During the first two weeks of training camp, it felt like a matter of when, not if, the New England Patriots were going to sign a running back. Rhamonde Stevenson proved last season that he was a capable lead back, but the depth behind him was shaky after Damien Harris left in free agency.
The Patriots were linked to free agent Dalvin Cook, but recently bowed out of that race; he ended up signing with their AFC East rivals, the New York Jets. New England then turned their attention to Ezekiel Elliott, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys earlier this offseason.
They were able to come to an agreement with Elliott on a one-year deal, which probably leaves them set in the backfield. But, should they still look to make an upgrade at some point, whether it is during training camp because of an injury or during the regular season if they aren’t receiving the kind of production they want, another change could come.
One player that could pique their interest is Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts. New England has been mentioned as a potential landing spot for the disgruntled star running back by Alex Kay of Bleacher Report.
A trade request from Taylor went public near the end of July, which further strained his relationship with the Colts. Indianapolis has made it clear they have no intention of working out a long-term extension with him this offseason and he is now rehabbing his ankle off-site.
If that relationship continues to be a sour one, a team like the Patriots could strike and receive excellent value. What could a trade for Taylor look like? Kay suggested New England send a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to Indianapolis in exchange for him.
While many people would argue a running back isn’t needed in New England, especially after the addition of Elliott, adding talent around Mac Jones is the No. 1 goal. With Taylor on board, Bill O’Brien could get more creative using Stevenson as a receiver after he hauled in 69 receptions last season.
Leaning on established players in the backfield would certainly help take pressure off of Jones. He has looked like a game manager throughout his career and having that strong of a running game would make life much easier for him.
