New England Patriots Carry Wealth Of Running Back Options Into 2020

The list of NFL teams spending more at running back than the New England Patriots isn’t long.

Nor is it in vogue.

Only David Johnson’s Houston Texans, Le’Veon Bell’s New York Jets and the post-Todd Gurley Los Angeles Rams eclipse New England’s figure of $14.622 million entering 2020, according to Spotrac.com.

Each member of last year’s stable returns for Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears. They do so having combined for 398 carries, 1,557 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. And added through the air were 120 catches, 1,029 yards and six touchdowns.

But the lengthiest run broken off by a New England back went for 33 yards. For Los Angeles and New York, that apex stood at 27 and 24 yards, respectively.

All three committees averaged under four yards per carry by the end of December.

New England’s outside factors ranged from the loss of fullback James Develin to an offensive line that went on without center David Andrews.

It is a different chapter now for Sony Michel, James White, Rex Burkhead, Brandon Bolden and Damien Harris. They are accompanied by undrafted rookie J.J. Taylor, a 5-foot-5, 180-pound Arizona Wildcat who garnered $100,000 in total reported guarantees to sign this spring.

The investments have been made. Time will determine whether it aligns.

Michel set a playoff record for rushing scores by a rookie in 2018. The first-round Georgia product maintained the lead role as an NFL sophomore. Just eight qualifying ball-carriers around the league spent less time behind the line of scrimmage than Michel last season, however, per Next Gen Stats.

The unpredictability remains a work in progress. So does the utilization as a target out of the backfield. But Michel appeared in every game after arthroscopic knee surgery saw him start training camp on physically unable to perform. He crossed into the end zone for seven touchdowns.

Continuing as Michel’s starting complement is White. Since landing in the fourth round of the 2014 draft out of Wisconsin, White has secured pass-catching milestones and been a Super Bowl safety valve. The 28-year-old captain now enters the final stretch of his contract extension with a cap number of $4.593 million.

Yet White enters it having placed second on the Patriots in receptions last season. Along the way, he accounted for 62% of the position’s receiving yards and 80% of its receiving touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Burkhead and Bolden contributed 760 all-purpose yards. Their 539 snaps in the kicking game reinforced the gameday roster with versatility.

Then there’s Harris, who went in the third round a spring ago before redshirting behind those four-down veterans. Harris checked into a pair of games as a rookie via Alabama. He was in for a handful of plays on offense and as many on special teams.

An expanded role is the expectation for the former No. 87 overall pick. Harris averaged 6.4 yards per attempt during his Crimson Tide tenure, tops in program history among tailbacks who surpassed 400 career carries.

Harris could contend with Michel for the short-yardage work at 5-foot-11, 213 pounds. He could provide insurance behind White in single-back sets. And with Bolden and Burkhead also facing contract years, a prospect who once fell under the “good football player” category is the wild card.

Among several.

The running backs may not be the primary focus when New England takes the field in 2020. But for an organization that has just north of $3 million devoted at quarterback, they are on paper.