The New England Patriots went all-offense on the first two days of the 2025 NFL Draft. Among the four players they brought aboard between Rounds 1 and 3 was one of the most exciting running back prospects in the class.
With the 38th overall pick in the second round of the draft, the Patriots selected TreVeyon Henderson out of Ohio State.
Hard facts
Name: TreVeyon Henderson
Position: Running back
Jersey number: 32
Opening day age: 22 (10/22/2002)
Measurements: 5’10 1/8”, 202 lbs, 76 1/8” wingspan, 30 3/4” arm length, 9 1/2” hand size, 4.43s 40-yard dash, 38 1/2” vertical jump, 10’8” broad jump, 8.87 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
NFL: New England Patriots (2025-) | College: Ohio State (2021-24)
A multi-sport athlete and two-way player on the gridiron, Henderson was a superstar at Hopewell High School in Hopewell, VA. Originally a wide receiver and defensive back, he took over as the Blue Devils’ starting running back as a junior in 2019 and promptly was named Virginia’s high school player of the year. Even though he did not play in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he was a highly sought-after recruit.
The five-star picked up almost three dozen scholarship offers, including from most of the biggest programs in the nation. His final choice came down to Ohio State or Oklahoma, and he decided to pick the Buckeyes as one of their top recruits in 2021. Henderson went on to spend his entire four-year college career in Columbus.
In total, he saw action in 47 games with 38 starts, registering a combined 4,614 scrimmage yards and scoring 48 touchdowns. He carried the ball 590 times for 3,761 yards and 42 scores while also adding 77 catches for 853 yards and six more TDs. Henderson was named All-Big Ten in all four of his seasons at Ohio State: he was a first-team selection in 2023, a second-team pick in 2021 and a honorable mention in both 2022 and 2024.
The Patriots picked Henderson up in the second round of this year’s draft. He was the fourth running back off the board, getting drafted two picks after his Ohio State teammate Quinshon Judkins.
Scouting report
Strengths: One of the most productive players in Ohio State history, Henderson has a proven and impressive track record going back to his days as a high school player. He has been able to put up standout numbers due to his explosive skillset: he accelerates quickly and is able to maintain his top speed well, making it difficult for opposing defenders to chase him down. He combines his speed with contact balance and lower-body flexibility; he is quick enough to step away from tackle attempts or juke opponents 1-on-1 in the open field.
Henderson’s compact build and natural athletic ability make him a fit for both zone and power schemes, and also allow him to be used in a variety of ways. Besides being a productive runner, he also has stood out as a receiver on multiple occasions. He tracks the ball well in the air even on downfield throws and has the concentration and body control to haul in over-the-shoulder passes without losing much of his stride.
One of Henderson’s best traits is his blocking, especially compared to other running backs entering the NFL: he was the best blocking back in the entire 2025 draft, with nobody really coming close to his pro-readiness in that area. He uses his leverage well and violently engages with defenders, oftentimes putting them on their backs due to his firm base and stout upper body. He reads and reacts well to what the defense is throwing at him in pass pro.
Henderson also has been praised for his leadership and ability to stay focused despite a change in role in 2024. He also entered the NFL with only two fumbles on his college résumé — both of which recovered by Ohio State — and none over the course of his 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
Weaknesses: While still only 22, Henderson has plenty of wear on his tires as well as an injury history that includes eight combined missed games over the 2022-2023 stretch of his college career. Not necessarily a physically imposing running back, he might be better suited for a rotational role rather than one as a full-time bell cow.
He also is not the most creative runner behind the line of scrimmage and is seemingly at his best within structure and the offensive line setting him up both in zone and man blocking. Additionally, his downfield receiving production and route tree beyond the line has been limited in college; he is, to a degree, a work in progress as a receiving back despite the physical skill to become a solid player in that area.
