With Antonio Gibson out for the remainder of the season, the New England Patriots only have two running backs on their active roster, Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. During last week’s game against the New Orleans Saints, the team opted to elevate Terrell Jennings from their practice squad to be the team’s third back. However, Jennings appeared in zero offensive snaps, with the team giving the entire workload to Stevenson and Henderson.
The Patriots cannot afford to have an inexperienced Jennings as the team’s next best option and instead must find a seasoned veteran to help boost their horrific run game. One player that New England should target as a trade option is Browns running back Jerome Ford.
Patriots Must Acquire RB Jerome Ford Ahead of Trade Deadline
Ford, 26, is in his fourth season with the Browns, currently serving as the team’s backup to Quinshon Judkins. Ford has seen a decrease in his workload this season, recording just 20 carries for 73 yards and 18 receptions for 67 yards thus far.
Over his four-year career, Ford has showcased his dual-back ability, rushing for 1,463 rushing yards on 336 carries, while also hauling in 99 receptions for 611 receiving yards in 50 games. In addition to being a versatile back, Ford possesses elite ball security skills, recording only one fumble in his career, which is something the Patriots lack in a big way.
Ford also has ties to head coach Mike Vrabel, as Vrabel was on the Browns' coaching staff last year as a coaching and personnel consultant. With his ties to Vrabel, Ford could be among the leading candidates to help fix New England's horrendous run game.
Through six weeks, the Patriots have more than struggled to get their run game going, ranking 26th in rushing yards per game (91.5), 29th in yards per carry (3.5), and leading the league in fumbles with 10. Of all the running backs potentially on the trade market, Ford could be the perfect fit for New England.
Both Ford and Gibson have similar playing styles, with each offering flexibility at the running back position. Not only would Ford fill Gibson’s role as the team’s third running back, but he could also help fill the void on the special teams. Ford serves as one of Cleveland’s kick returners, having returned 53 kickoffs for 1,292 yards for his career, averaging 24.4 yards per return.
With the Patriots appearing to be potential playoff contenders for the first time since 2021, they’ll need to make a move to strengthen their offense. Helping quarterback Drake Maye in the run game would be beneficial in several ways. Not only would it set up the pass game with play-action and downfield attacks, but it would also force opposing defenses to respect New England's rushing attack more than they currently have reason to.