My favorite New England Patriots draft pick this year is Rhamondre Stevenson. Yet, that comes with a huge asterisk or caveat since Mac Jones won’t likely play much in 2021.
That asterisk is no surprise on these pages. The more one sees of Jones the more one will probably like that pick a lot. A more in-depth analysis of Jones is also on the way.
That would be the case unless of course, you don’t like (or worse) the Patriots in which case this pick will take you to the refrigerator for another beer(s). You’ll need it (them). Jones is bad news for NFL opponents, very bad news.
So, assuming it is indeed the case that Jones will have what some are terming a redshirt season in Foxborough in 2021 (who really knows?), then Stevenson is clearly the man.
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That notwithstanding, it stills intrigues this writer that the opportunity to implement a New Orleans Brees/Hill-type formation will be there for the asking for the Patriots.
Rhamondre Stevenson, my favorite New England Patriots draft pick
With the Jones caveat out of the way, let’s focus on Stevenson. The history here in these pages has been to clamor for a big back for some time.
One of the all-time New England Patriots best, LeGarrette Blount (a favorite player) was about a big as they come. He was also really good as in 18 touchdowns good in 2016.
Before last year’s draft, a list of four possibilities as big backs was offered herein. One of those backs was a big missed opportunity. That would be the super rookie for the Colts, Jonathan Taylor.
So the Patriots last season punted on a big back again, but this year things have changed. They’ve changed a lot in personnel. Why?
For one, they logged a poor 7-9 record and missed the playoffs for the first time in forever.
Then, owner Bob Kraft uncharacteristically weighed in not only on the draft generally (he wasn’t happy with recent results), but also in making it crystal clear he wanted a new cornerstone quarterback. The sheriff had spoken.
It was “done and dusted” as they say as he got his young quarterback in Mac Jones. He also just may have received a top overall draft as well. We’ll see. But this was neither a usual free agency period (uncharacteristically massive spending spree) nor draft.
There were really no “out-in-left-field” draft picks as was usual in the past. The guys they took were legitimate players. No shocking “who’s he?” types at all.
One of those picks was Rhamondre Stevenson. There were arguably better big backs in the draft like the terrific Najee Harris from Alabama and Javonte Williams of North Carolina.
But you weren’t getting them in the fourth round as they did Stevenson. In addition, he’s likely bigger than both and that’s a plus. They needed a bruiser first and foremost. They got him.
Frankly, it was a shocking turn of events. Finally, after missing the contributions of a Blount-type since 2016, they at least made a legitimate attempt at getting a big back to fill the void.
That effort, in itself, was a positive sign of change in New England. Thank you, Mr. Kraft.
The team recognized it had a real need and they moved to fill it and at a decent place in the draft. That’s a good way of doing draft business and they finally did it. Give credit where credit is due.
Why the New England Patriots made the right pick
Rhamondre Stevenson’s tale of the tape is that he’s listed at about 6’0″ and about 231 pounds. One should always take these measurables with a grain of salt unless they’re official Combine numbers.
There was no Combine this season so he’s more likely 5’11” or so and he’s been listed at anywhere from 230 to up to 246 pounds. Whatever his weight is, it big and it’s big enough.
Here is how one draft publication describes his running style:
"Standing at around 6-foot-0, 231 pounds, Rhamondre Stevenson is just as burly as his measurements imply. He’s a dense runner who’s hard to bring down on single contact, and he also has the necessary physicality to use his frame effectively. Stevenson’s frame gives him good contact balance, and it also allows him to convert in short-yardage and goal-line situations. It goes overlooked because of his size, but Stevenson is actually a decent athlete, even at 231 pounds. He has good short-area burst and decent long speed. Although he’s not a burner, his speed is far from a liability (4.64 40-yard dash at his pro day). He can stretch spaces and find creases up the sideline with his pace, and he’s also light on his feet. This allows him to execute jump cuts, use his stop-and-start ability, and stay primed to divert course."
Let’s re-quote one small part of that excerpt:
"Stevenson’s frame gives him good contact balance, and it also allows him to convert in short-yardage and goal-line situations."
I may be dreaming but it did say something about “short-yardage and goal-line situations”.
As has been written in this space on numerous occasions, the Patriots in the past at least two seasons (and maybe really since Blount was jettisoned) could do nothing in those two particular situations unless their quarterback did it.
Not going into that here in detail, but suffice it to say, their backs couldn’t get that job done. Now, hopefully, and ostensibly they have a big back who can do just that.
Whatever the outcome (all draft picks are crapshoots after all), the team did the right thing and went for the short-yardage and TD fix. And they got that good player in the fourth round, as well.
Stevenson might just be a massive draft steal
Boston.com’s Trevor Hass quotes Louis Riddick of ESPN calling Stevenson, a “battering ram”. That is a marvelous characterization of this team’s exact need.
And to make it even better, it comes from an impeccable source. Riddick is one of the best analytical football minds in the business.
Riddick also had this to say about Stevenson in that same article,
"“When this guy gets to the second level, it’s over,” Riddick said on the broadcast. “He’s a home-run-type hitter. Very patient, almost Le’Veon Bell-esque, as far as being patient, trying to find his hole. When he hits it, on the second level, he is gone.” More from New England Patriots Former Patriot Stevan Ridley Put Kevin Hart in a Wheelchair 3 Patriots Who Can Clinch a Roster Spot in Final Preseason Game Patriots Get Win Over Division Rivals Before Season Even Begins New Massachusetts Sportsbook Promos: $450 Bonus to Bet on Your Patriots at Caesars + DraftKings Ezekiel Elliott Reveals 3 Reasons Why He Signed With Patriots"
An aside is necessary here about the source of those comments. Louis Riddick may very well be the next Mike Mayock in waiting, a television analyst turned NFL team General Manager.
If he wants it, you can take that prediction to the bank. This young man is terrific. And it says here, that there would be no better place for such talent than the New England Patriots.
Signing up Louis Riddick would be the best personnel move Mr. Bob Kraft and the New England Patriots could make to secure the long-term future of the team. It says here, he’s as good as there is. He’s that good.
Louis Riddick is a superstar, readers, plain and simple. Mr. Kraft, I hope you are reading, aka listening, Sir. Sign this young man up and you will never look back.
Back to Rhamondre, so the best in the business calls him a “battering ram”. Truly, I can not hear enough of this.
In that same article, Dan Roche of WBZ is cited on Twitter as saying Stevenson is a fan of LeGarrette Blount. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Stevenson can also catch the ball out of the backfield. He had 18 receptions in only six games in 2020. And to just put a bit of frosting on this already wonderful cake, he’s a big-game player.
Here’s what he did in the Cotton Bowl after last season according to patriotswire.usatoday.com,
"He had 18 carries for 186 yards and a touchdown in the Cotton Bowl last season. He averaged 10.3 yards per carry, and a 50-yard carry was his longest of the afternoon. He was named the MVP of that game for his efforts."
Hopefully, that’s enough to convince anyone why this young running back is my favorite draft pick (along with the asterisked out, Mac Jones). I just can’t wait to see him carrying the rock in blue, red, white, and silver. That first pre-season game can’t come fast enough.