The Patriots might explore the possibility of acquiring a running back to improve their rushing attack. Writers have connected New England to New York Jets running back Breece Hall and Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry as key names to keep an eye on.
Trading for Hall and Henry is likely expensive, so if New England is looking for a more budget-friendly option, it might have to settle for a No. 2 back instead of a No. 1.
98.5 The Sports Hub’s Matt Dolloff thinks Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford could be a player to watch for.
“Another running back name to watch is the Browns’ Jerome Ford,” Dolloff wrote on Thursday. “He’s only on a one-year deal with Cleveland, so he’d arrive to the Patriots as a short-term answer. But Ford has become expendable, after the Browns selected Quinshon Judkins in the second round and Dylan Sampson in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“Ford has gotten only 38 touches through six games in 2025 for the Browns, who come to Foxborough to face the Patriots in Week 8, nine days before the trade deadline.”
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Cleveland currently holds a 1-5 record, and with its playoff hopes slim, it will likely trade some veteran players. The Browns have already traded quarterback Joe Flacco and cornerback Greg Newsome, who will become a free agent after this season. Ford could be next on the chopping block.
Ford shines as a pass-catching back in an offense that advances the ball effectively, a trait Cleveland rarely displays — except in 2023. He recorded 44 receptions for 319 yards and five touchdowns that season.
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