The Patriots used a pair of seventh-round picks to move up and grab Alabama RB Jam Miller on Saturday. It's a modest investment in a position where depth matters, and frankly, it's exactly the kind of move that should make sense for a team that's clearly thinking about complementary pieces around Drake Maye rather than marquee names.
Here's the thing: running back is arguably the easiest position to hit on in Day 3. You're not looking for a Pro Bowler. You're looking for a guy who can spell Rhamondre Stevenson, pick up the tough yard, and maybe contribute on special teams. The Patriots already have Stevenson as the lead back, with depth behind him in Prince, Mitchell, and Henderson. Miller fills a need without demanding capital that could be used elsewhere—and that's smart roster construction.
Eliot Wolf and Mike Vrabel have been methodical about building this roster. They're not reaching. They're not panicking. A seventh-rounder on a back from Alabama's system—a place that develops running backs—is low-risk, high-upside for this stage of the draft. If Miller hits, you've got a productive backup. If he doesn't, you've lost almost nothing in the grand scheme of cap space and roster spots.
The trade aspect is worth noting too. Using both 245 and 247 to move up suggests the Patriots felt confident about their board at this position. There was someone they wanted specifically, not just any seventh-round running back. That kind of conviction—even in Day 3—usually means the scouting department has real intel.
This is exactly what competent front offices do in the middle rounds. They don't overdraft for need. They don't ignore opportunities at positions where value exists. They find guys with upside, prove them wrong, and occasionally hit lottery tickets. Miller might be that lottery ticket. Either way, it's a rational move from a Patriots team that's finally playing chess instead of checkers.