FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — In a quiet moment before the second day of the 2025 NFL Draft, Eliot Wolf sat down to review his three favorite players still on the board.
The New England Patriots vice president of player personnel pulled up a reel of 100 or so carries Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson had attempted against what Wolf considered “good” teams. Wolf didn’t make it through all 100.
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“I watched 15 runs and I was like, ‘What am I doing? This is the guy,’” Wolf told Yahoo Sports on Sunday. “We have way bigger needs than running back and still do. But it was just an opportunity to get a weapon potentially there in the second round.”
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The Patriots selected Henderson with the 38th overall pick.
On the first play of their preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Friday, he reminded them why.
Henderson fielded the game’s kickoff at the goal line before racing up the left side of the field. He sped past the first oncoming defenders near the Patriots’ 20, leaving at least three Commanders sprawled before he hit the 50 and completed his flight path.
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As 12 seconds ticked off the game clock, Henderson arrived in the end zone for a 100-yard return touchdown.
“Those home run-hitting backs, that’s huge,” Patriots center Garrett Bradbury told Yahoo Sports. “I think that’s demoralizing for a defense when you can break a 60-yard run, 70-yard run, which he has the capability.
“Give him a little space and it’s gone.”
Head coach Mike Vrabel considered the field position advantage that could follow.
“Teams are going to put the ball in play, and if they don’t and if they’re like, ‘Well, these guys are going to hit an explosive, then we’re just going to give it to ’em at the 35,’” Vrabel told Yahoo Sports. “So that’s good for us either way if we can make that a weapon.”
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Henderson also chipped in with 12…
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