With Bill Belichick making headlines for North Carolina, it seems the Patriots are back to a once-familiar theme. Drake Maye has offered stability at quarterback, allowing the team to make win-now moves in free agency and with this year's draft class. With this in mind, the Patriots continue to attempt to make quiet improvements as the summer nears.
The latest updates are the Patriots working out both Jordan Mims and Trayveon Williams. This could serve as bad news for Antonio Gibson that the Patriots are looking at cheaper depth options. While Gibson was a solid contributor for the 2024 season, the back is far from irreplaceable. New England is looking to bring in a reclamation project as a depth option, and cutting a more expensive player would be very on brand as the Patriots return to who they have been in years past.
Antonio Gibson Should Consider Himself Put on Notice After Team's Latest Workouts
Gibson finished with 538 rushing yards with the Patriots last season. The backup rusher consistently offered reliable production and isn't a piece the team should move away from lightly. Still, as this team continues to build its receiving group, the offense will continue to put more responsibility on Drake Maye's shoulders.
It is at least noteworthy that the team is searching for potential depth options, already having a stacked depth chart at the position. New England could simply be looking for training camp and preseason reps to help take the load off proven players. This seems a likely explanation when looking at Gibson's 2024 production. If the Patriots still want a run-heavy offense, it doesn't make sense to pivot away from the veteran.
The flip side to this is if the Patriots want to run an offense that allows Maye to use his full abilities. If this is the case, there simply isn't a need for Gibson in this offense. Stevenson can handle the bulk of the rushing attack with Maye's arm as the source of consistent offense. The answer to this all depends on how much pressure the Patriots are willing to put in their quarterback in year two.