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    “Major Impact” Former NFL Executive All-In on New England Patriots Rookie

    Matt LombardoBy Updated:No Comments3 Mins Read
    New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III (19), quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7), and quarterback Drake Maye (10) walk onto the field before a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium
    Oct 27, 2024; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Joe Milton III (19), quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7), and quarterback Drake Maye (10) walk onto the field before a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

    Few things matter about the trajectory of the New Engalnd Patriots over the next several seasons than second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s development.

    Along those lines, signing Stefon Diggs and selecting former University of Washington wide receiver Kyle Williams should help speed up Maye’s timeline to reach his potential. So, too, should taking franchise left tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 overall pick, especially given the barrage of pressure Maye was forced to withstand as a rookie.

    However, after seeing the impact Saquon Barkley made on the Philadelphia Eagles, Derrick Henry had on the Baltimore Ravens, and Josh Jacobs on the Green Bay Packers, it might be another rookie who helps Maye the most in 2025.

    Former NFL Executive Raves about New England Patriots’ Trayvon Henderson

    Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown on a 75-yard touchdown catch and run against Texas Longhorns in the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January, 10, 2025. © Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
    Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) scores a touchdown on a 75-yard touchdown catch and run against Texas Longhorns in the second quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic during the College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on January, 10, 2025. © Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

    Former New York Giants Vice President of Player Evaluation Marc Ross put together a list of the 10 rookies primed to make an instant impact after landing in perfect destinations, including Patriots second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson.

    “Henderson can make a major impact,” Ross writes for NFL Media. “In both the run and pass games to take pressure off of Drake Maye, who carried the offense in nearly every way as a rookie. Henderson will pair with Rhamondre Stevenson out of the backfield, but the rookie looks to be the more dynamic runner right now, with Stevenson’s yards-per-carry mark decreasing from 5.0 in 2022 to 3.9 in 2024.

    “When Mike Vrabel’s teams in Tennessee were at their best, Derrick Henry was at the center of the offense. I’d like to think the new Patriots head coach envisioned Henderson taking on a similar role behind a rebuilt offensive line.”

    Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson
    Dec 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs away from Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Johnny Walker Jr. (15) during the third quarter of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium. Ohio State lost 14-3.

    Ross’ Henderson-Henry comparison could be an apt one in Vrabel and Josh McDaniels’ system, after posting 21 explosive runs of 15 yards or more last season behind Ohio State’s elite offensive line and posting 643 yards after contact.

    If running backs are back in vogue, and Henderson can take some of the pressure off of Maye and the passing game, he could wind up being one of the offense’s most important players in 2025 and beyond.

    TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
    Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes running back TreVeyon Henderson (32) runs past Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Adisa Isaac (20) on his way to a 41-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter of the NCAA Division I football game at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch
    Ncaa Football Ohio State Buckeyes At Penn State Nittany Lions

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    Matt Lombardo is a seasoned NFL reporter, with over 12 years of experience covering the league. In addition to his work at Gridiron Heroics, Lombardo covers the NFL for Heavy.com, is an on air sports contributor for FOX29 Philadelphia, and writes an NFL Substack "Between The Hashmarks." Lombardo is the former Senior NFL Insider of FanBuzz, and prior to taking that role was a national NFL reporter at FanSided where he hosted a weekly podcast "The Matt Lombardo Show." A former beat reporter for NJ Advance Media (Parent company of NJ.com and the Newark Star Ledger), Lombardo covered the Philadelphia Eagles from 2011 through the 2017 season before moving to cover the New York Giants for the Star Ledger for two seasons from 2018 through 2020. During his career to date, Lombardo has covered five Super Bowls, four NFL Drafts, multiple NFL Combines, and has had his work frequently featured in publications such as Pro Football Talk, CBS Sports, and more. In addition to his journalism work, Lombardo is a strong on air presence and is a former sports talk radio host on 97.5 FM The Fanatic, Philadelphia's first FM Sports Station and the radio home of the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers.

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