5 Ways the New England Patriots Are Revitalizing The Rushing Attack For 2026

The New England Patriots entered the 2026 offseason with a clear focus on breathing new life into their offensive line.

The challenges were clear in pass protection during their playoff run, when quarterback Drake Maye was sacked an NFL postseason-record 21 times — but the issues ran deeper than that. New England’s offensive line play impacted the running game throughout the year, rendering the offense one-dimensional for large stretches.

During the regular season, the Patriots finished as a top-10 team in overall rushing yardage (2,191 rushing yards, sixth in the NFL), but ranked in the bottom-10 in efficiency on running plays (-1.54 expected points added, 23rd in the NFL).

The inability to rely consistently on the rushing attack played a major role in Super Bowl LX, as Maye shouldered much of the offensive load in the biggest game of the year. In addition to his passing, he led the team with five carries and 37 yards on scramble attempts. New England running backs accounted for just 13 carries and 42 yards (3.2 yards per carry).

When the NFL calendar turned to the offseason, it became evident how much weight the Patriots’ playoff performance held in their roster decisions. Improving the offensive line and supplementing the running game was a top priority on offense; on paper, it looks like they have already made strong strides toward addressing those areas.

Let’s take a closer look at the changes New England made up front, and how they may lead to a more balanced offense in 2026.

The reshuffling of the Patriots’ offensive line began before the new league year officially kicked off, as 2025 starting center Garrett Bradbury was sent to the Chicago Bears in a deal that netted New England a 2027 fifth-round pick.

Bradbury was solid for the Patriots in his lone stint with the team — starting all 21 games and setting a career-best mark with no sacks allowed in the regular season. At first glance, he was rarely an issue along the front.

But he also didn’t light the world on fire. Per PFF, Bradbury received his highest marks in pass blocking (63.1, 23rd of 40 qualifying centers), but struggled in run blocking (56.2, 35th of 40), and graded out as the 30th-highest-rated center in the league (60.1 overall grade).

He was credited with sacks allowed in the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl, and allowed 5+ pressures for just the second time all season against the Seattle Seahawks (6 pressures vs. Seattle and Week 10 at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

Bradbury’s quick exit was not likely due to his performance alone. More reasonably, he was moved as a cap casualty to save roughly $7 million on the 2026 books — and more importantly, to provide an opening for Jared Wilson to step in as the team’s long-term solution at center.

Wilson started at left guard for New England in his rookie season after spending his final collegiate season at center. The results showed flashes of potential amidst some frustration. In the regular season, Wilson allowed four sacks… and matched that number in four postseason games. He was credited with two sacks allowed in Super Bowl LX, and totaled 41 pressures allowed in 17 games. He received a 49.9 overall blocking grade on PFF, which ranked 72nd of 81 qualifying guards.

Vrabel recently commented on Wilson’s season-long position switch, explaining that the move was to ensure the team fielded their best five offensive linemen — and that Wilson had also been preparing weekly at both guard and center.

Coming out of Georgia, Wilson ranked as the second-highest graded center of 622 qualifying since 1987 in Relative Athletic Score (RAS), posting a 9.98 out of 10. His 4.9-second 40-yard dash and 1.71-second 10-yard split ranked especially high for the 6’3”, 310 lb. prospect, and that agility showed on tape.

At center, Wilson’s athleticism will shine. He’ll be uncovered on most plays, with the freedom to chip and advance to the second level on run plays, and help pick up interior games and stunts on passing downs.

Bradbury was the first domino to fall in fortifying the front, but it’s more a sign of confidence in the player Wilson projects to develop into at center in the future.

Wilson’s move to center was solidified when the Patriots signed Pro Bowl guard Alijah Vera-Tucker in free agency. He joins the front as another uber-athletic lineman to add to the mix… as has become customary of Vrabel’s reconstruction of the offensive line through two offseasons.

Last year, it was Campbell and Wilson who came in as athletic outliers. Now, Vera-Tucker adds agility, strength, and proven production to the left side of the offensive line.

