The New England Patriots are 4-2 on the season and sit in first place going into Week 7. That's not something that fans would have expected this early in the season and shows how Mike Vrabel is changing the culture.
The Patriots lost running back Antonio Gibson for the season due to a torn ACL, and some believed they could be active in the trade market to get another tailback. With the trade deadline on Nov. 4, it's been reported that the Patriots are content holding steady at the RB position for the time being, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
"Teams I've talked to, who I know are trying to move their running backs, have not received calls from New England… I think they would have been ahead on this," Russini said on the Next Pats Podcast.
Patriots Reportedly Not Targeting RB on Trade Market
While this news came as a surprise to Russini and certainly several other fans in New England, this belief inside the building showcases the faith the team has in rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson.
It has been a slower start for Henderson than some may have expected after his first touch of the preseason was run back for a touchdown. His playing time at the beginning of the season was limited due to lapses in pass protection, which Vrabel highlighted as an early area for improvement.
Despite Rhamondre Stevenson's fumbling problem trickling into the 2025 campaign, the veteran has already lost three fumbles as of this writing. Stevenson remains the clear top option at the position and leads all running backs with 217 total snaps, with Henderson sitting behind him at 142 snaps.
The Ohio State product has compiled 148 rushing yards, 99 receiving yards, and one touchdown in 2025. While the Patriots haven't given him an extended workload yet, he has the traits to develop into a dynamic playmaker. There were plenty of flashes of it during the preseason, and New England reportedly isn't looking to make a move there. This is the right decision.
The Patriots used the 38th overall pick this past April on Henderson, so it wouldn't make the most sense to give up a meaningful asset to add another body to that room.
The biggest name connected to the Patriots in trade talks has been New York Jets running back Breece Hall. He's in the final year of his rookie deal and also plays for a division rival, which only lowers the chances of the move actually happening.
Alvin Kamara is another name that has been floated, but the veteran has made it clear that he doesn't want to be traded by the New Orleans Saints and even met with their general manager, Micky Loomis.
The Pats like what they have in the running back room and a lot of it is due to their faith in Henderson.