were still highlights to be had as well. His most productive game came against Vanderbilt. The playmaker rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. He was given accolades for his efforts, as he won the East-West Shrine Bowl Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Overall, he was limited to 11 games and eight starts. That being said, he still led the Crimson Tide in rushing yards. If anything, this spoke to his explosiveness and playmaking ability.
For his Alabama career, Miller recorded 349 carries for 1,596 yards and 13 touchdowns. The playmaker also tallied 40 receptions for 337 yards and two touchdowns.
Patriots Have Ample But Inexperienced Depth
The Patriots have a bit of a logjam at the third running back spot. Several names figure to compete. Miller is of course one of them. However, Terrell Jennings and Lari Larson also figure to be in the mix.
Jennings had 23 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown last year. Larison did not play. Jennings certainly has additional veteran experience, but the third running back position is very much open. The release of Antonio Gibson left the Patriots without additional proven depth at the running back position, and now it’s going to come down to who can shine the best in camp.
At the very least, Miller will have an opportunity to compete. His pedigree and playmaking ability could lend themselves well to the NFL. There is certainly going to be an adjustment period as he gets settled in with his new team. However, he should be able to provide another viable option for a position that is deep, yet top-heavy. It will be interesting to see what Miller’s exact role in the room will be moving forward.
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