Mike Vrabel added depth to the running back room with Jam Miller in the seventh round, and it's the kind of move that actually makes sense for what this coaching staff is trying to build. Miller from Alabama gives the Patriots another body in a crowded backfield that already includes Rhamondre Stevenson, Deneric Prince, Elijah Mitchell, and others. Late-round RB picks aren't about finding a Day 1 difference-maker—they're about finding scheme fits and special teams contributors who can push for roster spots in camp.
Here's what matters: Vrabel's system values downhill runners who can operate in a physical offense. Miller fits that mold. He's the type of back who understands leverage and isn't afraid of contact. In the seventh round, when you're looking at players who project as depth pieces and potential role players, character and coachability matter as much as explosiveness. That's a safer bet in Round 7 than reaching for another receiver or defensive back your scouts have already passed on twice.
The running back group is deep, sure. But depth is durable when injuries happen—and they always do. Miller gives Vrabel and GM Eliot Wolf insurance, someone who can take reps in training camp and either earn a spot on the practice squad or become an emergency contributor if the injury bug bites. There's no wasted capital here. He's not blocking a talented prospect from playing time.
The grade: This is solid work. Not flashy, not a home run, but the kind of low-risk, situationally appropriate pick that successful teams make in Round 7. Miller has to make the team, obviously, but Vrabel's offense has a track record of maximizing role players who fit the system. If he sticks around, he'll have opportunities. If he doesn't, the Patriots lose nothing but a seventh-rounder they were going to spend anyway.