The New England Patriots head into the 2025 season full of optimism. The team drafted Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Maye flashed in his rookie season, completing 66.6% of his passes for 2276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Maye gave the front office hope that he could be the team’s franchise quarterback for the next 10 years, and the plan now is to build an offense around him. The Patriots drafted Will Campbell, TreVeyon Henderson, and Kyle Williams to improve the offense, while adding Stefon Diggs and Morgan Moses in free agency.
Henderson joins a running back room that features Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, and the former Ohio State running back is talented enough to skip to the front of the line and be the Patriots’ starting running back. His arrival also puts Gibson’s place on the roster in jeopardy.
According to Jacob Infante of PFSN, Gibson could be a surprising cut candidate for the Patriots heading into training camp.
Gibson was drafted by the Washington Commanders in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft and entered with buzz. Talent has never been an issue for Gibson, who has averaged 4.2 yards per carry in five years, rushing for 3181 yards and 23 touchdowns, while adding 195 catches for 1489 yards and seven receiving touchdowns.
“After the New England Patriots selected TreVeyon Henderson in Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, Antonio Gibson finds himself demoted to third-string running back on their depth chart,” Infante writes. “He might not make the 53-man roster at all if the Patriots want to cut costs.”
Gibson signed a three-year $11.25 million deal with the Patriots in 2024 and is set to make $4.5 million against the cap this season, which isn’t a small amount of change for someone whose role could significantly decrease.
“Releasing Gibson would save New England roughly $2.3 million in cap space this year. They signed Travyeon Williams this offseason, and he’s much more experienced on special teams than Gibson is,” Infante adds. “If the Patriots keep three running backs and a fullback in Brock Lampe, then Gibson could be the odd man out.”
Gibson is still a talented running back, but has struggled with ball security in his five years in the league, fumbling 14 times, including twice with the Patriots in 2024, though his 4.5 yards per carry was his highest since 2020.
