The New England Patriots made a lot of noise in the 2025 NFL Draft as they used all XX of their picks to solidify various holes on their 90-man roster. However, the Patriots didn’t stop there, as they signed several undrafted free agents following the draft, who could unseat a few veterans for a spot on the 53-man roster.
One of those undrafted free agents is running back Lan Larison. Larison reportedly received a sizable guarantee from the Patriots ($175,000) following the draft, which was the fourth-highest among New England’s UDFAs.
The former UC Davis standout has an uphill climb to make the 53-man roster as the Patriots have veterans Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, and rookie TreVeyon Henderson, who was taken in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
However, the rookie running back could give Gibson some competition for the RB3 spot over the next few months. On the Patriots’ Catch-22 podcast (h/t @LosTalksPats), Alex Barth highlighted that the UDFA running back got some time with the top unit in OTAs due to the absence of Stevenson.
"He was on the field with the top unit quite a bit… and that’s with Rhamondre Stevenson not there, so it comes with that caveat. But you talk about that third running spot, kinda seems like he’s pushing Antonio Gibson already. He has some burst."
Granted, it's only OTAs, so we can only take so much from what reporters and analysts see on the practice fields. However, if you are Gibson, you might want to take heed, as the rookie is already making a name for himself.
The 26-year-old Gibson is entering his second year with the Patriots after signing a three-year, $11.25 million contract last offseason. Gibson had a solid first season in New England, despite not being the full-time starter.
The veteran running back had 744 scrimmage yards but only one touchdown on 143 carries. New England fans would’ve liked to see Gibson score more touchdowns, but the offense last year under then-head coach Jerod Mayo and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt was a mess.
That said, Gibson’s ability to be utilized in the passing game should help him get on the field in Josh McDaniels’ offense. However, Gibson should not overlook Larison, who had a fantastic career at UC-Davis.
Over his five-year career, Larison had 3,634 rushing yards and 41 touchdowns on 641 carries. He also added 127 receptions for 1,626 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Last season at UC-Davis, the 6-foot running back ran for a career-high 1,465 yards and 17 touchdowns on 284 carries. He also showcased his pass-catching ability, racking up 62 receptions for 847 yards and six touchdowns.
While Larison doesn’t have that next gear to pull away from defenders, he possesses good footwork and vision, and can be utilized across the formation. It will be interesting to see how the running back competition plays out in New England, which has now become a strength with the rookie talent.