Kevin Harris adds intriguing power to New England Patriots backfield
What were the New England Patriots thinking when they selected South Carolina running back Kevin Harris with the No. 183 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft?
That’s a big question, especially after the team already selected running back Pierre Strong Jr. at No. 127.
One thought is that the general manager in Bill Belichick is preparing to eventually move on from top back Damien Harris as his contract status will become the next big decision for the Patriots. Another thought is perhaps they drafted the other Harris to fill the role of fullback on occasion.
In a league where you can never have enough running backs, the big, bruising running back could be simply depth. With the veteran Harris and second year running back Rhamondre Stevenson expected to take most of the reps on the Patriots’ offense, both Strong and Kevin Harris would provide depth and also provide some nice training camp competition.
New England Patriots add more power at the running back position
If it wasn’t for the addition of Stevenson a year ago, there would be a lot more excitement surrounding the selection of Harris. At 5-10, 221 pounds, the South Carolina product is a combination of power and speed who is a big-time chain mover.
See for yourself:
With the 183rd overall pick in the #NFLDraft the New England Patriots select RB Kevin Harris
— NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) April 30, 2022
Presented by John’s Sewer and Drain Cleaning pic.twitter.com/X7xlycCV5k
In my opinion, he would fill the void at fullback in short-yardage situations or even at the goal line if the Patriots decide to test his versatility by trying him out at a position that they have reinvented over the past several seasons with James Develin and most recently Jakob Johnson.
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Unlike those two players, Kevin Harris comes to the New England Patriots with an impressive resume rushing the ball. As a player who is strong and hard to take down, Harris showcased his talent in 2020 with 1,138 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. Due to a back injury, that production did fall in 2021, but he still led the team with 660 yards rushing.
Perhaps his offseason back surgery following the 2020 season caused him to fall a bit, but selected in the sixth round, maybe the Patriots have found a player in Harris who will fill a couple of roles.
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As he has shown in college, his ceiling could be an eventual featured back, especially if the Patriots and Damien Harris decide to part ways following the 2022 NFL season. At the very least, as mentioned above, he should be a nice rotational running back with the size and power to fill that fullback role on occasion.
Kevin Harris joins a running back depth chart of Harris, Stevenson, James White, J.J. Taylor and Pierre Strong Jr. in a back field that should be very competitive come training camp and one of the more intriguing groups to watch as the New England Patriots prepare to power their way into the conversation of top AFC contenders in 2022.