Patriots RB depth chart: Will Damien Harris or Rhamondre Stevenson lead New England’s backfield?

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Few NFL teams got more production out of their rushing offense in 2021 than the Patriots did.

New England had the eighth-highest run-play percentage among NFL teams (45.73), and it finished the season with the eighth-most rushing yards (2,151). The Patriots also totaled 24 rushing touchdowns, good for second-most in the league behind only the Eagles.

That strong running game helped New England to become a playoff team in 2021 and allowed the team to ease rookie starting quarterback Mac Jones into NFL action. The Patriots will likely look to repeat their success on the ground during the 2022 season, and they have the backfield weapons to make it happen.

MORE: Why the Patriots aren’t officially naming an offensive coordinator for 2022

Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson will form a formidable 1-2 punch as the Pats look to continue their success running the ball. The only question is: Which one will become the leader of the crew?

But Harris and Stevenson won’t be the only backs who carry the ball. New England has a history of taking a backfield-by-committee approach, it spent two 2022 draft picks on running backs, and it will likely try to use a pass-catching specialist on third downs. That pass-catching specialist won’t be James White, however, as the eight-year member of the Patriots retired ahead of the season.

Below is a breakdown of the Patriots’ first unofficial running back depth chart of the 2022 preseason. This chart was posted on the team’s official website and is subject to change before the start of the 2022 NFL regular season. 

IYER: Where Damien Harris, Rhamondre Stevenson rank among NFL’s best RBs

Patriots RB depth chart

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1. Damien Harris

Harris had a mini-breakout for the Patriots during the 2021 NFL season. He served as the team’s top runner, playing a position-high 407 snaps and recording 202 of the team’s 489 carries. Harris notched 929 yards and 15 touchdowns, the latter stat tying for second-most in the NFL with James Conner and behind only Jonathan Taylor.

His career numbers would lead many to believe that Harris is the sure-fire No. 1 back for the Patriots. He’s 25 and has averaged 4.8 yards per carry during his three-year career. But he has caught just 23 passes, so New England may have to rotate him out to get better pass-catching backs on the field in obvious passing situations.

2. Rhamondre Stevenson

Stevenson represents the biggest threat to displacing Harris from the starting role. The second-year back from Oklahoma cut into Harris’ workload as a rookie, generating 606 yards and five touchdowns on 133 carries.

Belichick’s trust in Stevenson was noteworthy; the longtime coach has been reluctant to give rookie running backs touches over the last decade-plus. Since 2011, only Sony Michel, a first-round pick, has recorded more touches among Patriots rookie running backs than Stevenson.

Year Player Touches
2018 Sony Michel 216
2021 Rhamondre Stevenson 147
2011 Damien Harris 90
2011 Shane Vereen 15
2014 James White 14
2019 Damien Harris 4

Being on Belichick’s good side will help Stevenson (6-0, 227 pounds) earn playing time, and so, too, will his receiving ability. He isn’t a top-tier pass-catcher, but he caught 14 of 18 targets for 123 yards during his first season. He has been working on his receiving skills during the offseason, so he may move above Harris on the depth chart if he can stay on the field for more third downs.

3. Ty Montgomery

The Patriots signed Montgomery during the 2022 NFL offseason to provide veteran insurance behind James White. On Thursday, White retired from the NFL after eight seasons, so that could push Montgomery into the lead receiving back for the Patriots.

Montgomery, a third-round pick by the Packers in 2015, has played both receiver and running back in the NFL. The 6-0, 216-pound hybrid weapon has averaged a solid 4.6 yards per carry during his career and has averaged 30 catches, 241 yards and a touchdown per 17 games played. His stats aren’t earth-shattering, but he should do enough to replace White while also providing value on special teams as a return man.

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4. Pierre Strong Jr.

Strong is another candidate to replace White, and he comes with significantly more upside than the 29-year-old Montgomery. The Patriots’ 2022 fourth-round pick starred at FCS South Dakota State, recording three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and logging 1,673 yards and 18 touchdowns on 240 carries as a senior.

Strong (5-11, 205 pounds) has steadily improved as a receiver — he recorded 63 catches for 600 yards and three touchdowns in college — and New England is focusing on developing those skills. Strong has worked both out of the backfield and in the slot during training camp.

It would normally be tough for Strong to earn many touches as a rookie given Belichick’s reluctance to trust first-year backs. But with White now retired, a path to touches now exists for Strong.

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5. Kevin Harris

Strong wasn’t the only running back the Patriots drafted in 2022. They spent a sixth-round selection on Harris, who played three seasons at South Carolina. Harris racked up just 660 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 152 carries in 2021, but in a breakout 2020 campaign, he rushed for 1,138 yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 carries.

Harris is well-built at 5-10, 220 pounds and could be a between-the-tackles option in the future. But at this point, he is fighting more for a roster spot than playing time, so he likely won’t make a lot of noise in 2022.

6. J.J. Taylor

Taylor has been with the Patriots the past two years after going undrafted out of Arizona. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry on 23 totes as a rookie before logging a paltry 1.9 yards on 19 carries last year. He looks like a potential practice squad stash.

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