What Are the Patriots' Remaining Options at Running Back?

For the New England Patriots, perhaps the biggest surprise to come out of the 2016 NFL draft was the team's failure to add a running back.

But was it a failure? Or was it a decision? With seven running backs already on the roster, it's not a reach to imagine that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick feels the numbers at the position are already strong enough. 

But now, as the defending AFC East champions head into their first practices of the spring, they'll be starting off the 2016 calendar year with two running backs atop their depth chart who both finished the 2015 season on injured reserve. LeGarrette Blount and Dion Lewis are projected to be the top backs headed into the season. 

With James White, Tyler Gaffney, Brandon Bolden, D.J. Foster and Donald Brown all vying for what's likely to be two more roster spots, it's safe to say that at least one current Patriots back will be a former Patriots back, available on the open market by the end  of summer.

But what happens if the Patriots get to camp and find that not only are Blount and Lewis less than their former selves, but their backup options still aren't much better than backup options? Are there any options left?

There are still some undrafted free agents available. The Patriots already dipped into that pool once by signing Foster, but there are a couple of options if they want to add more young undrafted talent to the fold. South Carolina running back Brandon Wilds has the prototypical build of a power back (6'1", 220 pounds) and could push for carries on first and second down. 

He's not impressive with electric speed or ankle-breaking quickness, but NFL.com's Lance Zierlein describes him as a hard runner who "lowers [his] shoulder into contact and continues to [churn] his feet." 

One look at an updated list of free-agent running backs from Over The Cap shows the outlook is bleak. Unless the Patriots want to call on someone like Pierre Thomas (207 carries, 835 yards, four touchdowns past three seasons) or Bernard Pierce (251 carries, 813 yards, four touchdowns past three seasons), they might be better off with what they have.

After all, most of the available free agents are still available for good reason—whether it's a history of injuries or diminishing talent (for Thomas and Pierce, it is probably a combination of both). 

But one back not mentioned on that list is former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster. When Foster was released, there was a thought that his reputation could earn him a quick offer and a good opportunity with a contending team in need of a running back. Nothing has materialized in the two months since Foster's release, though, so it may be time for the Patriots to examine his fit in the offense. 

Looking at the current situation, the Patriots have three options: they can add a young, inexperienced back as an undrafted free agent; they can add a seasoned veteran nearing the end of his career; or they can do nothing and roll with the seven running backs on the roster.

Never rule anything out, but the longer the Patriots wait, the further behind any incoming player will be in the prep for 2016—and any lost time would immediately hurt their chances of making the final roster.

The Patriots must decide quickly—that is, if they haven't decided already. 

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