In New England, an elite Patriots fullback typically leads to division titles and championships. Jim Nance was a perennial All-Pro at the position throughout the 1960s. Sam Gash was more of the lead-blocking fullback in the early 1990s. While recent fans remember James Develin for his third-and-one touches turned conversions throughout the 2010s.
After the team hired Mike Vrabel last month, he teased the idea of bringing the position back to New England for the first time in three seasons. With the return of Josh McDaniels as the Patriots offensive coordinator, Vrabel appears to love the idea of adding a dedicated fullback this offseason.
Who Could Be the Patriots Fullback Next Season?
Mike Vrabel’s Fullbacks
Throughout his tenure in Tennessee, Vrabel utilized the fullback position in different ways. He never signed one specific player for the position. Instead, it was typically a new player each season.
Luke Stocker
When he was first hired in 2018, the Titans loved the idea of having a traditional fullback lead the way for their running backs. Luke Stocker, the current tight ends coach in Tennessee, was the first player Vrabel had in that role. He led the team with over 150 snaps at fullback and helped the Titans rush for over 2000 yards in 2018.
MyCole Pruitt
Tennessee had no problem re-creating their success in the run game the following season. The team signed Pruitt to replace Stocker and play the same amount of snaps. The production was even better. Pruitt paved the way for a rushing attack that put up 2200 yards on their way to a conference championship appearance in 2019.
Khari Blasingame
Following the 2019 season, Vrabel experimented with a different approach to the fullback position. Instead of using bigger-bodied tight ends, the Titans put Khari Blasingame at fullback. At 6-0, 233 pounds, Blasingame was nearly four inches shorter and 20 pounds lighter than previous Vrabel fullbacks.
In 2020, Blasingame knocked down defenders as the Titans’ lead blocker in the run game. He helped pave the way for an iconic Titans rushing attack that ran for over 2600 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Rotational Players
Blasingame was the last dedicated fullback for the Titans. Over the final three seasons of Vrabel’s tenure, he started rotating players with differentiating skill sets through the position. Receiving tight ends like Chigoziem Okonkwo would split time with blocking tight ends like Kevin Rader.
While this approach made the Titans’ offense more balanced, the rushing attack was never the same and neither was their record. Tennessee went just 13-21 without a traditional fullback.
Internal Options
In all likelihood, the Patriots fullback will be appointed through competition during training camp and the 2025 pre-season. A competition that is likely to include players currently under contract through next season.
With Austin Hooper set to hit free agency, the Patriots have four tight ends that could be internal options as the next Patriots fullback. Hunter Henry, Jaheim Bell, Jack Westover, and the recently signed Giovanni Ricci.
Giovanni Ricci
After being signed to a league-minimum futures deal last Monday, Ricci makes an interesting case to contribute at fullback next season. Vrabel spent considerable time working with Ricci as part of his role with the Browns coaching staff last season.
Between 2021 and 2023, Ricci appeared in 36 games with the Carolina Panthers, mainly on special teams. After 87 snaps at fullback in 2021, he took just 27 snaps at the position over the next two seasons in Carolina.
Ricci suffered an injury early in the 2023 season and was granted free agency by the Panthers. That offseason, Cleveland signed him to a one-year contract, allowing him to compete for a backup role with the Browns. During training camp, Ricci reportedly trained with Vrabel before being released prior to the team’s third and final preseason game.
At 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Ricci has incredibly similar measurements to Kevin Rader, the last tight end Vrabel utilized at tight end in Tennessee. Taking into account his measurables and experience with Vrabel, it is safe to consider Ricci the front-runner to be the next Patriots fullback.
Jack Westover
Between the three remaining tight ends under contract for next season, Westover has taken the most snaps at fullback. Over his five-year career at the University of Washington, he was a pretty productive offensive piece. Westover took over 150 snaps while lined up at fullback and posted an offensive grade of 63.1 according to Pro Football Focus.
Westover spent training camp with the Seahawks after he signed as an undrafted free agent earlier this year. He eventually landed with the Patriots practice squad in November and played just over 30 snaps with New England this season.
Aside from practice reps, Westover has made little impact at the NFL level. It’s tough to envision him at fullback with the Patriots next season. But like Ricci, he shares similar measurables to previous fullbacks that have worked with Vrabel. At 6-foot-4, 248 pounds, Westover shares a similar build and play style to current Titans tight end coach and former fullback Luke Stocker.
Jaheim Bell
As a rookie, Bell saw 84 snaps on offense with just nine of them at fullback. A position he doesn’t have much exposure to. Over four collegiate seasons, Bell totalled just over 40 snaps at the fullback position.
At 6-foot-2, 241 pounds, Bell is comparable to current Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, who played two seasons under Vrabel. The similarities go beyond just size for Bell. Ever since he was drafted by New England, he has always been regarded as more of a receiver than a blocker.
It would be hard to see Vrabel making Bell a traditional fullback. Instead, he could rotate Bell at the position to give McDaniels and the offense a receiver rather than a blocker at the fullback position.
Hunter Henry
Under Josh McDaniels, Henry lined up in the backfield 26 times for the Patriots in 2022. That being said, Henry is currently the best offensive weapon for New England. It would be hard to envision McDaniels transitioning a player like Henry to strictly fullback.
External Options for the Patriots at Fullback
If none of the players mentioned above fit what Vrabel and the Patriots are looking for at fullback, they could look to the draft, free agency, or maybe even some familiar faces.
Jakob Johnson
If the name sounds familiar to Patriots fans, Johnson was the last designated fullback in New England. After current offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels took the Raiders head coaching job, Johnson followed him to Las Vegas.
Johnson took over for mainstay fullback James Develin in 2020 and has played over 1000 snaps at fullback under the playcalling of McDaniels. Over the past four seasons, he has posted an average blocking grade of 62.7, according to Pro Football Focus.
Aside from the familiarity with McDaniels, Johnson would bring physicality at 6-foot-3, 255 pounds to go along with his furious ability as a lead blocker. He fits the compares similarly to all of the previous fullbacks to play under Vrabel and should New England be interested, Johnson is currently available on the free agent market.
Michael Burton
As one of the few designated fullbacks last season, Burton was among the best. He took just over 125 snaps at the position throughout the 2024 season and ranked second in both pass and run blocking among all fullbacks according to Pro Football Focus.
Burton is one of the best lead blockers in the league but his receiving ability shouldn’t go unnoticed. When targeted, Burton rarely drops the football. He secured all ten of his targets this season and even hauled in a touchdown catch against the Chargers.
Burton will be entering his 11th NFL season in 2025. As a potential free agent signing, he would bring physicality, versatility, and leadership to a young team. Qualities Vrabel would love to have led the Patriots at fullback.
Robbie Ouzts
There aren’t many prospects who would prefer to play the fullback position at the NFL level. Ouzts is one of the few players that would welcome that challenge. In November, he spoke about his desire to play the position full-time.
At 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, Ouzts would be on the bigger side in terms of the ideal fullback. Over his four years at the University of Alabama, the Crimson Tide considered him their best pure blocker at tight end.
Ouzts is a true throwback player who is willing to do the dirty work in the trenches. He aligns perfectly with everything Vrabel wants in not only a football player but a fullback. Current projections have Ouzts going undrafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Just because Vrabel mentioned the fullback position in an interview doesn’t mean he wants to bring it back to New England. But appointing Josh McDaniels, a known lover of the fullback position, as the Patriots offensive coordinator leads many to believe old-school football will be back in Foxborough.
Main Photo: George Walker IV / Tennessean.com-Imagn Content Services, LLC
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