2024 review
Stats: 16 games (9 starts) | 490 offensive snaps, 11 special teams snaps | 144 carries, 1,016 yards (7.1 yards/carry), 10 TDs | 30 targets, 27 catches (90%), 284 yards, 1 TD | 3 pressures surrendered (3 hurries) | 8 kickoff returns, 67 yards (8.4 yards/return) | 1 penalty
Season recap: Having started 29 straight games coming into his 2024 senior season, Henderson saw his role within the Buckeyes’ offense change. With the aforementioned Quinshon Judkins joining the team as a transfer from Ole Miss, the team opted to use more of a rotational approach — one that resulted in Henderson starting only nine of his 16 games, including just two over the second half of the season.
Despite being put in a somewhat unfamiliar situation as far as his starting role was concerned, Henderson still played his most offensive snaps since his freshman campaign. He also had his best statistical season since his first year as a Buckeye in 2021.
Averaging just under 31 snaps, he touched the ball 10.7 times per game and finished with exactly 1,300 yards as well as 11 touchdowns. While not as productive as Judkins in terms of touches, rushing yards or touchdowns, Henderson was Ohio State’s most productive back in both volume and efficiency: he led the team in scrimmage yards while averaging 7.6 yards per touch — the highest such number of his career.
In general, Henderson was a big play just waiting to happen. He gained at least 10 yards on almost one fourth of his touches (22.1%) and scored four touchdowns of 30-plus yards (he would have had a fifth had he not slid down near the goal line to bleed some more clock against Indiana).
He also did not put the football on the ground even once while continuing to produce at a high level as a pass protector. Add the fact that he did not miss time due to injury for the first time in three years, and was voted a captain by his teammates, and you get a player who left college on a high note — and that is before mentioning that he played a pivotal role in Ohio State winning the National Championship for the first time in a decade.
In the team’s four playoff games, including a win over Notre Dame in the title game, Henderson contributed 265 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 36 carries. He also gained 149 receiving yards and scored a touchdown on eight catches.
2025 preview
Position: All-purpose RB | Ability: Fringe starter/Role player | Contract: Unsigned draft pick
What will be his role? With Rhamondre Stevenson as the No. 1 running back and primary early-down option, Henderson projects as a rotational player in the New England backfield as a rookie. As such, he will serve as the next man up as well as a player who can contribute on passing downs. Based on the open offseason workouts this spring, Henderson looks as if he will be the Patriots’ RB2 even ahead of change-of-pace option Antonio Gibson.
What is his growth potential? Despite being a rookie, Henderson was already fairly advanced as a prospect. There is natural room for growth relative to NFL competition, but he has the upside to become what he was in college: a big play threat and potential starter capable of filling a sizable role on all three offensive downs.
Does he have positional versatility? Within the context of the running back position, Henderson is indeed a fairly versatile player; he can produce independently of scheme and situation. This versatility also extends beyond the offensive side of the ball, at least to a degree: he returned nine kickoffs during his time at Ohio State, averaging 9.6 yards per runback.
What is his salary cap situation? As of Monday, July 7, Henderson does not count against the Patriots’ salary cap for one simple reason: he has yet to sign his rookie contract, making him the last of New England’s draft picks to do so. The holdup, which is still likely to be resolved before training camp, is tied to the guarantees (as is the case with a vast majority of second-round picks): there is uncertainty about how much of his eventual four-year, $11.14 million deal will be fully guaranteed upon signing.
Henderson ultimately putting his signature under a contact will, however, not change the structure of the deal as per the collectively-bargained rookie wage scale. The 2025 portion of it, for example, will come with a cap hit of $2.026 million that consists of an $840,000 base salary (including a guaranteed sum as of yet to be determined) as well as a $1.19 million signing bonus proration.
How safe is his roster spot? Once his contract is signed, Henderson will not just officially join the Patriots but also their ranks of roster locks. His draft status — let alone his abilities as a running back — guarantees that he will be on the 53-man team come September barring any incident or accident.
Summary: Given his speed, ball security and pass protection skills, the Patriots placing a high value on Henderson in the draft did not come as a surprise. And while it remains to be seen how well he will adapt to life in the NFL, his potential is enticing while his presence could have a transformative effect on the team’s offense.