Vera-Tucker enters Foxboro on a three-year, $42 million contract after missing the 2025 season due to a torn tricep — his third season-ending injury in five seasons. He comes with some risk, but New England structured his deal with heavy incentives tied to per-game roster bonuses ($250,000 per game) as protection.

Even with injury concerns, Vera-Tucker is an immediate upgrade at left guard. In 2024, he allowed a league-best 2.8% pressure rate, and graded as the 11th-highest ranked guard (of 77 qualifying) with a 77.7 overall grade, per PFF. He held a run blocking grade of 76.3 (12th of 77) and a pass blocking grade of 74.5.

He was named to the Pro Bowl for his contributions the last time he saw the field, but his positive impact on the New York Jets offensive line spans years before that.

As a tackle-to-guard convert out of USC, Vera-Tucker ranked fifth in overall athleticism score for 2021 linemen, ran a sub-5.1-second 40-yard dash (80th percentile) and bench pressed 225 lbs. 36 times at his Pro Day.

He began his NFL career at left guard before switching primarily to right guard — aligning next to Morgan Moses at right tackle — in the following three seasons, and has taken snaps at both tackle positions.

He’ll be a connecting link along the front. With Wilson on his right and Will Campbell on his left, Vera-Tucker will be tasked with communicating protection changes to the younger starters — helping clean up many of the mistakes made during their challenging 2025 postseason run.

Vera-Tucker is a versatile piece that can plug-and-play at every position along the offensive line. While his injury concerns may be real, the 26-year-old still has tons of potential and will be a cornerstone piece of the offensive line over the next several years. With Mike Onwenu on an expiring (and much more expensive at $25 million) contract, Vera-Tucker gives New England insurance at the position in the future.

Whether it’s his high-level performance, his previous experience with Moses, his position versatility, or veteran leadership — Vera-Tucker checks every box on the New England guard wishlist.

The fullback is back in Foxboro, and in a big way.

Aligning behind Wilson at center and Vera-Tucker at guard will be former Buffalo Bills fullback Reggie Gilliam, who inked a three-year deal with the Patriots in free agency. Gilliam’s presence will be felt in the efficiency of the running game, where the Patriots struggled to sustain consistent momentum in 2025 — particularly for TreVeyon Henderson.

Gilliam enters the room as PFF’s highest-graded fullback of 2025 across-the-board. He ranked first in the league in run blocking (75.1), pass blocking (89.6), and overall grade (72.4) among 10 qualifying fullbacks.

His arrival represents a reversal of fortunes for New England at the position. Last season, the Patriots converted rookie free agent tight end Jack Westover to fullback following a season-ending injury for fellow rookie free agent fullback Brock Lampe in the preseason.

Westover’s performance improved as the season went along, but he still finished last in the league in overall grade for fullbacks (45.4). He struggled meeting blockers in the hole, and was commonly beaten to the point of attack by linebackers who blew up plays for little-to-no gain.

Gilliam specializes as an athletic fullback who shines when moving laterally across the line of scrimmage on running plays. He’s proven most useful as a lead blocker on counter runs, and has previously threatened as a receiving threat out of the backfield to pair with his blocking chops.

He’ll be tasked with opening holes at the second level of the defense, and his proven track record of success with those assignments is an exciting proposition. With a reliable lead blocker, Henderson’s ability to bust open explosive runs will be highlighted when tracking behind the fullback.

Gilliam may not be the downhill road-grader New England fans are accustomed to at the position, but he does fit the profile the Patriots are looking for with their current blocking personnel. Josh McDaniels’ offense needs a fullback, and Gilliam symbolizes the return of that position in the primary offensive scheme.

One more essential component to a consistent rushing attack was set in place with the signing of tight end Julian Hill.

The former Miami Dolphin signed with the Patriots on a three-year agreement worth up to $18 million, and will be paid handsomely to fill in as the “Y” tight end in the New England rotation.

Hill will make his money as a blocker in the run game, and has done so through this point of his three-year career. A former undrafted rookie free agent signing by Miami, Hill has taken 66% of his career offensive snaps as a blocker while catching just 33 passes.

