The New England Patriots had a simple plan in mind heading into the 2024 season. They wanted to play a run-heavy style of offense in order to a) ease some pressure off of quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett or Drake Maye, and b) control the tempo of the game to play into what was, on paper, a strong defensive unit.
As part of those efforts, the Patriots invested a three-year contract in former Washington Commanders running back Antonio Gibson. Even though the overall plan did not materialize, Gibson himself had some encouraging moments.
Measurements: 6'0 3/8", 228 lbs, 75 1/2" wingspan, 31 1/8" arm length, 8 5/8" hand size, 4.39s 40-yard dash, 35" vertical jump, 9'10" broad jump, 16 bench press reps, 9.59 Relative Athletic Score
NFL: Washington Football Team/Commanders (2020-23), New England Patriots (2024-) | College: East Central Community College (2016-17), Memphis (2018-19)
A multi-sport athlete at Eagle's Landing in McDonough, GA, Gibson's versatility also extended to the gridiron, where he played wide receiver, quarterback and safety. Despite a productive high school career, his grades prevented him from getting rated and he eventually joined East Central Community College for two years. He later transferred to Memphis as a three-star juco recruit, and over the course of two seasons caught 44 passes for 834 yards and 10 touchdowns.
In addition to his work as a slot receiver, he also was used as a part-time running back and registered 33 carries for 369 yards and 4 scores during his senior campaign with the Tigers -- a sign of things to come. Gibson made the full-time move to the position upon entering the NFL in 2020.
Despite a relative lack of experience, Gibson was selected 66th overall by Washington in the third round of the 2020 draft. He ended up spending four years with the Commanders, appearing in 62 combines games and registering 3,961 yards from scrimmage as well as 29 touchdowns. However, his opportunities steadily decreased after a 1,331-yard season as a sophomore in 2021 which in turn paved the way for him to come to Foxborough.
Gibson joined the Patriots in March 2024 via a three-year, $11.25 million contract.
Strengths: Gibson is a well-built player, who carries 228 pounds easily while still moving quite well. His mix of straight-line speed, explosivity and agility allow him to be effective in a variety of blocking schemes and also allow him to be used in a variety of ways as a receiver; he is not just your classic backfield option in the passing game, but also can line up in the slot and split out wide without skipping a beat.
Gibson times his cutbacks well and combines a good vision with the ability to keep his feet moving through contact. In general, he is not easy to bring down and shows good contact balance and pad level. He also has good, natural hands as a receiver and is quick to transition from receiver to runner. He furthermore is competitive and willingness as a pass protector, and reads his keys patiently.
Weaknesses: Gibson functions best in open space and lacks the pure power to push the pile and attack holes with a purpose; he is more comfortable cutting to the outside than running downhill which at times will lead to missed opportunities. He is therefore best used in a specialized role rather than as an every-down and every-scheme back. He also has run hot and cold in terms of ball security, fumbling a total of 14 times over the course of his career, including twice as a Patriot in 2024.
Stats: 17 games (3 starts) | 359 offensive snaps (32.9%), 73 special teams snaps (16.7%) | 120 carries, 538 yards (4.5 yards/carry), 1 TD | 29 targets, 23 catches (79.3%), 206 yards | pressures surrendered (2 sacks, 2 hurries) | 9 kickoff returns, 239 yards (26.6 yards/return) | 1 drop (3.4%), 2 fumbles
Season recap: The first outside signing of the Patriots' post-Bill Belichick era, Gibson and the team reached agreement on a three-year free agency deal on the first day of the legal tampering period. The pact itself was representative of New England's intentions for the fifth-year man: he was brought aboard to play a prominent complementary role alongside lead back Rhamondre Stevenson, something he indeed did during the 2024 season.
However, the story of Gibson's first year as a Patriot is more complicated than the stats would suggest. Despite appearing in 17 games with three starts and finishing the season ranked second on the team with 744 yards from scrimmage, the team's new coaching staff seemingly had a hard time figuring out how to best use him to his strengths.
While he was on the field for a combined 225 passing game snaps -- a share of 62.7 percent of his total snaps, the second-highest number of his career -- he was the target of only 29 passes throughout the season. Not only did that number rank just eighth among the Patriots' skill position players, it also was the lowest of his career so far.
His playing time also fluctuated throughout the season. After being on the field for 34.9 percent of offensive snaps over the first six weeks, that number dropped to only 15.2 percent over the next five. From Week 12 on, it jumped to 46.3 percent -- including his first three games above 50 percent to close out the year.
When he was on the field and given the opportunity to make plays with the ball in his hands, though, Gibson was generally productive. His 4.5 yards per carry ranked first among the team's running backs, and he ranked second in the NFL among qualifying RBs with an average of 3.91 yards after contact.
He also was able to generate 9.0 yards per reception. His 9.3 yard-after-catch average ranked first on the team and 15th in the NFL.
In addition, Gibson was the Patriots' most productive kickoff returner in 2024. Ranking second behind only JaMycal Hasty's 10 returns, he gained 239 yards for an average of 26.6 yards per his 9 runbacks.
Position: Receiving/Third-down RB | Ability: Fringe starter/Role player | Contract: Signed through 2026
What will be his role? Gibson was one of the top receiving backs in the NFL during his time in Washington, and it would not be a surprise to see the Patriots leaning heavily into this usage in 2025. New offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, after all, has always had a soft spot for involving the position in the passing game. It would therefore not be a surprise if Gibson was the Patriots' featured third down back, complementing early-down option Rhamondre Stevenson and multi-purpose rookie TreVeyon Henderson.
What is his growth potential? Relative to his 2024 season, Gibson's growth potential mainly lies within his usage. As noted above, he was productive with the ball in his hands but saw surprisingly few opportunities as a receiving back. As for the weaknesses in his game outlined above, none of them are due to physical limitations and could be worked on through proper coaching.
Does he have positional versatility? Primarily a wide receiver in college, Gibson's background shines through regularly. In that sense, he is a versatile player at the running back position: he has shown he can be effective as a ball carrier, has a natural feel for catching the football, and is productive in pass protection. He also has 44 kickoff returns on his career résumé.
What is his salary cap situation? Entering the second season of his three-year contract with the Patriots, Gibson is carrying a cap number of $4.5 million. It consists of a partially-guaranteed $2.35 million salary and fully-guaranteed $1 million signing bonus proration, as well as a $510,000 roster bonus, $140,000 workout bonus and $500,000 in incentives classified as likely to be earned. Including 2026, Gibson has $3.175 million in guarantees remaining in his pact.
How safe is his roster spot? Even though his contract would not prevent the cap-rich Patriots from cutting Gibson, especially with TreVeyon Henderson added in the second round of the draft, the expectation is that he will be on the team come this fall. He is the most experienced receiving back on the roster, after all, and a player who should fit well with a Josh McDaniels offense.
Summary: After seemingly being underutilized in 2024, Gibson might be due for a bounce-back season in 2025. His skillset matches what McDaniels likes to do on offense, and he has a proven track record of positive contributions both in Washington and New England.