As the NFL offseason heads toward free agency and the draft, all 32 teams must assess their own talent before they begin anew the roster-building process. With that in mind, WEEI.com is taking a position-by-position look at the state of the Patriots roster as the team embarks one of the most important offseasons in franchise history.
Running back
Returning players (GS/GP, 2020 play time): Damien Harris (10/10, 24.8 percent), Sony Michel (6/9, 18 percent), J.J. Taylor (0/6, 5 percent), Brandon Bolden (0/0, COVID opt-out), Jakob Johnson (11/16, 37 percent), Dan Vitale (0/0, COVID opt-out)
Free agents: Rex Burkhead (0/10, 27 percent), James White (0/14, 33 percent)
2020 recap: Out of necessity as much as anything else, New England once again had a form of committee backfield again in 2020. The team’s top three rushers at running back – Damien Harris (691, 5.0 avg.), Sony Michel (449, 5.7) and Rex Burkhead (274, 4.1) – all spent time on injured reserve, Harris beginning and ending the year on the list. In between the second-year former third-round pick established himself as the lead back, a role that previously fell to Michel. Harris notched three 100-yard efforts in his 10 games, averaging better than 4.5 yards per carry in seven contests for a New England rushing attack that got little help from the passing game. After a slow start in the first three weeks of the year (other than one 48-yard run against Oakland), Michel finished 2020 with some of the best running of his career. Michel ran hard, broke tackles and showed burst down the stretch with three straight games with 69-plus yards, averaging better than 4.8 yards per carry in each and hitting a run of 13 yards or longer in every game. He also showed a bit more versatility by contributing in the passing game down, including his first career touchdown reception on a 31-yard catch-and-run in the season finale against the Jets. Before going down with injury, an issue that’s cost him 23 games over four season in Foxborough, Burkhead notched a career-high snap total as a once again productive option running and catching the football with 92 total touches and six touchdowns. After dealing with a family tragedy early in the season, White had what was for him a down year with 49 catches to rank second on the team. White just didn’t seem to click at times with Cam Newton in the short passing game that’s far from the veteran quarterback’s strength. Taylor showed plenty of burst as an undersized undrafted rookie in limited chances early and late in the season. With Pro Bowler James Develin forced into retirement, Johnson took over the starting fullback job and showed improvement as blocker along the way. Johnson also caught eight passes, including one touchdown. New England’s running back spot lost some depth prior to the season when the veteran special teamer and backup Bolden and fullback/H-back newcomer Vitale opted out of the season due to COVID concerns.
2021 projection: The three most elder members of the Patriots backfield have to be considered uncertainties moving forward. White has said that he’s looking forward to free agency and the soon-to-be 29-year-old might be appealing to teams like Dolphins and Bucs in his home state of Florida, which would allow him to be closer to his family after his father was killed and his mother critically injured in a car accident this fall. Burkhead hits free agency coming off a reported torn ACL as he approaches his 31st birthday. He’s always been a favorite of Bill Belichick and given his likely limited value on the open market seeing Burkhead return on a value deal can’t be ruled out. Bolden has expressed his desire to return after the year off, but will certainly have to fight for a spot as a backup in the backfield as well as a core special teams player. The foundation of the backfield for at least another year should be Harris and Michel. Both have proven they can be productive lead backs at times, though Harris probably has a bit more momentum in that role at this point. Michel still has value running the ball but might also be able to add some more pass-catching duties to his role if White isn’t around as the mainstay in that area. Taylor certainly showed flashes and might deserve a more consistent backup role, including potential contributions in the passing game. Even with the possibility for one or more of the veterans to move on, New England has relative depth in the backfield. The real question is whether Harris can turn a solid if injury-shortened second season into a breakout third year. He certainly has the ability to be a 1,000-yard rusher -- a goal he accomplished twice in college at Alabama -- something the Patriots haven’t had since LeGarrette Blount in 2016. Or, maybe Harris and Michel move forward in a two-headed system. Health and productivity will likely decide.
Draft/free agency need – Relatively Low: There certainly is a chance that either White or Burkhead could reach a contract extension even before hitting free agency. That would greatly decrease the need at the position. If White moves on in free agency, it might create a hole for a more proven pass catcher either on the open market or the draft. But given the considerable needs New England has at so many other spots, and the talents that Harris, Michel and even Taylor bring to the position, the running back depth chart has a solid foundation as it is currently constituted.
