With a new deal reportedly looming, James Develin set to keep chugging as part of Patriots offense

A few weeks ago, I was having a conversion with someone, and we were ranking the most "secure" Patriots. Basically, the guys who didn’t have anything to worry about, either because of their talent level, versatility or overall skill set. The usual names came up. Then, we thought about fullback James Develin — only because he's been around for so long now, we’ve honestly reached a point where it’s hard to imagine the New England offense without him.


In an era where the fullback is starting to disappear, Develin is a throwback who continues to play an important complementary role with the Patriots. The Brown product, who is reportedly set to agree to a two-year extension with the Patriots, has been with New England since 2012. That’s a lifetime for a few reasons, not the least of which is the fact New England almost annually churns the roster when it comes to the backfield. There’s also the fact that the 29-year-old is suddenly one of the oldest players on the team — there are only 10 guys on the 90-man roster who are older than he is.

Think about this -- measured in total years, there are only seven players on the Patriots' roster who predate Develin's 2012 arrival: Tom Brady, Stephen Gostkowski, Matthew Slater, Julian Edelman, Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski and Marcus Cannon.

Whatever the case may be, Develin -- who would have been a free agent after the 2018 season -- will get an opportunity to continue to show his value to the Patriots going forward.

“Nobody has worked harder than James has,” Bill Belichick said of Develin shortly after he received his first Pro Bowl nod last season. “He started off on the practice squad, worked his way onto the roster, on and off as an active and inactive player. (He) has the last couple of years fallen into a very consistent and productive role in the kicking game and offensively. His play time has increased. His production has increased.

“Whenever you see James, you see him working. You see him doing extras in the weight room. You see him doing extras on the practice field. You see him in early or late looking at film, going over things. He’s got a role. He’s very good at it.”

With fullbacks a (relative) dime a dozen, why would the Patriots re-up someone like the 6-foot-3, 255-pounder? Maybe it’s because there’s so much turnover at the running back spot, and his presence affords some continuity back there for New England. Maybe it’s because he’s a cost-effective piece of the offensive puzzle. Or maybe it’s because he knows his role and is comfortable in the offense. (He was second among all fullback last year in offensive snaps with 346 — 30 percent of all offensive plays.)

The truth of the matter is that it’s all that, plus one more element: Belichick and the Patriots crave versatility, they also treasure guys who do one thing really well. Think of former long snapper Lonie Paxton, who could have had a job for life with New England if Denver didn't give him a truly jaw-dropping deal after the 2008 season. Develin is in that same sort of class — his skill set affords him the ability to do multiple things like split out wide as needed in the passing game. But given his ability to be able to find the hole and help clear a path, he has few peers. Just ask his teammates.

"That's my guy, man," former teammate LeGarrette Blount said of Develin after a 2016 win. "I love him. I love him to death . . . I feel like he doesn't get the recognition that he deserves, but he definitely deserves a lot of the recognition I (get)."

Ultimately, Develin has done an excellent job carving out a unique niche in the Patriots’ system over much of the last six years. As the result of his new two-year deal, he’ll have the chance to continue on in that role going forward as one of the more underrated parts of the New England offense.