The Patriots soon will have a decision to make with Damien Harris, and it might be the toughest one involving a running back in the Bill Belichick era.
The 2019 third-round pick was a force in 2021, racking up 929 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, good for second-most in the NFL. Harris finished the season as the third-ranked running back by Pro Football Focus, a fact that carries a few caveats but nevertheless is impressive. A physical and explosive runner, the Alabama product has established himself as the NFL’s top young backs despite missing eight combined games over the last two seasons due to injuries.