RHAMONDRE STEVENSON | OKLAHOMA 5’11” 231 lbs. 2/23/1998 (Age 23)
Rhamondre Stevenson was drafted Round 4 Pick 15 overall by the New England Patriots, becoming the seventh running back and 120th overall player in the 2021 NFL Draft.
COLLEGE TAPE
Running: Stevenson is a bowling ball of a running back. In college, he wasn’t a threat to take any play to the house, but he was a guy that defenses were sick of trying to tackle by the end of the game. He throws his 231 lbs. Around with purpose and it showed on tape. He doesn’t bring a lot of speed to the game, which hurt him a lot on outside runs where his momentum seemed to carry him out of bounds often, but he does have a stiff arm that punished smaller defensive players. His vision behind the line was inconsistent. He’s quick to put his head down and truck forward, which worked against him several times on tape as I saw holes open up not far after he looked down. In the NFL, Stevenson will fit best as an interior runner, especially near the goal line.
Receiving: Rhamondre Stevenson only caught 28 passes over the last two years at Oklahoma, but he showed soft hands out of the backfield. It was a nice surprise to see someone with his running style catching the ball so cleanly. The cons here lie solely in his ability to win as a route runner. The only routes we’ll see Stevenson run are swing routes and screens.
Pass Blocking: He was used in pass protection very often on tape. Stevenson wasn’t afraid to take on any defenders with his big frame and I rarely saw him get knocked backward. He’s very good in pass pro but will need to get quicker with his footwork so that he can identify and move to blitzing defenders.
DRAFT ANALYSIS
Rapid Reaction to Draft Capital: Average
Rapid Reaction to Landing Spot: Poor
FANTASY INSIGHTS
Bill Belichick must’ve really missed having someone in that LeGarrette Blount role because Rhamondre Stevenson is a bowling ball running back who can fill that need immediately. From a fantasy perspective, this is a terrible landing spot because trying to figure out who the Patriots are going to utilize each week is still a nightmare. However, it seems like Belichick is trying to build up his defense and establish players in key roles on his offense that have worked for him in the past. The Patriots’ backfield is now a mess filled with Damien Harris, Sony Michel, James White, Branden Bolden, JJ Taylor, and Stevenson. Stevenson will project to Harris has two years left, while Michel is entering his last year unless New England decides to pick up his option next year. Stevenson is an interesting late third or early fourth-round pick due to the fact that the Blount role has been relevant in the past. But it’s so crowded right now, that you’re hoping he can survive next year’s draft too before really adding much to your fantasy teams and that’s a bet I’m not hoping to take.
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