The New England Patriots re-signed running back LeGarrette Blount today to a one-year deal, but the team's work at the position may be far from over. The Patriots finished the 2015 season with the third-fewest rushing yards per game (87.8) and the fourth-lowest yards per carry average (3.7) in the league. They know they need to get better in that area.
While Blount is a bruiser and Dion Lewis is a solid pass-catching option, neither can be relied upon full-time. That is why Utah's Devontae Booker is a perfect fit for New England.
Booker's pro day is today, and then later this week he'll meet with the Patriots and the Miami Dolphins, according to a recent report. Booker may be coming off a knee injury that excluded him from participating in February's scouting combine, but when healthy he's a handful in the backfield.
New England has been immensely successful without a dominant or even average running game in recent years. But with Tom Brady approaching his 39th birthday, the team would be best served by grabbing a capable tailback to alleviate some pressure from Brady. The QB was absolutely manhandled by Denver's defense in the AFC title game and the threat of an even halfway decent running game would help to avoid poundings like that in the future. As ESPN NFL Insider Field Yates wrote a few years back, "a running back can be a clock-controlling, first-down achieving weapon with the right tools and line in front of him."
Booker has solid size at 5-foot-10 and 219 pounds and comes with a high football IQ and a solid pair of hands. He's a capable blocker and he can contribute on special teams as well. Some scouts have compared him to Chicago Bears 2015 fourth-rounder Jeremy Langford.
In 10 games last year, Booker carried the ball 268 times for 1,261 yards (4.7 YPC) and 11 touchdowns while catching 37 passes for 318 yards. However, he has also fumbled the ball a whopping 16 times in his college career.
Booker is a solid prospect, but his fumble history and injury concerns do make him somewhat of a risk. Still, he would be a solid Day 2 pick for a Patriots team that is looking for more balance on offense.
Follow Brandon Katz at @Great_Katzby