His arrival coincided with the departure of Austin Hooper, but Hill brings more upside as a blocking specialist in an offense that used two-tight end sets on over 46.8% of their offensive plays in 2025.

He’ll take pressure off Hunter Henry to fill that role, after Henry (31) logged a career-high 398 run blocking snaps in 2025. Henry averaged 223 run blocking snaps per season in his five previous seasons with the Patriots.

Hill’s presence on the line of scrimmage will allow Henry more flexibility to align as the “F” tight end, and help showcase his effectiveness as a receiving target over the middle of the field. Aligned as a “chipper” on pass blocking downs, Hill will be a more effective assistant for tackles Campbell and Moses. On run blocking downs, Hill will fire off the ball and help secure the edge for New England rushers with impressive play strength and consistent effort and finish.

Regardless of what the Patriots decide to do with the tight end position with other roster movement for 2026 and beyond, Hill will serve as a complementary piece in both arsenals of attack.

The final piece of the puzzle in improving New England’s rushing attack in 2026 is not an external addition. Rather, the projected internal development of several young core players on the roster will help the ground game ascend to new heights, with the assistance of those previously mentioned acquisitions.

Campbell and Wilson would top this list for offensive linemen, but the more visible growth on a game-by-game basis will be in the backfield. After showing flashes of the explosive traits that made him worthy of a top-40 selection in his rookie campaign, Henderson is primed for a Year-Two breakout.

Prior to 2025, it had been common practice for McDaniels’ offenses to “redshirt” rookie running backs — giving them the opportunity to learn the intricacies of pass protection and patience in a gap-scheme dependent ground game. Both were areas that Henderson struggled to sustain production in during his first season, but that didn’t keep him off the field for long.

In the 2025 regular season, Henderson’s rushing averages looked promising on the surface. He ran for 911 yards on 180 attempts (5.1 yards per carry) and scored nine rushing touchdowns. His natural athleticism was on display on several occasions, as he accrued 18 rushes of 10+ yards and 10 rushes of 15+ yards.

On those 15+ yard “breakaway runs”, Henderson tallied 361 yards — accounting for 39.6% of his overall rushing yardage on the season. Without those runs included in his per-rush average, his yards-per-carry dipped to just 3.23 yards. He lacked consistency on runs between the tackles, and will need to show improved vision on gap scheme runs to be a more effective back on a down-in, down-out basis.

With a full offseason to refine those areas — and the added benefit of reinforcements on the surrounding line — Henderson could daylight at a more consistent rate in 2026.

Not all of the rushing load will fall on Henderson. Rhamondre Stevenson showed renewed confidence down the stretch of the 2025 regular season and into the playoffs. Following the Patriots Week 14 Bye, Stevenson rushed 87 times for 496 yards (5.7 yards-per-carry) and scored four touchdowns including the postseason.

Stevenson’s high-level performance carried the offense at several points during that run, and marked a sort of “return to form” for the New England running back after struggling with fumbles during 2024 and the early portion of 2025. He looked to carry the ball with more confidence, and was reliable as a pass blocker and receiving option out of the backfield.

A projected Year-Two leap from Henderson paired with a renewed Stevenson gives the Patriots a dynamic one-two punch in the backfield. The additions that New England made to the line around them were made to help facilitate their growth as players and key contributors in the offense.

From a switch at center to a big swing at guard, designated additional blockers and a second-year leap in the Vrabel-McDaniels regime, the Patriots run game is set to look much different when the team takes the field in 2026.

Not only will their additions make a profound impact during their next run; they’re positioned to be impact players for several years as New England lays the foundation for a perennial contender.

They’ve already shown the ability to generate explosive plays on the ground. Now, they’ll look to sustain efficiency to better support Maye and the passing game.

Supporting Maye is a key that is sure to carry over into the Patriots draft strategy. And that’s where our attention will turn as we near April.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on potential fits for New England in the coming weeks.

What do you think will be the biggest difference in the Patriots’ rushing attack in 2026? Where do they still need to add talent? Let us know in the comments section below.

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