'This is the guy': Patriots took TreVeyon Henderson for talent rather than top need — and early returns support that

Yahoo

17 hours ago

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In a quiet moment before the second day of the 2025 NFL Draft, Eliot Wolf sat down to review his three favorite players still on the board.
The New England Patriots vice president of player personnel pulled up a reel of 100 or so carries Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson had attempted against what Wolf considered 'good' teams. Wolf didn't make it through all 100.
'I watched 15 runs and I was like, 'What am I doing? This is the guy,'' Wolf told Yahoo Sports on Sunday. 'We have way bigger needs than running back and still do. But it was just an opportunity to get a weapon potentially there in the second round.'
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The Patriots selected Henderson with the 38th overall pick.
On the first play of their preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Friday, he reminded them why.
Henderson fielded the game's kickoff at the goal line before racing up the left side of the field. He sped past the first oncoming defenders near the Patriots' 20, leaving at least three Commanders sprawled before he hit the 50 and completed his flight path.
As 12 seconds ticked off the game clock, Henderson arrived in the end zone for a 100-yard return touchdown.
'Those home run-hitting backs, that's huge,' Patriots center Garrett Bradbury told Yahoo Sports. 'I think that's demoralizing for a defense when you can break a 60-yard run, 70-yard run, which he has the capability.
'Give him a little space and it's gone.'
Head coach Mike Vrabel considered the field position advantage that could follow.
'Teams are going to put the ball in play, and if they don't and if they're like, 'Well, these guys are going to hit an explosive, then we're just going to give it to 'em at the 35,'' Vrabel told Yahoo Sports. 'So that's good for us either way if we can make that a weapon.'
Henderson also chipped in with 12 yards on three catches and 18 yards on a rush in the Patriots' 48-18 preseason win. Coaches and teammates praised his speed, explosiveness and versatility, Henderson's physicality also evident to them in run finishes and pass protection.
The production wasn't shocking after Henderson's 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns from scrimmage in Ohio State's 2024 season championship run. Henderson's explosiveness was evident with his Big Ten-best 7.1 yards per carry.
But demonstrating that ability at the pro level, even in the preseason, checked another box for the Patriots. Their suspicion: He'll be a problem for opponents.
'He's at times a matchup nightmare against what they call the combo skill, the big skill, which is the linebackers and the safeties, because he can run some pretty good routes as a running back, but he's explosive,' inside linebackers coach Zak Kuhr told Yahoo Sports. 'It's a tough down when you go against him isolated, one on one.'
Henderson is turning heads in New England, but he's not the only one. Here are two more takeaways from Yahoo Sports' visit to Patriots training camp:
The new offense will ask a lot of Drake Maye
Patriots brass aren't openly expressing concerns about 2024 fourth overall pick Drake Maye's ability to handle a new offense under coordinator Josh McDaniels. But no one's denying how much will be on Maye's plate. Veterans and coaching assistants coming from other offenses noted McDaniels' offense asks of them a different level of pre-snap responsibilities.
Quarterbacks coach Ashton Grant joined the Patriots this offseason from the Cleveland Browns, Bradbury from the Minnesota Vikings and backup QB Josh Dobbs most recently from the San Francisco 49ers. All noted the upswing in quarterback autonomy.
'The responsibility of the quarterback is completely different,' Grant told Yahoo Sports. 'In previous place, it's been kind of a joint venture between the offensive line and the quarterback. Here we like to say the quarterback sets the table and then everyone adjusts off of that.'
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McDaniels asks the quarterback, rather than the center, to identify the middle linebacker with the goal of ensuring the quarterback understands what his protection is doing. Bradbury might get his line into the call that Maye requests. But 'the quarterbacks has the final say in everything,' Bradbury told Yahoo Sports. 'First and final say.'
Cadence changes, hard counts or other adjustments to account for a zero blitz or especially quick-getoff defensive linemen begin with Maye.
Wolf points to Mac Jones' rookie year as proof that McDaniels' system can support rather than confuse a QB. A quarterback will be asked to do and understand more to align his teammates — but Grant sees that as a benefit.
'I think it actually provides clarity for younger quarterbacks because you teach them the issues and then you give them control so that way they know where they're protected, where they're not,' Grant said. 'There's no question of if they're on different pages. So it kind of gives the quarterback a little bit of comfort.'
Mike Vrabel's identity, meet the New England Patriots (again)
The speculation about Vrabel replacing 2024 head coach Jerod Mayo was so strong that it's easy to forget how long it's been since Vrabel was actually last in New England.
Yes, the 14-year NFL linebacker played for the Patriots from 2001-2008, including his 2007 All-Pro campaign. But this isn't a repeat of Mayo taking the head job as a promotion from the Patriots coaching staff. Vrabel's decade of NFL coaching never included a stop on Bill Belichick's staff.
He joined the Houston Texans after three years at Ohio State, rising to Texans defensive coordinator before six seasons as the Tennessee Titans' head coach. Vrabel spent last year consulting with the Cleveland Browns before the Patriots hired him to the helm.
So Vrabel is bringing a new flavor to the Patriots even if he learned from their longtime flavor.
Expect toughness, physicality, high effort and strong fundamentals. Think: The Patriots practiced in pads Sunday despite playing in a preseason game Friday night.
Violence (within the accepted realms of professional football) will be encouraged.
'Attacking, disruption, speed and violence,' Wolf described his personnel search.
'We want to be running to the ball, effort and finish, be violent,' Kuhr added. 'Unwavering violence and really just kind of want to strike fear into the opponent and kind of just put your will onto them.'
Wolf credited Vrabel as a head coach who 'was able to get more out of less at times on the roster,' as he elevated the Titans, Wolf joining players and coaches as impressed with Vrabel's level of accountability and attention to detail.
The Patriots may need time to augment the collection in the talent cupboard and build a winning program. But their identity should be evident imminently.
'Urgency, effort and attention to detail,' Wolf said. 'Guys have kind of stepped forward this year so far and have a chance to make the team.'