English
Español
Deutsch
The New England Patriots’ running back position was mostly a two-man show in 2025, with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson the clear top two options on the roster. Heading into 2026, however, there are questions about the depth behind them and how the team might try to improve it.
One option would be to keep exclusive rights free agent Deneric Prince in the fold. Could that happen, though? Let’s assess his situation.
Hard facts
Name: Deneric Prince
Position: Running back
Jersey number: 30
Opening day age: 26 (4/11/2000)
Measurements: 5’11 3/4”, 216 lbs, 31 1/4” arm length, 9 1/4” hand size, 4.41s 40-yard dash, 6.97s 3-cone drill, 4.33s short shuttle, 35 1/2” vertical jump, 10’4” broad jump, 18 bench press reps, 9.58 Relative Athletic Score
Experience
NFL teams: Kansas City Chiefs (2023), Miami Dolphins (2024), New England Patriots (2025-) | College: Texas A&M (2018-19), Tulsa (2020-22)
A three-star recruit out of Manvel, TX, High School, Prince decided to remain in his home state and joining Texas A&M out of 13 scholarship offers. He spent two seasons with the Aggies, but appeared in only one game as a true freshman and none as a sophomore. As a result of his lack of opportunities, he transferred to Tulsa in 2020.
In three seasons as a Golden Hurricane, he saw action in 26 contests with 12 starts and registered a combined 1,885 scrimmage yards as well as 15 touchdowns. Despite some solid production and strong pre-draft testing numbers, Prince went unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft.
He subsequently joined the Chiefs as a free agent and spent his entire rookie campaign on Kansas City’s practice squad, getting elevated to the game-day squad on two occasions and finishing with 15 special teams snaps. He did earn a Super Bowl ring, but was let go by the team the following summer. After a season-long stint on the Dolphins’ practice squad in 2024, Prince decided to take his talents to the UFL.
Six months later, he returned to the NFL as a member of the Patriots.
2025 review
Stats: N/A
Season recap: After not being retained by the Dolphins coming out of the 2024 season, Prince made the move to the UFL. He went onto appear in 10 games with the Memphis Showboats during the league’s 2025 season and as a running back and kick returner registered 666 all-purpose yards.
Two weeks after his team’s final game, Prince was given another opportunity in the NFL. The Patriots brought him in for a workout in mid-June — a sign of things to come. While they refrained from initially adding him to their 90-man offseason roster, they did eventually pick him up two months later after Rhamondre Stevenson and Terrell Jennings were forced to miss practice time in training camp.
However, Prince’s stint on New England’s active roster was short-lived. He was signed on Aug. 10 and two days later was waived again; in between, he did not take the practice field even once.
Since the Patriots waived Prince with an injury designation, he eventually reverted to season-ending injured reserve after going unclaimed. His third NFL season therefore only lasted around 48 hours.
Free agency preview
Free agency status: Exclusive rights free agent (ERFA)
What is his contract history? Prince signed a standard three-year deal upon joining the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent, but the deal was cut short when he was released ahead of his first cutdown day. He earned some money with the Kansas City and Miami practice squads, but his most lucrative season actually came in 2025: while on New England’s IR, he earned $515,000 — almost half of his combined career earnings of $1.3 million.
Which teams might be in the running? Teams such as the Texans, Cowboys, Commanders, Falcons, Saints, Cardinals or his ex-club, the Chiefs, are all in the market for some running back help and could therefore decide to go after Prince should he make it to free agency. Of course, as a relatively young backup running back with return experience, other clubs also might look at him to help fill out their 90-man rosters.
Why should he be expected back? New England’s depth behind Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson is suspect at the moment. Prince would be a project coming off a year-long stint on IR, but he does have some theoretical experience in the system and some baseline athleticism.
Why should he be expected to leave? Prince’s stint with the Patriots last summer could have been an email, and the team doesn’t even list him on its website at the moment. An oversight or already a sign of things to come? Both could be possible considering that he has been an unremarkable player so far in the NFL and the club very well could look for alternative candidates with a higher developmental upside to provide depth at RB.
What is his projected free agency outcome? The Patriots will neither use an ERFA tender to keep Prince in the fold nor re-sign him in any other way.
Now it’s your turn to play GM: What would you do with Deneric Prince? Re-sign him either by tendering him or with a free agency contract? Or simply let him go? Please head down to the comment section to share your plan.