Patriots may have no choice but to bring back versatile free agent

"Although they trust and believe in the five-year veteran, the new regime has made it clear that they want to build the roster through the draft, and Stevenson is not a player they chose. That might explain why they've already met with running back prospects and are reportedly interested in a few."

"That could be Gibson, especially if other teams don't appear all that interested in signing him as a full-time returner. It's certainly possible they'll add another running back to the roster through the draft, but there's also a chance they strongly consider reuniting with a player they released heading into free agency, particularly due to their significant hole on special teams."

"Instead of continuing to send out different players each week to fill the role, it would be wise for the team to identify and use a player as a returner for the upcoming season. It's too inconsistent and risky to keep throwing in running backs and wide receivers each week; it would be far wiser to have a designated returner instead."

The Patriots are actively pursuing running back prospects in the draft despite selecting TreVeyon Henderson last year, with new regime leadership prioritizing roster building through the draft. Rhamondre Stevenson's future remains uncertain since he wasn't selected by the current regime. Beyond draft prospects, the team is considering re-signing Antonio Gibson, whom they released before free agency. Gibson previously contributed significantly to special teams as a returner before suffering an ACL injury. The Patriots face a notable gap in their special teams unit and would benefit from designating a consistent returner rather than rotating different players weekly. Gibson could fill this role effectively if he recovers and is willing to return to New England.

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